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The Change-Makers: stories that inspire

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.

Savanna Twiddy

When COVID restrictions lifted, the wedding industry absolutely EXPLODED. So many people had postponed their celebrations, and suddenly there was a huge demand for artists. I took that as my sign to dive in headfirst. Now, over five years later, I’m a full-time artist (and yes, I still walk dogs for funzies <3) who averages about 30 to 40 weddings and over 250 clients in the chair each year. I feel incredibly lucky to have a career that is not only fun and creatively fulfilling, but also centered around uplifting people and celebrating beauty, authenticity, and connection. Read more>>

Kenji Prince

I needed a place to work, but nothing fit my idea of what a barbershop should be, could be. It became a destination barbershop built out neccessity. I signed a lease in November 2011, the space, at the time, was an “antique” store filled with broken tvs, dirty stuffed animals, and half bottles of old cologne. Slowly adding a few sinks and chairs, it finally became a legal business in April the next year. A place where everyone is welcome, and often come early to hang out and stay after the services rendered to continue the session. Read more>>

Scott Gage

Keeping my bees alive in the beginning was a struggle. I didn’t know what I was doing early on. I read a lot, but unfortunately, the bees don’t read those same books, so I learned by making mistakes. I didn’t give up, and devoted more time and effort into becoming a good (better) beekeeper. Read more>>

Emma Aldish

I am 22 years old and like every girl- I loved all things beauty. When I was in school I would get all my friends ready for their dances and when we would all get together to do something my favorite part was getting ready with the girls and doing our hair and make up. I graduated Raphaels School of Beauty in 2022 and have been working in the industry ever since. I now am a solo esthetician and own The Divine Spa in Salem, Ohio. Read more>>

Paris Trammell

I started off in this healthcare field in 2007 working as a Medical Assistant. I did that for about 4 years before going to nursing school. I completed my LPN in 2012 and intended to keep going for my RN however, life happens and that was delayed. I completed my RN in 2020 and throughout my career I’ve worked as a RN case manager along with working in outpatient clinics and some local travel assignments. Majority of my career has been around case management. Read more>>

Crystal Drennon

I brought my own personal experience into not only my doula work, but into therapy a well. Photography helps me capture the raw moments within families. Then the non-profit work helps me build connections and offer support I wish we had more of. There’s nothing in our area like it. Many of my clients, people I meet often say I’m a unicorn or like Mary Poppins and I do a lot where they can talk to me easily since I know so much, but I’m just doing what I’m passionate about. It’s always hard for me to accept those compliments because I know I do a lot, and while it’s a great trait, it’s also a really hard one because I give everything my all and get burnt out sometimes. Read more>>

Dominique Delk

My name is Dominique Delk, and I am a wife, mom, and entrepreneur with a passion for creativity and connection. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, I relocated to Charlotte, NC, in 2016 after graduating college. Together with my husband, a talented photographer, we founded **Upscale Studio and Events** to combine our shared passions for photography and event design. We are proud parents to our 6-year-old son, Ace, and are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our baby girl in March 2025. Read more>>

Mar Imon

But in 2020, something in me shifted. I felt an undeniable pull to isolate—not to run from life, but to finally meet God in the quiet. I had spent so much time surrounded by noise and people that I never truly had space to think or feel. So I listened to that prompting and started my spiritual journey. At first, it was small: setting aside time to talk to God, worship, and read. I was still dancing, still tied to the world in some ways, but I was also becoming more disciplined, more intentional. I started watching church online, reading Christian books, going in person, and slowly—beautifully—pulling away from the things that no longer served me. Read more>>

Katie Ryan

I started the Ohio Solidarity Book Exchange shortly after participating in the April 5th “Hands Off” protest. Following the 2024 election, my husband Sam and I had many conversations regarding the burnout, despair, and helplessness we saw in ourselves, our leftist allies, and much of American society as a whole. Looking at the state of the country as a whole–let alone the world!–left us feeling exhausted and powerless. Read more>>

Roula Labbad

We started DateCleveland in 2023 with one mission: to bring singles together in real life through fun, approachable events. What began as a few small gatherings quickly turned into a vibrant community spanning multiple cities. We’ve hosted everything from speed dating to game nights to themed mixers, all designed to help people connect face-to-face without pressure. Read more>>

