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.

JULDA NIZWARA

Please introduce my self, name is julda nizwara artist illustrator and graphic design from bandung,indonesia west java. I dig rather relying on simpleis a pen and ink on paper technic and black and white work iconic, aparently the layout of a to build medieval, occultic, surealism, folkloric, gothic, dark fantasy, sigil, magic. Read more>>

Lady Reddzz

As a child, I remember riding down Central Avenue in the backseat of my father’s van listening to the Quiet Storm on WHUR 96.3 FM. I fell in love with not only the music but also the way on-air personalities interacted with listeners and how they used their voices to tell stories – little did I know that would be me one day. Read more>>

Petra McGregor

I am Petra and I am no longer Petrified. I grew up downtown in Baltimore, Maryland. I went to an all girls private school called Bryn Mawr. When I tell people that last part, they usually laugh. Nowadays, I don’t come across as the all-girls-prep-school type. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the education I got there, and the friends I made. Read more>>

Aristotle Royal

I started out taking pictures of my friends Allen and dice they had been making music shooting music vidoes and I just wanted to be able to help push them further and market them how they deserve, from there it. Read more>>

John Videler

My photography journey began in my parents’ photography studio in Westport, Connecticut, where I learned the craft from my father at an early age. Working in the film era taught me the importance of technical skill, patience, and making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. Today, I’m a multi-genre photographer, which means no two days are ever the same. Read more>>

Bobbi A. Pritchett

I’ve always been someone who loved music, creativity, and bringing people together, so ending up in radio feels like everything naturally came full circle. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miles College with a degree in Electronic Communications and Mass Media Studies, and from there, I was determined to build a career in media and entertainment. Read more>>

Chrissy Basso

Healthcare has been a part of my life since I was 17 years old, and I’ve proudly been a registered nurse for more than 12 years. After spending many years at the bedside—including working through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic—I realized I was ready for a new chapter. Aesthetic nursing was the perfect fit because it combines my two greatest passions: medicine and beauty. Read more>>

Dorothy Edwards

Friends of Dorothy Café started with a simple question my wife and I kept asking while we were expecting our son: ‘What kind of community do we want him to grow up in?’ We imagined him surrounded by a big, beautiful village of queer and trans families, a childhood filled with belonging, connection, and joy that so many of us never had growing up. Read more>>

Malik Perry

My journey started in Baltimore when I began performing as a street performer at the Inner Harbor. That was one of the first places where I really started developing my confidence as a performer and connecting with people through music. In 2015, I began creating drum content using songs from different artists and sharing my performances online. Read more>>

Imanya James

My story started with a film camera. My dad gave it to me along with a photography book, and I read that book until the pages were worn out. I’ve always seen the world a little differently, and having a camera in my hands gave me a way to slow down, observe, and tell stories that words couldn’t always capture. Read more>>

Julia Martin Frazier

My name is Julia Martin Frazier, and I am the owner and creator of ‘Harp & Home’. I have been a professional harpist for my entire adult life. I am a mom of two, with my husband of 22 years. I am a real estate advisor with Monument Sotheby’s International Realty in Baltimore, Maryland. Read more>>

Sitarah Kassam

I️ started my business, Art of Hennas, in 2017 out of a need to find a creative outlet in my everyday corporate life. Henna is a big part of my cultural identity and it was always something I️ grew up doing and dabbling in. Read more>>

Shalonda Conner

When I started Envious Treats, a lot of people doubted me. People laughed, talked about me, and acted like my business would never make it. They counted me out before I even had a chance. But I stayed consistent. I kept showing up, kept learning, and kept building my brand even when things weren’t easy. Read more>>

Mercedez Spain

Pearla started with a bad laundry experience and a problem I knew very well. Like a lot of women, I was carrying much of the behind-the-scenes work of keeping our home running. Laundry was one of those jobs that never felt finished. You could wash and fold every piece of clothing in the house, and someone would change clothes before you made it upstairs. Read more>>

Cortez H

Hello my name is Cortez I’m from NYC Throughout my life I’ve always been told that I was always funny, hilarious and genuine person. Its was timing & the universes will that I ended up being a comedian. Its all started right before the pandemic I went to a couple podcasting events where I made the crowd laugh & engage with what was going on. Read more>>

Hamaad Briggs

MAADISH started in 2017 from a simple idea: I wanted to build something that represented who I was becoming, not just what I wanted to wear. I wasn’t interested in following trends—I wanted to create a brand that stood for discipline, growth, purpose, and confidence. Like most entrepreneurs, the journey hasn’t been a straight line. Read more>>

Dee Brookshire

I spent 26 years in hospitality and had the opportunity to serve in several leadership roles, including Front Office Manager, Revenue Manager, Senior Sales Manager, and Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Those experiences gave me a well-rounded perspective on how revenue, sales, operations, marketing, and the guest experience all work together to create a successful business. Read more>>

Shayna and TJ Wells and Kittles

We met in 2022 at a wine event and became fast friends over a shared love of wine, and honestly, a shared love of tequila too. From there, our friendship continued to grow naturally as we continued on our wine journeys . Read more>>

LaNita LaDais

People always ask me how I got into production, but the truth is…I didn’t start behind the camera. I started in front of it. As a teenager, I was a model, and don’t get me wrong—the glamour was exciting. I loved getting dressed up, being on set, traveling, and seeing the finished product. Read more>>

