Baltimore’s Most Inspiring Stories

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 the Voyage family.

Alan Inman Gail Hambleton

This is the story of how two people from very different backgrounds, Gail Hambleton and Alan Inman, both deeply committed to peacebuilding and racial reconciliation in Baltimore, came together as co-coordinators of the Baltimore Cross-Community Reconciliation Project (BCCRP). Their work in Baltimore centers on building stronger cross racial relationships, reducing bias, and nurturing empathy, understanding, and real collaboration. Read more>>

Benson Fischer

I’m a seasoned entrepreneur with an exciting, fast-paced 45-year track record across a wide spectrum of industries. Over the decades, my journey has been all about building, launching, and managing ventures in commercial real estate, restaurants, food and beverage manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and business consulting. Read More>>

Yarizm

My story is really a journey of learning how to listen, to people, to cultures, and to rhythms. My foundation is anchored in my Tanzanian heritage, a place where the air is thick with story and soul, and that’s where my love for music first took root. Read more>>

Brad Grochowski

Sure! After finishing my bachelors degree in theatre performance in Michigan, I bounced around Chicago for a while and felt really lost. Friends had moved to Baltimore for their Masters degrees in electronic music at Peabody. I’d come down to visit them over long weekends and just… fell in love with Baltimore. Read more>>

Alexa Batista

I am an Afro-Latina woman of Dominican and Afro-Cuban descent, shaped by resilience, heritage, and healing. Born and raised in the South Bronx, I come from a lineage of strength where survival, culture, and community are woven into everyday life. My journey into skincare wasn’t born from luxury, it was born from necessity, love, and tradition. Read more>>

Young AD

I started playing ball, my father was a rapper out of NYC, and I remember him playing demos and beats he had used and recorded on, overtime I gravitated towards music just hearing what he does. recognizing the melodies and studying the game paying attention to all the hot artists. Read more>>

Marlon Simpson

A One HVAC is a second-generation family business born out of necessity and vision. My father, Leerie, was working for an HVAC company when the Great Recession hit in 2008 and 2009. The company went under. They owed him wages and income he’d earned, money the company simply couldn’t pay back. Read more>>

Terrie Christine

The first memory I have of pain doesn’t come from a moment I was awake for. It comes from the moment I opened my eyes in a hospital bed, tied down so I wouldn’t hurt myself, with an oxygen tent enclosing me like a world made of plastic. Read more>>

Ernest Clover

For the last 13 years, Ernest P. Clover III, has served as Executive Director of the DC Dream Center. As a follower of Jesus, Ernest has always strived to share the Gospel through the way he lives his life. In 2006, he earned his BA in history from Defiance College, continuing on to earn a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Denver. Read more>>

Cindy Rosselle

I never imagined that a college elective would shape the course of my entire life. While attending American University, I signed up for a SCUBA diving class because I needed a gym credit. I was a nervous scuba student but working with a patient instructor helped me move past my fears and discover a deep connection to the underwater world. Read more>>

David Mason

My journey into the culinary world started with a passion for food, creativity, and bringing people together. Growing up, I was always drawn to the kitchen and enjoyed learning how meals could create comfort, connection, and memorable experiences. Over time, that passion turned into a serious pursuit, and I began developing my skills through hands-on experience in both professional kitchens and hospitality environments. Read more>>

Shelby Morgan

I fell in love with music at a very early age watching my father sing in the car and watching people like Hilary Duff and Miley Cyrus on the Disney Channel. Read more>>

Takeshi Nishikawa

I was born and raised in Japan and moved to the United States when I was young. I started working in restaurants in high school and quickly realized that hospitality gave me a sense of purpose. Read more>>

Andrew Toy

I started playing the drums as a child growing up in Delaware and immediately fell in love with it. My first professional gig was as a cruise ship drummer, which allowed me to visit over 70 countries while performing on stage nightly. Since then, I have toured all over the US in groups of all types. Read more>>

Britney Wambold

I started in short-term rentals by combining my background in business, marketing, and hospitality with my passion for design and real estate. What began as creating and managing my own properties quickly turned into helping other investors maximize the potential of their spaces through strategic design, guest experience, and operational support. Read more>>

Eamoni Collier

I got my start homebrewing in the backyard of my uncle’s house, experimenting with herbs, flowers, spices, and inspiration pulled from ancient Egyptian practices. At the same time, I’d already been working in hospitality since I was 17 — and ironically, almost every stop along the way involved beer, from distilleries to breweries. Read more>>