Julie Schmidt

As I took more classes, I fell in love with the subject. At the same time, I was wickedly homesick—this was before cell phones, and the 2.5-hour drive home felt like a world away. I remember having to check my email in the computer lab—yes, the computer lab, before the age of smartphones, when email was still a new thing. It was such a treat when I could finally log in and read messages from home, and receiving physical mail was honestly the best part of my day. So, at the end of my sophomore year, I not only changed my major, but I transferred to the University of Cincinnati to study Political Science and Communications, with the ultimate goal of law school. Read more>>

Regime Willis

Creating The Public Health Notebook has been a journey filled with both purpose and challenges. Like many grassroots organizations, we’ve faced hurdles—securing funding, building partnerships, and finding the time to pour into this work while juggling other responsibilities. But what’s kept me going is my incredible support system. My friends, family, and board truly believe in the mission and vision of this organization. Whether it’s offering guidance, showing up, or simply sharing a post online, their support means everything. Read more>>

Kimberly Mack

The road has not been smooth. However, I attribute most of the bumps to the fact that I lack a business mind. I am an educator by trade and by calling. I made many poor investments because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. All I wanted to do was take the stress off my clients, to make their lives and planning easier. I didn’t pay enough attention to the details of running a business. I also made several bad investments with companies that claimed they could help me draw more clients and expand my business. Needless to say, I lost big on that. Read more>>

Tina Dolatowski

Lion and Blue is a gift shop that focuses on fair trade items from around the world. We carry an extensive clothing collection, from flowy pants to summer dresses , tops and skirts. We have a great collection of hand bags: leather, textiles and vegan leather.. We have the largest selection of BIRKENSTOCK sandals, shoes and boots in NE Ohio! We are known as the #1 shop in Lakewood when it comes to buying a unique gift for yourself or someone special. We gift bag/box your item so it’s ready to give, at no extra charge. My husband (the jeweler) repairs and custom makes jewelry to order after a consultation.  Read more>>

Mike Cook

I tell clients, look, you aren’t like everybody else. So, let’s ignore the photos that your big sister had taken. Instead, let’s attack your session like it’s a photo shoot for a magazine. You just tell me the magazine. Is it Vogue? Rolling Stone? Or the sports fashion issue of ESPN The Magazine? Let’s go! Read more>>

Pim Kurczewski

I would say that it has been a fairly smooth road. Social media is my biggest struggle and putting myself out there. In this day and age, social media is so big with marketing so I know that it is crucial and a skill I need to learn. Each day I get more courageous in posting. My friends and mentors are a big help with support and encouragement for me to keep going and putting my face online. I say it’s a fairly smooth road, but its still new, so stay tuned! Read more>>

Chy’Naia Jones-Hill

Now a licensed nail technician and future BA graduate, I am building a mobile business that brings healthcare and beauty together. My mission? To serve others while staying true to myself on my own terms. As I put it, “This isn’t just a job, it’s my joy. And I’m the boss of it”. I’m not choosing between caring for people and expressing creativity, I’m combining them. I get to show up on my terms, serving from scrubs to style, wherever my clients are. Read more>>

Rachel Morse

I currently work out of my home with hopes of expanding into a storefront someday. For the last 2.5 years, I have worked to develop a wholesale client base with a handful of area business owners as well as non-wholesale customers who are interested in delicious gluten free treats! In addition to wholesale and special orders, I also work with local businesses and markets doing pop ups throughout the course of the year. Read more>>

Adam Brown

After graduation, Adam entered the world of professional baseball, where he spent five years as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. His career highlights include a strength internship with the Cleveland Indians and Strength and Conditioning Coaching roles in the player development systems of both the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins. These high-level experiences gave him firsthand access to elite training methodologies—tools he now brings to his everyday clients with a focus on results-driven, evidence-based programming. Read more>>

Darrien Mccoy

I’m a wedding and portrait photographer that has a true to life but cinematic style. I keep colors natural while adding a small nostalgic feel to my photos. My most proud moments are feedback that I get from clients. All of my clients I treat like family. We are locked in once we work together. Lastly, nothing beats seeing a client use your photo that you took of them as their profile picture. Read more>>

