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.

Linda Sanderville

My journey to becoming a therapist wasn’t just an academic decision, but a very personal one. Read more>>

Emily Iannuzzelli

I’m an improviser, facilitator, and project manager based around Baltimore. I created Embodied Comedy, which is the heart of my work. It brings together improv, nervous system awareness, and embodiment to help people feel more present, more connected, and more like themselves. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager and over time became addicted to Ritalin. Read more>>

DaFineIII

DaFineIII didn’t start in a studio — it started with a phone call. We’re three solo artists from three different cities: MiAngel from Chicago, YaYa from Kansas City, and Shay B. from Annapolis. Each of us was already deep in our own musical journey, individually working with producer and music director DJ ‘MLiK’ Moore — but none of us knew the others existed. Read more>>

Misty Sexton

I moved to Baltimore in 2006 with a biology degree. I failed to get a job at Johns Hopkins, and was running out of money so I took an office job at a heating oil company in Columbia. I loved the logistics and the company, but did not love retail. Read more>>

TaKayla Ellis-Boney

I started doing nails during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when everything felt uncertain but also full of opportunity. What began as a way to make extra income and express creativity quickly turned into a real passion. I dedicated myself to learning, practicing, and building a loyal clientele, mostly through word of mouth and social media. Read more>>

Jomesa Boone

My journey into this work started with a deep passion for serving others, but it quickly became clear that this was bigger than passion—it was purpose. I recognized early on that caregiving isn’t just about meeting needs; it’s about restoring dignity, empowering independence, and showing up for people in some of the most critical moments of their lives. Read more>>

Soo Mi Kang

My journey into co-owning Honey’s wasn’t something I planned. It came from a really personal place. My father suffered a traumatic head injury, and at the time, I needed a way to help support my family and cover his medical expenses. Read more>>

Ann Gill

I’m a visual artist and illustrator from Washington, D.C., working across digital illustration, painting, and murals. My work is inspired by my surroundings and my faith, using color and form to capture emotion and tell stories. I’ve worked with authors, music artists, tech companies, government organizations, and local businesses to create visuals for web, products, and public projects. Read more>>

Jenny Kassan

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about wanting to help close the gap between rich and poor in our country. After law school, I went to work at a nonprofit doing community economic development. One of my projects was to work with the small businesses in the community. Read more>>

Azra Hussaini

Hi- I am an Internal Medicine physician – at age 55, I was tired of seeing 4 patients/hr and held to ‘ productivity metrics. ‘ Working for others, I didn’t even have enough time to reassure the patient that it is going to be ok. This was subpar medical care as I was taught in medical school in Pakistan. Read more>>

Martha Clark

I grew up in Howard County on the farm I currently manage. I got a degree in Public Policy from Duke University and worked on women’s and children’s issue for 10 years, with five of those years as Executive Director of the Maryland Commission for Women. I opened Clark’s Elioak Farm in 2002 on the family farm. Read more>>

Nick Iannacone

I am a maritime educator and program coordinator with a deep commitment to promoting scientific literacy and inspiring curiosity about both the natural and built environments. I am currently working in Living Classrooms’ Maritime Education Department, and overseeing grants, trip logistics, and the development of E-STEM and history programs for diverse learners. I began my career with a B.S. Read more>>

Rahsaan Caine

I’ve always known I wanted to be self-employed. That mindset didn’t start when I became an adult—it started when I was just a kid. At 12 years old, I was collecting basketball cards, not just for fun, but because I believed they would be worth more years later. Read more>>

Priscila Hawn

I’ve always loved planning and creating beautiful experiences. Even before I realized this could become a career, I was collecting table settings from around the world—napkins, napkin rings, and unique decor pieces that inspired me. In Brazil, I worked as a freelancer for large, high-profile events, which gave me my first real taste of the industry. Read more>>

Monifa Battle-Carpenter

I have always worked in career fields where I provided service to others. It was my legacy as a third generation educator, I was always supporting others with growing, developing and improving their lives. I am currently working as a professional school counselor for Prince George’s County Public Schools which began August 2001. Read more>>

Johnny Nguyen

I (Johnny Nguyen) founded MidnighTreats in Vienna, VA after graduating from JMU back in 2018. Late night cookies were popular in college but hadn’t yet made it up to Northern VA so I wanted to bring them into the area. This was before the big cookie craze happened. Now we’re at 4 locations with 2 more coming this year. Read more>>

Yovela Debesay

I would describe my journey as one shaped by curiosity about how systems work and a desire to understand how people actually move through them. I studied economics and international development, and early on I was drawn to questions around how decisions are made, who has access to opportunity, and how those dynamics play out across different contexts, especially across Africa and within diaspora communities. Read more>>

Brionna Watson

I’m a Baltimore native, so my story really starts here. My interest in dentistry began at a young age through my own experiences as a patient. I had a lot of dental issues as a child and, for a long time, I didn’t enjoy going to the dentist because of some of those early experiences. That changed when I met a pediatric dentist, Dr. Read more>>

Kristal Kirkland

I began cooking at a young age, which naturally led me to pursue formal training after high school. I attended culinary school and went on to gain hands-on experience working with various companies in the food industry. In 2017, I transitioned into working independently, building my own client base as a personal chef. Read more>>