Emily Coccia

I moved to the DMV from Michigan in 2005 and completely fell in love with it. What started as a temporary summer job led to years spent exploring neighborhoods, trying new restaurants, wandering through events and communities, and meeting people who were deeply passionate about making a difference. Read more>>

Shalita Fleming

I was born and raised in the DMV area, primarily in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and my journey really started at home—with food, family, and community. I attended Bowie State University, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Pedology. While I was in undergrad, I started catering as a way to supplement my income, but it quickly became something more. Read more>>

Devin Nikki Thomas

I’m Devin Nikki Thomas, actor, writer, producer, based in the DMV area. I’m really just someone deeply fascinated by people, emotion, contradiction, and the ways we try to survive each other and ourselves. I actually started with dance. That was my first love and my first outlet creatively. Read more>>

BUCK!

A Baltimore native, Rodney “BUCK!” Herring, attended Hampton University where he majored in Art. At Hampton, BUCK! found his voice studying great visual artists and writers of the 20th century. After graduation, BUCK! found himself down the parkway from Baltimore, creating art in Washington, DC. A collage of words and impactful imagery, BUCK! Read more>>

Cagla Giray

My journey to creating Su + Soul began from a very personal place. For over a decade, I’ve balanced demanding two jobs, leadership roles, and life transitions. Along the way, so many of us, especially high performers and busy professionals, were moving through life on autopilot, disconnected from our own inner rhythm and sense of community. Read more>>

Ron Vento

Well, I always knew since about middle school. I was gonna be involved in music somehow and then in high school I decided I would like to tour and maybe own a recording studio. After that, I started buying recording equipment here and there until I had enough to start making records and my mom’s garage. Read more>>

Jonce Gibson

Lifelong Entrepreneur from as far back as a little kid. Paper routes,, turned those customers into grass cutting and snow shoveling customers. Bought into a Gas Station at 22 years old that I worked at from 14-18 after moving on and becoming the youngest District Manager at a regional Oil Company. Read more>>

I’mani Temia

Growing up, I watched my mother do hair, and that sparked my interest in being a part of the beauty industry. Seeing how beauty could make women feel confident and beautiful really stayed with me from a young age. As I got older, especially during high school, I also admired my cousin Tia and her makeup artistry. Read more>>

Digidoll

I’ve always been a creative. I had my first songwriting journal as soon as I could hold a pen, was singing even before that, and have been playing piano since I was 8. Music has always been my calling. Read more>>

Deirdre Holliday-White

After graduating from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Stratford University with a culinary degree, I was wondering what my passion was. My mother was diagnosed with cancer and stopped eating while undergoing chemotherapy. I decided to take matters into my own hands and began to prepare food for her using my own spice blends. Read more>>

Davia Ford and Emily Haman

Being former professional ballet dancers, we met each other five years ago in the company that we previously danced for. Shortly after leaving the ballet world, we both decided that we wanted to continue on a path of creativity and bringing a love for something else to life. Read more>>

Jasmine & Chonita Roberts

Divine Weddings and Events is a mother-daughter partnership founded by Chonita and Jasmine Roberts. What started as a natural gift for planning and organizing quickly turned into a true passion for creating meaningful celebrations for others. For Chonita, the journey began when a close friend asked her to help plan her wedding. Read more>>

Brandon Copeland

I started teaching yoga after practicing for the first time while at Howard University. I used the practice to help me find balance between my classes, my coming first-born and the weight of not knowing how yet to be an adult. Yoga became my peace. The studio my sanctuary. After a while, sneaking off from campus to take practice felt selfish. Read more>>

Esther Logah

My name is Esther, and I’m the founder of Estar Management & Events Group, which I launched in 2021—although, if I’m being honest, this journey started way before I ever made it official. I’ve always been a creative person. Read more>>

Bart Yablonsky

Bart is from Baltimore and began his love of great food as a teen by taking trips to DC with his father to sample the latest and greatest new restaurants. He attended college in New Orleans and continued to develop his interest there. Bart has worked in natural food store leadership in both metro DC and Atlanta. Read more>>

Mark Boultinghouse

Growing up, my path was sparked by Don Yarton and the world of antiques. Through antiques, I discovered not only history and craftsmanship, but also the stories and people connected to every object. Those early experiences opened the door to a career and passion that has continued to evolve over the years. Read more>>

Mantas Kubilinskas

I started photography almost by accident… though looking back, maybe it was always there waiting for me. What pulled me in wasn’t perfect poses or traditional portraits. It was emotion. Real moments. The way people look at each other when they forget anyone is watching. I became obsessed with documenting things as they actually felt, not just how they looked. Read more>>

