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.

DeAndre Daniels

I wouldn’t see my Mother for another 45 day’s after that because I had to stay with my Grandparents on the fear I could get sick from my Parent’s. I see why I am so close to my Grandparents. My Grandmother said my Grandfather cried like a baby when I was in the hospital. She said that I meant the world to him, first grandchild and a boy he was very proud. Read more>>

Freddie Irby

Clueless to all things running, I began my running journey in earnest in 2010 by slow-jogging around Washington, DC in Reebok Classics and cotton sweatpants. However, by years end I completed my first marathon (Marine Corps Marathon) and was surprised to learn how much I had taken to the sport. Read more>>

Mycah Brown

I’ve always been a storyteller at heart. Over time, the only thing that changed was the medium. I recently moved to New York City, and it’s been extremely transitional for me. Not because I’m turning into someone new with new hobbies and interests, but living here has expanded my worldview of possibility, allowing me to return to the things I’ve always loved. Read more>>

Nancy Lord

In 2014 I made three big and interconnected decisions – I exited my position as VP of Communications & Marketing at a health start-up, I closed out a 25-year career in public health equity, and I started my business Asana Consulting. I’ve worked as the founder & CEO of Asana Consulting for 12 years. Read more>>

Jason Jannati

I wasn’t a standout student, but soccer taught me standards, excellence and teamwork. A high school coach handed me “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and “The Richest Man in Babylon”. That sparked my interest in business and financial freedom. After high school, wanting to help my family, I got my real estate license. Read more>>

Laura Jahn

The idea of South Ann Street Candle Company started as a half-joke. While we were roommates living in Fell’s Point, we fantasized about quitting our jobs and starting a candle business. Years later, in 2022 we wanted a creative outlet and decided to take the leap! We named our business South Ann Street Candle Company in honor of where this idea started. Read more>>

Larissa Assam

My journey into medicine began when I was seven years old. I knew that I wanted to help people, but after my father, who is also a physician, was involved in a nearly fatal car accident with limited access to critical care available in Cameroon, medicine became the avenue through which I desired to serve people. Read more>>

Victoria Zelefsky

Like most people, what I studied (and what I thought I would do since I was a little girl) is very different from what I actually do today. Read more>>

Al Tiano

When I first moved to Baltimore, I was just looking for my people. I had an idea for queer speed dating at the coffee shop where I worked, but when it closed, I thought that dream was gone. Then an unexpected opportunity came along, and The Queers Upstairs was born. Read more>>

Oluwaseyi Samson

My name is Oluwaseyi Samson, formerly known as Ynl Sam, but today I’m known as EVO — Evangelist Oluwaseyi. I am an evangelist of the gospel, dedicated to preaching Jesus and taking him to all the nations of the world. My journey with music started long before I understood what a calling was. Read more>>

Ley-Shae Edwards

Yes! My name is Ley-Shae, and I’m the owner of LeyshaeLayedit, LLC. I am a hairstylist and hair extensions/wig provider based in Pikesville, Maryland. I started doing hair in 2021 after practicing on myself for a couple of years. People started loving my work, so my friends inspired me to start taking clients. Read more>>

Kevin Sykes Jr

I grew up in East Baltimore from Elkader rd and Greenmount Ave and honestly, nobody around me really talked about money. Like investing, saving, any of that, it just wasn’t part of the conversation. And I got tired of watching people I care about struggle with stuff that, once you actually understand it, isn’t even that complicated. Read more>>

Victory Ram

SO I have two…depending on which you’d like to cover: 1. A few years ago, my son was diagnosed as Autistic. I was told he would likely never communicate in a typical way, be in a typical classroom, or interact with his neuro-typical peers in typical ways. I don’t think I’ve ever hated the word ‘typical’ more. Read more>>

Eden Hansom, Marie Nuon N/a

It started in a classroom, not a boardroom. We met as students in Capital Wine School’s WSET Level 3 program; two women pursuing serious wine credentials, and, as it turned out, the only women of color in the room. Read more>>

Erica Bigger

WhollyGloss began in 2018 from my love of beauty, fashion, and my desire to create something with purpose. What started as a beauty brand evolved into a mission-driven company focused on helping women feel beautiful, whole, and cared for. Through product launches, pop-ups, partnerships, grants, and community experiences, WhollyGloss has continued to grow. Read more>>

Armando DeMarchi

I started out as a Production Assistant on reality television in NYC, and slowly worked my way up to Assistant Editor. Eventually I decided I wanted to get behind the camera myself to tell stories. When I moved to Virginia, I fell in with a crowd of wedding filmmakers + photographers, and became engulfed in creating. Read more>>