Keianna Springer

When I got back home, I enrolled in nail school and eventually got licensed. From there, I built my clientele from the ground up and focused on perfecting my craft. Over time, I found my lane and grew my brand. I later became an educator for a well-known company called The Gel Bottle, and eventually launched my own online classes to help other nail techs sharpen their skills in both gel and the e-file manicure technique. Read more>>

Lisa Mayhugh

I joined the League several years ago, looking for a way to make an impact in Cleveland. What I found was more than volunteer opportunities, I found a network of passionate, brilliant women who were not only serving the community but building each other up along the way. Through committee work, trainings, and project leadership, I developed skills that extended far beyond the League and into my professional and personal life. Read more>>

Katerina DiFranco

Soon after, a friend from college asked me to design their home, and that project was a turning point—it made me realize just how much I enjoyed the personal nature of residential interiors. While I still take on select small-scale corporate projects, my heart is truly in creating spaces that reflect the lives and personalities of the people who live in them.. I launched my own LLC, left the corporate world, and dove headfirst into working one-on-one with clients. The timing aligned perfectly with a major life milestone—I was expecting my second son—so stepping into entrepreneurship also allowed me the flexibility to focus on my growing family. Read more>>

Nick Hause

Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, I have lived here for 32 years now. Robotics and remote control toys have always been apart of my life. Whether it be tearing down my broken Air Hogs airplane to make into a bigger one, taking apart my Evel Knievel stunt bike to see how it worked, or building anything I could think of with Legos, I have always designed and figured my own way to make it work. Read more>>

David Tirpak

I was also very young and had a ton of personal growing to do in the realm of managing relationships with clients who were making an enormous emotional and financial commitment into having their dog trained, Learning to be a leader for the employees I had that worked along side me doing the work, and getting past a lot of the ego you have early on when you think you know FAR more than you actually do. Most of these things you learn through making mistakes and staying open and honest when mistakes happen by taking full responsibility for them, not blaming exterior factors, and making sure you pivot to ensure they don’t happen again. Finding mentorship was very important for all of this for me. Read more>>

Brian Reardon

Today, we’re cooking up new flavors, expanding our product line, and gearing up to take 5-0 Dips beyond state lines. But no matter how far we grow, one thing will never change: our commitment to quality and purpose. Our dips are made with premium ingredients, always gluten-free, and we have plans to donate a portion of every sale to organizations supporting first responder mental health and suicide prevention—causes that hit close to home.  Read more>>

Ashlee Young-Gibson

My very first BIG issue I had was in October of 2024, a beautiful wedding gallery was finished for the nicest bride and groom. 13 files were corrupt, and in the worst place possible. Their cake-cutting pictures were gone. They were super understanding and incredibly patient with me, and I still adore them to this day. Immediately after I delivered their gallery, I’m talking hours later, my entire hard drive that had all of their photos on it crashed. Read more>>

Melissa Misier

Building a Career on Community — Founded in 2023, New Horizons Staffing was built upon decades of expertise. The early experience of business began back in high school, attending a business education course, sparking something deeper. This led to encompassing a degree in business and embarking my career journey, from managing multiple offices, leadership in regional recruitment, and extensive training in areas such as graphic design and marketing. Each role has contributed to me finding my true passion. Read more>>

Eszter Gozon

As demand for our offerings grew, we knew it was time to expand our team and our physical space. Today we are an Integrative Wellness Center in Dublin, Ohio. We have several Licensed Massage Therapists, traditional Yoga Instructors, and support personnel who keep the virtual and physical activities running smoothly. Our offerings include massage therapy, yoga classes, educational workshops, individual lifestyle consultations, and healthy lifestyle products. Read more>>

Amy

I specialize in practical, personalized healthcare rooted in natural strategies and functional insight. From detox and thyroid support to chronic fatigue and hormone balance, I help clients connect the dots and feel like themselves again. I also have lab privileges, allowing me to order and interpret functional labs for deeper insights. And through my online dispensary, clients can easily access professional-grade supplements without the confusion of endless options. Read more>>

