The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across Alabama below.
Kaionna Hooks
My entrepreneurial journey actually started in college. As part of my senior capstone project for my Business Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing, I created a mock marketing consulting company called Magnetic Transformation. Read more>>
Tracey King
My journey has been driven by faith, perseverance, and a passion for helping others. I started with a dream of making a difference through music, entertainment, and community service. Along the way, I realized that success isn’t just about personal achievements—it’s about creating opportunities for others. Read more>>
99 DAYS
When I was a kid, music was always a way for me to explore and escape. It was a playground where my imagination could run wild. As someone who’s still a kid at heart, it only made sense that I’d want to create my own world. Read more>>
Santee Ezell
I’m a Mississippi native, a first-generation college graduate, a mom, and someone whose career has always been rooted in service and community. My path hasn’t necessarily been linear, but every experience has helped shape the work I do today. I started with a background in sociology and eventually found my way into community development, public health, higher education, nonprofit work, and program evaluation. Read more>>
Sunasia Roshel
Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, I moved to Birmingham in 2014 to attend The University of Alabama at Birmingham. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a concentration in Social Media Management and later went on to earn my MBA, but my story really started with a different major. Read more>>
Andre McMillan
Well, I’m originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’ve traveled the world and photography has been my way of preserving memories of places I’ve visited and people I’ve met. After high school, I joined the Navy, which took me to places I never imagined. I lived in Spain for a few years and during that time, I also traveled around Europe. Read more>>
Demi Howell
My journey has never been a straight line. It has been built through reinvention, resilience, and a willingness to keep evolving. I began my career more than twenty-five years ago in the beauty industry as a hairstylist. Over time, I became an educator, salon owner, and mentor. What started as a passion for helping women feel beautiful on the outside slowly became something much deeper. Read more>>
Keldrick Johnson
Yea, man so I’ve been in the arts since I was in the diapers. My parents would always buy us art supplies, music gear or programs as much as they bought toys, & I just gravitated toward them. Read more>>
Krystal Brown- Harriott
My journey has never been a straight line—it has been one of healing, rediscovery, and purpose. I’ve worn many hats throughout my life: academic advisor, mentor, entrepreneur, author, postpartum doula, nonprofit founder, and community advocate. While those titles describe what I do, they don’t fully capture why I do it. Read more>>
Princess Rogers
As a little girl, I was always interested in technology, computers, and media. I knew from a young age that I wanted to do something creative and work with my hands. I loved the idea of video production and even served in my church’s media booth. Read more>>
Malia Bell
I started Wedding Photography a little over 8 or maybe 9 years ago. I actually had no intentions of doing Weddings; however, a friend asked me to photograph her wedding and it basically never stopped from there. Read more>>
Boris Amado
I originally started in entertainment working for George Schlatter. He created of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In back in the 1960s… George is a total television, legend juggernaut. I started working for George as a production assistant and work my way to tape librarian/post production coordinator’s assistant. 1995-2001 Worked on shows like: Sinatra’s 80th birthday celebration. American Film Institute honors Harrison Ford and Dustin Hoffman. Read more>>
Ebony Bomani
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by hair—the textures, colors and the different things it could do. When I was about five, my mom noticed my attraction to hair and bought me a doll so I could experiment on her. Unfortunately, I was afraid of the doll, so I decided to practice on my own hair. Read more>>
Abbie Brown
Grand Collective was created from a desire to bring back what I believe a salon experience should be. I wanted to create a space that felt elevated yet welcoming, where beautiful hair artistry and genuine connection could exist together. After more than a decade behind the chair, I’ve learned that the most rewarding part of this industry has never just been the hair. Read more>>
Victoria Jones
My Story I’ve been writing songs since I was 15 years old. Looking back, one of the greatest gifts in my journey has been the incredible teachers and mentors who believed in me long before I believed in myself. They encouraged me to keep writing, keep growing, and to trust that my voice had value. Read more>>
Jackson Floyd
My story is pretty muted to be honest. I grew up always being into art and originally loved sketching as a child. It wasn’t until I was 19 or 20 that I went to therapy for the first time and was encouraged to use art as an outlet for my emotions. This is where my love for painting really took off. Read more>>
Shaniah Cooper
I started to sketch and doodle as a young child. I’ve always had a love for art but it wasn’t until college when someone asked me for a penny proud painting that I began to explore with acrylic paint on canvases. I really admire abstract art because it allows me to be free. Read more>>
Kenekia Simpkins
Kenekia’s love for music started very early in her life. By the time she was able to walk she knew that dancing would be second nature to her as well as her love for song. As a teenager she would enter herself into the local talent shows in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Read more>>
Tiffany Perry
This is how my journey in music and ministry, business and pageantry begin. It was the year 2023 and I spoke to my husband about making a song. I really had no intention of becoming an artist but from that single God lead me in that direction. I grew up trying my hand at pageantry but wasn’t any good. Read more>>
“Christian Dion” Malone
I started my journey at a random moment in my life. I was 10 years old, and my mom had just taken down my hair from its braids, so my hair is in this huge afro! Read more>>
Sara Unroe
Sweet Peony Prints began as a hobby with just one 3D printer. Before long, I found myself taking over the printer, experimenting with new designs, and creating items that people genuinely enjoyed. What started as something fun at home gradually grew into a small business centered on producing unique, high-quality 3D-printed toys, fidgets, animals, dragons, turtles, and other creative items. Read more>>
Shanika Wright
My story begins in a small town called Thomasville, Georgia. I always excelled in writing/English-related courses, and I enjoyed those classes the most throughout my early education career and into my high school years. My high school, Thomas County Central High School, offers a state-of-the-art Broadcasting/TV course that is in high demand among students. Read more>>
Rebecca Hitt
I graduated from Auburn University with a degree in History, and started working in Huntsville’s museum and history scene in 2011. In 2013, I joined the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, where I spent over a decade tours, educating children, helping write exhibits, and eventually serving as Archivist. Read more>>
