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.

Brittain Duckworth

Whiskey Feathers began almost 14 years ago as a duo with myself, Brittain Duckworth, on vocals, rhythm guitar, and songwriting, and Jenny Fitchett on keys and vocals. We were playing covers and a limited number of original songs around Baltimore County and quickly grew into a trio with Johnny Grape joining us on harmonica. Read more>>

Stephanie Riley

Fern & Folk has never been something I set out to turn into a large business. It started simply because I loved making things with my hands. Back in 2020, I was looking for a creative outlet outside of my full-time career in technology, and I discovered cement casting almost by accident. Read more>>

Daequan Barnhill

I Started Actually Trying To Write Music When I Was 14 I Grew Up Listening To People Like Lil Wayne,Erykah Badu, OutKast,Nas, List Go’s On I Grew Up On MTV Jams. Me & My Big Brother Taevon Aka (Stunna Mirno) Used To Watch The Music Videos And Pretend We Were Performing Too Them Like They Were Our Songs. Read more>>

Jessica Jenelle

My journey as a wedding planner started as a simple favor for a close friend’s family member. She shared that her family was feeling overwhelmed and stressed with the wedding planning process and asked if I could step in and help because I had always been known as the organized friend. What started as a favor quickly became something so much more. Read more>>

Kiana Eboné and Nicole Barnes

Brilliance in Black was founded by 6 Howard alumnae with a common goal of sharing the positive stories of Black people. What started out as simple Instagram posts recognizing positivity, turned into a keystone business in our communities and empire of Blackness! Read more>>

Chad Short (aka biig red couch)

I started writing poems and songs in Middle School. I was probably in 8th or 9th Grade when I heard Lil Wayne’s ‘Mr. Carter’ featuring Jay-Z. That’s when music, hip-hop, and poetry really started to take hold. I went to college at UMBC and earned a B.F.A. Degree in Acting. Read more>>

Kevin Turner

I didn’t grow up wanting to be an acupuncturist. I fell into the profession first as a patient. During my 20’s, I began to suffer from periodic, nasty migraines. After a particularly painful episode I went to my doctor hoping to find some lasting solution to this recurring ailment. Read more>>

Thomas Downs Jr.

I’m Thomas Downs Jr., though most people know me as TD. As a former college football player, my passion for fitness grew into something much bigger than athletics. Training for football and baseball taught me how to adapt my workouts to perform at my best, but after football was over, the gym became more than a place to train. Read more>>

Wenston Black

My name is Wenston Black. I’m from West Baltimore, Maryland both born and raised. My story as an actor and spoken word poet is a little bit different than a traditional tale of an artist. I would like to say I was born an artist but the truth is—- growing up I had no interest in being an artist. Read more>>

Salama Oliver

Hello , I Am Salama Oliver Bka (LayyDaDoll) , I’m 23 years old . Im an all around art &beauty savant . I started modeling at the age of 12 , my main purpose then was to prove something to myself. Read more>>

Sarahy Figueroa

I’m a proud first generation Honduran-American. Although I was raised nearly my entire life in Maryland, I still carry my Latina roots deep. I was in the medical field for about 9 years before I switched industries. I’ve had a passion for the beauty industry since I was a little girl. Read more>>

Robyn Stegman

Since I was little I’ve always blended activism and creativity. I started a strike in my 3rd grade classroom, using our crayons and construction paper to make protest signs. My work has always centered on connection, creativity, and improving the world we’re so lucky to inhabit. Read more>>

Andrea Strong

My story really began with creativity, faith, and a desire to build something of my own. I’ve always had different ideas and creative interests, but over time I realized that they weren’t random — they were pieces of a bigger purpose. Becoming a mother also changed the way I viewed my life and my goals. Read more>>