Eduardo Cid

As a service-connected disabled veteran and a father of two — including a son with special needs — I know the value of resilience, adaptability, and connection. Every client I work with brings a story, and I take pride in helping them tell it authentically. Whether it’s capturing a once-in-a-lifetime moment or helping a small business stand out, my mission is to deliver work that’s both meaningful and professional. Read more>>

Deborah Doling-Dade

I went back to school at age 30 after a divorce and unsure how to move forward as a hurting single mom of 2 toddlers. Since that time I’ve served families of many diverse backgrounds and ages. The families I’ve helped have suffered from suicidal ideation and attempts, depression, anxiety, loss, grief, abuse, addiction- just to name a few. Fortunate enough to be well trained in CBT, DBT and MI modalities – I strive to combine theory with compassionate connection. Many of the adults I serve currently achieve improved symptoms simply through learning affective interpersonal communication skills with the members closest to them. (Interpersonal Communications was my first attempt at school – so I’m well versed in these skills as well) Read more>>

Amanda Marshall

For 17 of those years, my weight fluctuated between 180 and 255 pounds. I’d lose some weight, then have another baby, repeating the cycle every two or three years. After having my sixth child, my body was worn down. I had bulging discs in my S1, L5, and L4 vertebrae, severe diastasis recti, joint pain, constant fatigue, low confidence, and growing doubt about whether I could be the kind of mom I wanted to be — the kind who played, laughed, and lived fully alongside her children, not just sat on the sidelines. Read more>>

Simon Burkey

I was first introduced to the tree service industry by friends when I was living in Hawaii. I moved to Kona and started working on a family friends coconut tree business directly out of high school. I grew up both rock and tree climbing on my families 8 aches. I guess you could say I have always been fascinated with climbing. My first word was squirrel! After moving home to Cincinnati, I started S.B. Tree Service in 2021. For the first 9 months it was just me, my little brother, Alexander, and our third crewman Amiene. Since 2021, S.B. Tree Service has grown to 18 crew members! Starting with word of mouth, we have worked our way up and are in a great rhythm of growth. Read more>>

Dani Doran

Movement has always been part of who I am. I was a dancer growing up—someone who loved to express through my body, to feel music and emotion move through me. Lately, I’ve been returning to that part of myself. I recently performed in my first dance show in over 25 years. It was incredible to be back on stage, surrounded by such powerful, talented women, remembering what it feels like to be fully alive and expressive. It felt like a reflection of this new chapter in my life—stepping further into my role as a solo-preneur with deeper courage and expanded artistry. Read more>>

Brianna Rae Quinn

I did my first DIY project in high school with money I had from my first job as a barista. I’d found some magnetic tape at the craft store while looking for spray paint. During Prom, my Sophomore year, some of us were able to take home to center pieces. I snagged a foot-tall, silver tea light shaped like the Empire State Building. I wanted it black to match my room and while I was in that store, I just got inspired. Read more>>

Ashlyn Dressman

I’ve come to understand that struggle is part of my creative journey. Like many others, I deal with self-doubt and periods where I feel disconnected from my work. There have been moments when I question my value and the value of the work I’m creating. But I’ve learned that these struggles are part of being an artist and a part of being human and these things don’t disqualify you from creating something great.  Read more>>

Jason Langdon

When I was growing up I had a passion for art. When it came time to choose a field of study for college, I chose graphic design. It seemed like an art-adjacent field where I could make a good living. In addition to a solid understanding of color, form and composition, my design courses taught me to think strategically and holistically when approaching a problem. As a result, I was perfectly set up to enter the design and advertising workforce just as the Internet was exploding. Read more>>

Tara Bright

We worked hard to get our licensing in place, and on June 22, 2017—our 15th wedding anniversary—Sunny Slope Winery opened its doors for the first time. From that day on, we’ve been pouring Good Times & Bright Wines. We specialize in sweet and fruit wines, with unique offerings like our maple syrup wine and mead made from honey. For those who prefer something drier, we have two dry wines and two semi-dry wines, along with our best-selling Elderberry wine, which somehow delights both sweet and dry wine lovers. Read more>>

Andrew Musilli

My first policy was written in what most agree is the poorest county in the State of Ohio. Therapeutic Foster Care was the organization’s mission and they were struggling with rising cost and availability of insurance. As you can imagine, the unique needs of this organization were not attractive to most insurance companies. Read more>>