Cortney H. Palmiero

I started in the beauty industry when I was 15, so I really grew up inside of it long before I ever owned a business. Over the last 27 years, I’ve worked front desks answering phones, managed spa teams, worked alongside nail techs, massage therapists, and stylists, and worked as a hairstylist and aesthetician myself. Read more>>

Arielle McMahan

Originally from Houston, Texas, I’ve spent more than 22 years working with movement through dance, yoga, personal training, and classical Pilates. After relocating to Washington, DC, I created Adaptive Pilates DC as a way to integrate everything I’ve learned across those disciplines into one individualized practice. Read more>>

Michelle Beckford

My journey into herbal wellness started through a combination of my healthcare background and my passion for natural healing traditions. As a Registered Nurse with over 15 years of experience, I’ve spent much of my career caring for people through conventional medicine. Read more>>

Stephanie Lilley

The inspiration for the company emerged from a meaningful gift—I received a stunning handmade basket from my dear friend, Guadalupe Lopez, who sought to share her heritage. Everywhere I carried the bag people complimented its style and functionality. Fellow market shoppers admired its happy colors and grocers noticed its durability and how it stands upright when filling it. Read more>>

Anderson Wells

I’ve been involved in theatre for almost my entire life. I did my first play when I was 9 years old and I’ve been involved with theatre in one way or another ever since. Along the way, I got introduced to the art of drag when my mom and I watched the first season of Drag Race together. I found it fascinating and utterly impressive. Read more>>

Johanna Hellrigl

Ama was born from the belief that a neighborhood restaurant can nourish much more than hunger. Rooted in Northern Italian culinary traditions and shaped by years of work in global systems and social impact, Ama set out to answer a simple but demanding question: what does it look like when a restaurant takes human health and environmental health equally seriously? Read more>>

Kelly Geer Ripken

I have had a long interest in promoting women’s health and have done so for the last 4 decades and counting. I believe the reason for this is because I was very sick in my early twenties. I had never experienced any “true” illnesses until I was 24. I woke up with a bad headache and it never went away for almost three years.  Read more>>

Donte’ Brown

Every business I started, started out of an initial frustration. Donte’s Boxing Gym started because a former company I used to work for, tried to “make” me sign an undesirable contract. That contract stated that I couldn’t work for 5 years within a 10 mile radius, if I left them for any reason. At the time, everyone that they hired, they fired for petty reasons. Read more>>

Jack Dell

Fake Radio was first formed out of a misunderstanding and a sleeping desire. At the start of 2023, Jack Dell had been offered a spot opening for two great local bands, but had mistakenly believed the other bands believed him to posses more than an acoustic guitar and a big green kazoo to perform with. Read more>>

Esther Kentish

I was born in Houston, Texas, but much of my adult life, creative perspective, and professional development evolved through years spent living throughout England while traveling extensively across Europe and parts of Asia. These experiences deeply shaped the way I approach education, publishing, mentorship, intercultural communication, and creative collaboration. Read more>>

James O’Neill

I was born into a blended family with an older sister, Kathleen, who had special needs. That shaped a lot. My family was deeply involved in disability rights work and Special Olympics, and service was the air we breathed: Scouts, 4-H, volunteering as a default mode of being in the world. Read more>>

Brittany Faurot

My baking journey really started long before I ever imagined owning a business. I’ve always loved baking for family, friends, holidays, and get-togethers. Baking became my way of showing love and bringing people together. Whether it was cookies, bread, or desserts, I was always the person bringing homemade treats wherever we went. Read more>>

Doris Dower

Stella’s Bridal began nearly 60 years ago. I am the third owner. The store began in historic Highlandtown. The original Hairspray movie ( Mr. Pinkey’s store) was filmed there. Demographics for downtown changed drastically, so in 2014 w moved the store to Westminster. We are located in an building originally built as a school. Read more>>

Liz Potarazu

I grew up in Baltimore County, on my grandparent’s former farm, and my home felt warm, layered, and lived in, not at all fussy. I think that shaped how I approach design today. I now live and work outside DC, in Potomac, but that warmth and practicality still influence how I design. Read more>>

Dr. Vinod Prakash

I was born in 1933 in Meerut, India, into a humble family that valued honesty, education, and service. My early life was shaped by the turbulence of colonial India and the inspiration of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy guided me from a young age. Read more>>

Erin Wright

Since I was young, I’ve always enjoyed video games, creating content, and community building. I joined nearly every leadership class I could, and started my own YouTube channel. Later, I began streaming on Twitch and found mild success, including sponsorships, gifted games to review, and my own little corner of the internet. Read more>>