Lauren ‘Lo’ Ivey

I’ve been in PR and communications for about nine years, working across different organizations, but Framed by Lo actually started from something much more personal. Back in 2021, I was in Washington, DC, and I kept coming back to this idea that sunglasses were more than an accessory for me — they were almost like armor. Read more>>

Andrea Cordell Proper

My journey into mental health care did not begin in a traditional clinical setting. It began with a Psychology major in my undergraduate years, followed by a decade spent working in business. But eventually, I found my way back to the work that had always interested me—the intersection of people, relationships, wellness, and the experiences that shape who we become. Read more>>

Larry Mcleod

BigSchlim is a food blogger known for his distinct voice, honest reviews, & relatability. Born, and raised in Washington D.C. Big Schlim came to be via an eateries subpar customer service experience. Frustrated at degrading customer treatment he decided to start a food blog that highlighted restaurants service, parking, & later…FOOD!! Schlim has a multifunctional blogging system that includes written, pictorial, & video reviews. Read more>>

Alyssa Patalinghug

JAGMAC’s journey began many years ago with something very simple and very personal: a song we wrote for our dad’s 40th birthday. As a surprise, we all came together and performed it for him, and he was completely shocked—not only by the surprise, but by the potential he saw in us as a group. Read more>>

Tiffany Smith Deans

My story in HR actually started somewhat by accident. Right after high school, I landed an HR internship with the federal government and fell in love with the work. HR wasn’t part of some big career plan I had mapped out for myself—I just stuck with it, and somewhere along the way, it stuck with me. Read more>>

Gloria Penn

I started cosmetology school at (Thomas Edison Of Technology) while I was still in high school (James Hubert Blake) and earned my cosmetology license at just 17 years old in Silver Spring, Maryland. From there, I knew I wanted to get my foot in the door and gain as much experience as possible. Read more>>

Ukenda Moulden

I started college thinking I was going to grow up to be a music teacher but then I realized how much I loved writing my own music and recording, I also was so bored during the intro music education courses. Read more>>

Jamia Coxson

Coach Jam Founder & Head Coach, CheerUP Cheer Company LLC Coach Jam is the founder of CheerUP Cheer Company LLC, established in 2023 with a vision to create more than just a cheer program, but a positive, empowering space where young athletes can grow in confidence, character, leadership, and self belief. Read more>>

Khalia Young

When I think about my story I always chuckle because it feels like a full circle moment when I think about my life as a kid and the life I am building now. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the parks in Cincinnati with my dad, cousins, and friends. Read more>>

Jessica Boone

So, how did JessAskin even become a thing? Well… COVID. 😂 During the height of the pandemic, everything changed including the way I interviewed people. I could no longer sit down with someone face-to-face, have a good conversation, ask the questions everybody really wanted to know, and connect with my audience the way I was used to. Read more>>

Christina Setliff

Snakebyte started long before it had a name. I studied psychology and communications, then spent years working in media, editing, creating content, and learning firsthand what makes people actually pay attention. Danny came from the design and creative side, and when we decided to build Snakebyte together, we were very intentional about creating the kind of agency we felt was missing. Read more>>

Louise Wilson

My journey into conservation detection dogs actually started long before Conservation K9 Consultancy existed. I’ve worked with specialist detection dogs for around 24 years, originally working and training dogs within other specialist disciplines, including explosives detection. Dogs, scent and search have pretty much shaped my entire working life. Read more>>

Gerry Rogers

Petal’s Edge started in 2004, although becoming a florist was definitely not part of my original career plan! I have a background in art history and spent about ten years working in art museums before making a pretty significant career change. Read more>>

Irene Bremis

I started performing for my aunts and uncles in my living room. Now I perform for everybody’s aunts and uncles. I just charge admission. Read more>>

Chef Shan

After being laid off from two IT Analyst positions in three years, fourteen years at Verizon before the IT department downsized, then three years at Leidos ended by government budget cuts, I wondered if I should continue on a path of constant shakeups or venture into something new. Read more>>

London LeGrand

Fashion has always been a passion of mine, ever since I was a little boy. LOL! My mother was THAT GIRL! She had SO many clothes—OMG! From here to there… bags, shoes, accessories… EVERYTHING! 😂 She was also a BIG thrift-store shopper back in the day, and I used to HATE it. Read more>>

Dymand Azanii

Growing up as an only child to a single mother who migrated from St. Lucia around the same age I am now 21, I’ve always been inspired by her independence and determination. She came here to build a life for herself and has accomplished so much. Every Sunday, we had our routine where she would sit me down and do my hair for school. Read more>>