Andrew Lundquist

I’ve always been artistically inclined, when I was young I was known to make sculptures out of any random scrap of cardboard or pipe cleaner I could get my hand on. I was highly influenced by my parents, my mother was a painter and my father was a DIY-er so ending up as a very hands on artist felt predestined. Read more>>

Jonice Moody

I knew I wanted to be a designer from a very young age. I used to hand sew sheets and towels into dresses, sketch clothes, and have fashion shows whenever I could. Life happened and I put the sewing machine away once I got to high school. Read more>>

Anthony Jones (JonesShorty)

My passion for music production started in high school through my cousin, who was studying music production and would sometimes bring equipment home. He introduced me to the software and gave me my first real opportunity to explore creating music. I have always been interested in the music industry. Read more>>

Kimberly Ellis

We started with a sauce I created and named StickySauce in 2014 We put it on wings and the response was explosive. at that time we were doing Farmers Markets and Food Festivals. We then branched out to local businesses for catered Friday lunch specials. We developed a following and started to get contract work which needed us to have a commercial kitchen. Read more>>

D’Nai Walker

I built D’Clutter by D’Nai after enduring multi layoffs and mismatched positions in my corporate career. Through some personal projects in my own home, I discovered I have a knack for maximizing limited space and organizing. I used my free time to study different types of organizing techniques and create the tools needed to market my company. Read more>>

Afi Soul

I’m a singer song writer. So, I fell in love with music long before I underetood what was really happening on my life and what it was doing to me. I remember as a little girl sitting on the porch squinting my eyes just enough to let the sun rays shine through and singing songs I would here on the radio.. Read more>>

Derrick Haire

Fell in love with photography almost twenty years ago by accident. Got my 1st camera and shot over 5000 pictures with it. Along with my love for animals I put the two together. Read more>>

David/CHAOSMR718 Cenevil

My story is really a story of turning chaos into creation.** I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in a Haitian-American family, and life challenged me early. I didn’t have a traditional path—I left high school before graduating and had to figure out how to survive, grow, and create my own opportunities. Music became one of the biggest outlets for me. Read more>>

Nwamaka Korie

I’ve been making art and telling stories as long as I can remember. Growing up beside three artistic sisters, I was always inspired to create. I was known for coming up with crazy storylines and acting them out with dolls. In high school, I was a true theatre kid studying design and production at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. Read more>>

Kalin Dodson

I’ve been involved with media since I was the anchor for my middle school morning announcements. Mass Communication was my magnet at Deer Park Middle Magnet school and I have been in front of cameras or behind the scenes directing or editing ever since. Read more>>

Brenton Mowforth

Since creating Cheers to Happy Hour in 2017, and Wander Thirsty in 2021, Brenton Mowforth has become the authority on where to drink and how to drink. His mission is to influence people to share in his passion for ‘drinking better, not more’ by taking a more thoughtful approach to what we consume. Read more>>

Tysheara Branch

My journey started with my love for creativity and graphic design. I’ve always enjoyed creating things and bringing ideas to life, so I decided to turn that passion into something of my own. When I first started ShearaB Graphics, I focused mainly on creating flyers, YouTube video intros, logos, and business cards. Read more>>

Anugraha Iyer

I am a photographer based out of Baltimore, MD. I specialize in weddings, engagements, and portraits of all kinds. I have been taking pictures all my life, but my real photography journey started when my lovely wife (girlfriend at the time) Emma surprised me with a camera on our first Christmas together. Read more>>

Kristen King

My journey as an artist has been anything but linear. In many ways, Worthwhile Baggage was born from learning how to make something beautiful out of what life leaves behind. I am a self-taught multidisciplinary artist and designer from Washington, DC. I began creating around 2020, initially without any grand plan of becoming a professional artist. Read more>>

Matthew Ciehoski

I began in residential carpentry with a home builder at 22. I work my way through being a carpenters helper to framer. It got to a point where I wanted to focus on more detailed work. Luckily there was a local cabinet and millwork shop in my town who were looking to hire apprentices. Thus I had to begin from the bottom again. Read more>>