Dana Williams

My journey to the lens didn’t start in a studio; it started in the field. After 25 years in the Army focusing on logistics and security, I developed a ‘tactical eye’—an ability to scan a room, anticipate movement, and understand exactly what matters in a high-stakes environment. Read more>>

Tara Parker

I’ve been a full time massage therapist for 8 yrs now and started mobile massage in 2020 which started from numerous client requests during the pandemic “lock down”. I would suit up in PPE and travel with my table from house to house. Luckily I never contracted Covid-19 during my travels. Read more>>

Todd Marcus

Intersection of Change is a community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit in Baltimore, MD founded in 1996 to serve Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester and Upton communities. These and the surrounding communities were once a stable neighborhood with a mix of professional and blue collar families. The neighborhood also was home to a strong arts and entertainment scene along historic Pennsylvania Avenue. Read more>>

Amanda Henning

During COVID, like so many people, I began working remotely. At first it felt convenient — flexible hours, no commute — but over time something started to feel missing. My days began to blur together. Going to the gym in the mornings was often the only social interaction I had. I realized I wasn’t unmotivated — I was unfulfilled. Read more>>

Noreen Rehman-Brown

Over the years, my journey has been rooted in one thing: helping people live healthier, happier, and more connected lives. From a young age, I’ve always been passionate about giving back, supporting others, and creating meaningful experiences that improve wellbeing. Even in high school, I found myself naturally drawn to community service, health, and leadership. Read more>>

shanique Johnson

I started from the ground up, building my career through teaching, entrepreneurship, and a deep desire to create a more stable and meaningful life for my family. Over the years, I’ve worked in education, bookkeeping, publishing, and business development — often learning through real-life experience, persistence, and faith rather than having everything handed to me. Read more>>

Skyy Moorer

My entrepreneurial journey began in January 2025 on a trip through Southeast Asia with two of my really good friends. Right before boarding my flight to Thailand, I received a job offer for a government position, and somewhere over the ocean, I got on the in-flight wifi to check my email and discovered the offer had been rescinded. The government was shutting down. Read more>>

Robert Levine III

I am born and raised in Baltimore, MD. I grew up in a home where the music of Earth, Wind, & Fire, Isley Brothers, Gap Band, and many more R&B legends was our soundtrack. Read more>>

Briell McCoy

I started working with young people at the age of 14. I worked for a summer camp through Youth works in Baltimore City. I was a young person working with young people at the time, I never imagined making an impact in my community. Read more>>

Chanel Narcissus

I started playing piano at the age of 3 and singing as soon as I could talk. I come from parents who are both musically inclined ad self taught. My dad introduced me to the piano and flute at a very early age and my mother put me into acting and singing. Read more>>

Myroslava Semerey

We started as the owners of the franchise ‚HomeSlyce‘ eventually buying ourselves out to become Pizza Harbor. Pizza Harbor has been a neighborhood hem for the past 3 years. Read more>>

Symone Brooks

My husband and I moved into a neighborhood that we saw had a need, a need for a dry cleaners. We were traveling 20 minutes to dry clean and with all of the empty storefronts in our community, it’d seemed like an opportunity. Read more>>

Roquois Clarke

Plus Ultra Entertainment started off as an idea between 2 friends that attended a plethora of anime and comic book conventions and enjoyed cosplay, creativity, music, gaming and arts, but didn’t see enough of themselves in those spaces that so many black and brown people patronized. We created a space for those people to see themselves and it grew from there. Read more>>

Hoss Abostate

As somebody that has worked as an Architect and wanted to advance my career, I was struggling with my voice failing me and not reflecting the competence I should have in that postion. Since I was 7 years old I remember struggling with several vocal blocks symptom. Which include being extremely quite, feeling apprehensive to participate in group activities and having poor expression. Read more>>

Colleen Brooks

For years, I dreamed of creating a business that combined several things I’ve always loved — Virginia’s beautiful countryside, its history and wineries, and creating really special experiences that bring people together. My husband Jim and I, both UVA alumni, have long enjoyed exploring Virginia wine country together. Read more>>

Meghan Murphy, LCSW-C

I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology from Washington College in 2009 and subsequently graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2011. Growing up in a family where substance abuse was a struggle gave me an early understanding of the struggles people face when someone they love isn’t truly well. Read more>>

Brooke Moreland, PhD

Since joining The Animal Alliance in April 2025 as Chief Development Officer, my journey has been deeply rooted in the belief that meaningful change for animals begins with people—especially children and families learning empathy at an early age. What drew me to this work was the organization’s commitment to combining education, compassion, and community empowerment in ways that create lasting impact. Read more>>