Clinton Robinson

Our story really started with family. We began by cooking for small family gatherings, where food was always more than just something to eat — it was how we brought people together, created memories, and showed love. Over time, that passion grew, and one of the biggest turning points came through volunteering at a local soup kitchen for more than 9 years. Read more>>

Canisha Pope

My journey began about 3-4 years ago in-between my undergrad and beginning my Masters degree program. I wanted to find a new way to expand on my Hospitality services while being able to do something that I love. Becoming a travel agent has allowed me to do this and more. Read more>>

Muhammad Awan

Hello My name Amar Awan, I was born and raised in the rural part of Japan called Ota. My parents were Pakistani immigrants to Japan and we moved to the US ( Arlington, Virginia) when I was about 10 years old. Read more>>

Casey Fenske

I started at PetSmart, though not even in a training role at first. The trainer there took a liking to me and decided I was going to take her place when she left. That was really where it all began. Read more>>

KJ Davis

My interest in computers and technology began in 1997 when my grandfather bought me a Gateway PC. From that moment, I became fascinated with electronics and wanted to understand what was inside computers and components that made them work. Read more>>

Justen Garrity

Veteran Compost started in 2010 with one person and a shovel. Justen Garrity returned home from the Army and found himself unemployed, so he started to explore sustainable businesses. The idea of turning food waste into compost which could be used to grow food again was compelling. Read more>>

Teneieha Bell-Thompson Angel Thompson-Cephas

Bell’s Reines is a journey of heritage, technical precision, and ‘inclusive luxury’ that began as a mother-daughter bond. Inspired by the warmth and integrity of our patriarch, Thomas Roosevelt Bell, Jr., we transitioned from a creative food blog into a sophisticated, ethical enterprise. Read more>>

Sharlee Fleshman

I started rescuing farm animals 10 years ago. Our first farm animal was our 800lb pig Clementine, aka Piggy Smalls. We slowly started building up enclosures for goats and chickens. We never turned down an animal in need. I am a zoology major and had planned to go to veterinary school but life took its’ own twists and turns. Read more>>

Chris and Kate Sabbatini

Our story is really about building something together over time—and allowing both the business and our partnership to evolve in tandem. In the early days, we were doing a bit of everything—websites, animated infographics, graphic design—really any opportunity that allowed us to create and build relationships. Read more>>

Allison Schweigman

Hi, my name is Allison Schweigman, founder of Seeds of Love and Learning, Inc. For nearly two decades, I have carried a vision in my heart to create a faith-based, resource-rich school. Read more>>

Shavonne Bowman

My story is really about transformation, and every part of it is rooted in my faith and God’s plan for my life. I stand firmly on Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…” because when I look back over my life, I can clearly see that nothing I went through was by accident. Read more>>

The Driven To Cure Team

Andrew Lee founded Driven To Cure at age 19, following his diagnosis with stage 4 HLRCC Kidney Cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, Andrew decided to use his passion for cars to raise awareness about rare kidney cancers. Read more>>

Hazaiah Gold

I was born in Washington, D.C., raised throughout the entire DMV, yet claim Maryland(PG). As a son of a guitarist, I was immersed in the realm of music very young. Growing up around studios with my father and watching him interact with other musicians inspired me to fully embrace my voice. Read more>>

Jason Hisley

I’ve honestly been baking for as long as I can remember. A lot of it started with baking alongside my grandmother when I was younger, and that’s really where the love of pastry first came from. From there, I decided to pursue it professionally and attended Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island for pastry arts. Read more>>

Tamara Elassal

I began my career as a Middle School teacher. I loved helping the kids with their problems such as bullies and issues at home. One day in the teacher’s lounge another teacher was talking about how amazing it felt when something finally ‘clicked’ with a student, that moment when they just got it! Read more>>

Ty Godwin

At 14 years old, armed with a worker’s permit I got from my school guidance counselor, I set out to find a part-time job so I could start saving for my first car. I landed a job as a bagger at a grocery store 45 minutes from home. Read more>>

Rosalyn Warren

I began my journey in beauty at a very young age, styling the hair of family and friends. What started as a natural talent quickly became a source of independence—by the time I entered college, I was braiding full-time to fund my education and support myself. Even then, I knew this was my calling. Read more>>

Loren Goldfarb

I was born and raised right here in Baltimore, and my journey started with a childhood love for local TV news. Growing up, I’d watch WJZ with Jerry Turner and Al Sanders, and I knew early on that I wanted to work in the television news business. Since I wasn’t great at sports—playing for the Orioles was out of the question—I threw myself into journalism. Read more>>

Natalia Bauer

My fiancé, Andreas and I have spent most of our lives working in the restaurant industry in Baltimore, including over a decade together at Baltimore Soundstage. During COVID, when we started dating, we began seriously talking about our shared dream of opening a place of our own. Read more>>

Donna Quesinberry

My professional story began earlier than most. In junior high school, I won a regional literary contest that came with an unexpected opportunity: a sponsored finishing‑school honorarium. My parents told me I could choose the school or a new horse. As a devoted equestrian, and a young girl not quite ready to leave home, I chose the horse. Read more>>

Michael Thomas

I am a proud product of North Baltimore’s Govans community—a close-knit neighborhood that instilled in me the values of pride and communal responsibility. My foundation was built at home: my mother taught me to read at just two years old, and by the time I entered kindergarten, I was already well ahead of my peers. Read more>>