Chelsea Knight

Starting Astrocharmed was like a dream to me, I envisioned it daily on my way to work. I could see exactly what I wanted to sell, how I wanted it to look , and how i envisioned my products to be. I started buying small items here and there. Read more>>

Lizzy Daniel

Pure Alignment Physical Therapy & Pilates has been in the works since June 2022. I started small, seeing Pilates clients in their homes just two days a week. As demand grew, I knew I eventually needed a dedicated space, but I wasn’t quite ready to commit to a commercial lease. Read more>>

Darius T. Moore

My journey started in Prince George’s County, Maryland, with a camera, a passion for storytelling, and a desire to create opportunities for myself. I began creating content at a young age and eventually built my presence online through YouTube, producing everything from skits and vlogs to entertainment and film-focused content. Read more>>

Logan McCracken

Tattooing was always a goal that felt just out of reach. Being a woman in an industry that’s always been dominated by men- where they dictate how much you can learn and the chances you’re given. Read more>>

Dayson Brooks

My name is Dayson Brooks, and I am currently a 25-year-old father figure, mentor, teacher, business owner, published author, community advocate, and political activist. I was born and raised in Baltimore City, in the same streets and communities that I now work so hard to improve. My educational journey began at Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy. Read more>>

Jamaal Miller

My story really begins with creativity. I grew up in North Carolina, and music was one of the first places where I discovered that I had something to offer the world. I started performing at a young age, and what began as a love for music eventually became a much larger journey of discovering purpose, leadership, faith, technology, education, and service. Read more>>

Monique S. Pearson

My journey has been anything but traditional. I grew up in Utica, New York, as the oldest of four children, and from an early age, I learned the value of resilience, responsibility, and perseverance. Like many women, I faced my share of challenges, including childhood trauma, low self-esteem, and experiences that left me questioning my worth. For years, fear and self-doubt kept me playing small. Read more>>

Jen Whitlock

People often ask me why I started Wonderwall Event Co. three years ago– which officially began as Wonderwall Backdrops. I had a full-time career in healthcare marketing, two crazy boys, a husband, and a full life. But I had that proverbial itch that I wanted to scratch. So I started by crafting one floral backdrop in my family room… silk flower after silk flower… Read more>>

Lauryl Yates

I worked as a nurse for 10 years at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore City. I had my second daughter in 2021 and left nursing to stay home with my girls. I’d seen a few furniture flippers on social media and wanted to try it for myself. In November of 2022 I flipped my first piece. In January of 2023, I sold my first piece. Read more>>

Elsie Soto

I am a creative person, but for me, photography just aligns with how I see the world. I take mental snapshots of people, places and things that I want to remember, and from the time my father gave me my first camera, I was capturing images of everything. Read more>>

Louben Repke

I really feel like I’m living the American Dream. I was born in Haiti and moved to Maryland when I was 10 years old. At the time, I spoke Haitian Kreyol and French, but I did not speak a lick of English. I attended Old Mill Middle North, which was definitely a big adjustment for me, haha. Read more>>

Tamira Slade

My name is Tamira Slade. I am a Producer, Songwriter, Artist, and Studio Owner from Baltimore, MD. I own an award-winning studio in the local scene called The Chamber, where I’ve been executive producing over 50+ artists since 2020. Read more>>

Ja’teera Crawley

From learning to style hair in 6th grade as the oldest of four while supporting my mother in pursuing her GNA, my passion for beauty, creativity, and empowering others to feel confident has evolved into a purposeful journey that has shaped both my thriving hair business and my long-term vision. Read more>>

Jonah Simmonds

I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, especially the kind that lets you build an entire world from scratch. I’m a teacher, performer, writer, and lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, so creating stories has always been one of the ways I make sense of the world and connect with other people. *Felix: Space Pirate* really grew out of that love. Read more>>