Alexandra Wisenall

My journey in healthcare started when I was very young, and over the last 16 years I have had the opportunity to grow through nearly every level of the system. I began my career as a nurse and steadily worked my way into leadership and executive roles in ambulatory healthcare operations, all while continuing to advance my education and clinical training. Read more>>

Favour Ogedengbe

I grew up in Nigeria with my parents, surrounded by a community and church environment that shaped my values early on. When I moved to Baltimore at 11, everything felt unfamiliar, the school system, the culture, even the way kids interacted. I struggled to fit in, dealt with bullying, and didn’t feel like I had a place. Read more>>

Rayshard Léonard

My story is anything but linear — and I think that’s what makes it worth telling. I grew up in Dallas, TX with music in my bones and a dream that felt bigger than the world around me. But life has a way of taking you on detours — and mine took me through several chapters before I found my way back to the stage. Read more>>

Jason Davis

semperBKclothing was founded in 2022 with a simple mission — create quality clothing that looks good, feels good, and doesn’t come with the outrageous price tags often attached to major designer brands. Read more>>

Kathie Gerber

I originally started my company in 2024 but had to put it on hold when in early 2025 I had my leg amputated. Actually twice. In April they amputated my leg below the knee, then in July I had gotten a severe infection and had to have the rest of my leg amputated. I spent over 8 months in rehab. Read more>>

Mariah Hay

I grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as the daughter of two art educators, so creativity, curiosity, and learning were always woven into everyday life. While I’ve spent most of my professional career working in software development and product, I’ve also always been deeply interested in community building — creating spaces where people can connect, share ideas, and learn from one another. Read more>>

Justin Ross

Growing Up, I was blessed to have my parents who raised me on principles (universal laws). This would soon be what I would use in life to make my moment by moment decisions. A life by logic and reasoning that would propel my positive life experiences. ‘Built from Vision, Driven by Purpose’. Read more>>

MaryBeth Powers

MaryBeth Powers is the creator of Teddy’s Turmeric Tamer, a holistic pet wellness company born from a determined fight to save her beloved dog. After a successful 30-year career in the event planning industry, MaryBeth faced a life-changing challenge when her dog, Teddy a 100-lb Newfie mix, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and given only weeks to live. Read more>>

April Pevear

I grew up poor. My mother worked herself to the bone to help keep a roof over our heads, and from a very young age I understood what it meant to struggle, to stretch things, to survive, and to keep moving forward even when you were exhausted. Later in life, I became a single mother myself. Read more>>

Brian Cook

My journey in music began when I was just a child. Around eight or nine years old, I started experimenting with my father’s two tape recorders, recording lead vocals and layering harmonies to create complete songs. At the time, I had no idea that I was laying the foundation for what would become my life’s work as a producer, songwriter, and vocal director. Read more>>

Champ Powell

My name is Champ Powell, and my journey has always been rooted in creativity, sports, leadership, and building opportunities that create lasting impact. From an early age, I developed a passion for design, athletics, and storytelling, which eventually evolved into multiple businesses and initiatives centered around youth development, branding, and community growth. Read more>>

Marz Jones

My photography career started in high school. I always had a passion for taking pictures and capturing moments. When I was younger I’d shoot on an old Canon Rebel from the earlier 2000’s. When I went off to college I took a bit of a break from photography, but after graduation I picked up my first mirrorless camera. Read more>>

Porsche ‘Chè Sarai’ Dorsey CEO Angel Time Entertainment

The story of Angel Time came about in juxtaposition to the phrase Demon Time which gives credence to living immorally or sub-human. One day, I honestly can’t remember what I was doing, but I had a spark of imagination about a group of Angelic superheroes who operate on behalf of youth, guiding them through life trials that occur at their tender ages. Read more>>

Kea Bryant

I’m a true Baltimorean, born and raised, and still rooted in Downtown Baltimore. Growing up in the city shaped my love for music, art, and thrifting, all of which continue to influence how I live and create. I’m naturally routine-oriented, creative, and intentional about maintaining balance, especially through my home. Creativity has always been part of my foundation. Read more>>

Christopher Tsung Kao

I perceive my story more as a series of transitions that has shaped me to who I am today vs a linear culmination of events. My dad was a doctor in the navy when I was young so we moved around a fair amount. Read more>>

Adriana Michelle Arana Flores

Hi, I’m Adriana Michelle Arana Flores – I’m 24 years old, but most people know me as Michelle. I’ve always been the kind of person who figures things out early and learns by doing. Read more>>