Quintin & Megan Lathan

Quintin Lathan, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 30, 1980. He graduated from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, MD in 1998 and from Morgan State University in 2004 with his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Quintin was initiated into the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 2008 and founded the 1911 Group in 2015. Read more>>

Imani Dickson

For most of my life, I’ve struggled with my weight. Like many people, I would lose weight, gain it back, and repeat the cycle over and over again. A few years ago, I stepped on the scale and saw 399 pounds. That number terrified me, and I promised myself I would never become a 400-pound man. Read more>>

Rory O’Donnell

I’ve known my brother Declan since I was 9 years old, and we grew up listening to the same music that our dad would play for us. When I got into playing guitar (around the age of 14), I included my little brothers on the journey. Read more>>

Shay Sharpe

I was diagnosed with stage III ER+/PR+ breast cancer at age of 26. At that time I was unaware that a woman my age could receive a breast cancer diagnosis. I was under the impression that breast cancer was an older woman’s disease. Read more>>

Nelson Amazing

I first started as a dancer but I always had so much passion of music: singing , and performing. Even as I was still a dancer but I always imagined myself as a main artist based on singing and making good music that will have an impact to the world and inspire and motivate different generations. Read more>>

Chxn

I actually started out as a rapper. Like a lot of independent artists, I had a vision for the music I wanted to make, but I couldn’t afford beats or studio time. I was mad young at the time. Around the age of 15, I got an internship at local radio station in my hometown in Georgia. Read more>>

Lynaia Jordan

I am a Baltimore film maker, born and raised in The Flaghouse Courts Projects in the 80’s and 90’s. Grew up in disfunction, drugs, poverty, I learned life through experiences. Having to grow up fast , my teenage years were rough, from relationship abuse as a teen then becoming a teen mother, it was hard. Read more>>

Conor & the Wild Hunt Kierán, Thillman, and Gabe

We are a group that has slowly coalesced into the form you see today. Kierán has been the driving force of Conor and the Wild Hunt for over a decade. Read more>>

Andrea Guzman

My name is Andrea Guzmán. I am Guatemalan, a mother, wife, a full-time entrepreneur. I am a makeup artist and professional Lashista. Approximately 7 years ago I decided to start my own business, I had been going through difficulties in my life and one of them was losing my girl Samantha. Read more>>

Gloria Korlou

Born and raised in Hartford, CT – my father was the director of marketing for CBS Radio. He was a single-parent and I became a protege, and extra hand around the office. I grew up in the hallways of the radio station and after he retired in 2015, went into Software Engineering while attending college. Read more>>

Antonio Cawthorne

Growing up, I was always drawn to comedy and action movies. I admired the actors who could entertain people, make them laugh, and leave a lasting impression. That inspired me to want to stand out in my own way and bring positive energy to others. As I got older, I discovered a passion for sports and fitness. Read more>>

Feibai Yang

Before coming to the United States to pursue my MFA in Illustration Practice, I studied Wildlife and Nature Reserve Management in China. Although I didn’t stay in that field after graduation, my connection with nature never disappeared. I worked in several different industries for a few years, but I always felt I hadn’t found the work I wanted to dedicate my life to. Read more>>

T’Aisha Woodard

My story began in Baltimore, Maryland, where I developed an early curiosity about people—their experiences, what shapes their behavior, and how the right support can completely change someone’s life. That curiosity eventually grew into a passion for mental health and helping others, which led me to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology at Coppin State University. Read more>>

Siani ‘Dj Si’ Freeland

I stumbled into Djing after hearing Dj Aasha Adore perform at 12 Lounge. That had to have been around 2011. I remember being in awe of her musical range and becoming curious about how everything worked behind the booth. She had the most beautiful spirit. Read more>>

Zemi Turner

The Story of DJ Zemi Music has always been more than just sound to me—It’s how I communicate with people . Before I ever touched a controller, I was the person who paid attention to the energy in every room, the songs that made people smile, and the moments that created unforgettable memories. Read more>>

Robert Ginyard

I am an entrepreneur turned health advocate after having a bout with prostate cancer in 2010. I was in the process of re-launching a line of totebags I created for working women, when I was diagnosed. Years earlier, my totebags were sold through major departments stores, including Nordstrom. After the successful treatment for my prostate cancer, I had plans to return my entrepreneurial venture. Read more>>

Antonio Holloman

The last time VoyageBaltimore shared my story, it was 2021. I had recently earned my MBA with a concentration in Social Media Marketing, and I was building The JetLyfe around a simple belief: where you come from should never determine where you’re capable of going. At the time, I was primarily known for my footwear. Read more>>

Alex Sincevich

My love for music really goes way back to my early childhood. My mother would take me to Jazz concerts in the park, and play old records on the family victrola for my siblings and I. In school I picked up the trumpet and played in the jazz band. Read more>>

Darienne Singfield

I developed a passion for doing hair at a very young age. I grew up rolling my mom’s hair while she was asleep, fascinated by the beauty and creativity behind it. Before I was even tall enough to see over the bathroom counter, I was attempting to curl my own hair. Read more>>

Swinita Shah

I’m a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (M.S., CCC-SLP), licensed in Maryland and ASHA-accredited. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Towson University, then my Master’s in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Baylor University, and completed my clinical fellowship back at my own high school in Howard County (a full-circle moment!). Read more>>