Sheena Hanscel

I remember knowing I was going to college since I was a child, but it was only because it was drilled into me from an early age that the only way to be successful was to go to college. I graduated a year early and found myself stumped when it came time to choose my major. I had no idea what I wanted to do, and after looking at the entire list of what The Ohio State University had to offer, the only thing that looked interesting to me was psychology. Read more>>

Chris Elfers

Starting a new business is always difficult. Many people thought I was crazy for opening a bookstore, and I took their concerns seriously. However, I knew that the model which my brother and I employed (at our own shops respectively) was unique and had a chance at thriving. Getting started was a little rough, but there was enough initial success to keep my spirits high. I had to allocate funds throughout the process to renovate the space which made things more difficult but in the end it was worth it. I feel these investments have made the store a much more enjoyable experience for the customers. Read more>>

Rhonne Lewis

After 30 years in the industry I noticed a disturbing consistency in my clients hair and the change in products that no longer delivered the results I was accustomed to. Read more>>

Melissa Neubeck

1 year ago the studio directly across from my salon became available. I approached this idea and took time to lay out a plan. Working with Hair Loss University I had learned so much about wigs but didn’t have the place to house them. In January of 2025 I opened “The Hair Clinic and Wig Room” in association with Melissa At Mia salon so I could have a great new Private space to consult with clients for hair loss, a place to display a variety of hairpieces to educate clients on their options, and a salon to offer hair loss treatments, wig cutting, and still maintain the long trusted hair clients I’ve been working with for years offering cuts and colors. Read more>>

Laura Naples

Around 2013, I felt a pull toward more fluid, intuitive expression, and painting became my focus. My method now blends movement, meditation, and inquiry in a process that feels like an ongoing conversation with the unseen. Nature and handmade objects are constant sources of wonder for me. What started as private exploration gradually opened into sharing through Instagram, exhibitions, residencies, and commissions. Each step has deepened my view of art as a space for connection and contemplation. Read more>>

Marie Asbury

At age 5 my music journey began with the piano, later teaching music and private piano in my college years. I found yoga a decade later while pregnant and dealing with a lot of stress outside of my control. 15 minutes of practice provided profound peace without medication. I was hooked. Read more>>

Nikki Lavdas

We appropriately vet them and get them healthy. Most are underweight, neglected or abused. Some have major health concerns – heartworm disease, orthopedic issues, etc. We are funded by ourselves & by the generous donations of others. The adoption fees help cover the pets’ training, vet bills (spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchips, etc..) and allow us to continue to save other dogs. In addition to fostering and placing homeless animals we help network any animal in need. Read more>>

Amy Kuscsik

Just one month after moving and settling into this new chapter, I was blindsided: my executive job in advertising was cut. I’d barely unpacked, had a dinner party on the calendar, and now had no income. That evening my husband looked at me and asked, “If you could do anything, what would it be?” Without hesitation, I blurted out, “Stay home and take care of my family.” And with total calm, he replied, “Okay. We’ll figure it out.” Read more>>

Ryn Clarke

During the pandemic lockdown, I would take long walks around the neighborhood and in the woods. It was the only thing I could do outside my house. Simultaneously the weather in Ohio was getting better as spring was approaching. Unlike previous strolls, however, I started really noticing what was around me – the trees were leafing out, the flowers were beginning to bloom and the landscape was turning green. So, with the help of my camera and iPhone, I began to document the arrival of spring. Read more>>

Nikko FungChung

The owners Kevin and Nikko met a few years ago in Los Cabo, Mexico and have been locked in ever since. Nikko a lifelong entrepreneur, author and creative visionary hailing from The Bronx, NY and Kevin a Cleveland native, entrepreneur and artist have proven to be an unstoppable pair. Combining their individual expertise, love of the arts and strong support of the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis they have created something truly special. Read more>>

King Muerte

In that same year, I’ve began to manifest myself into death in a positive way through meditation, prayer, studying and reading. I’m a highly spiritual person and my thoughts about death made me realize how obsessive I am. Now in Spring 2025, I started to get serious with my work on death by creating a podcast on Spotify & social media to share with the world how much this autistic person knows about death. Also I’m currently a student at IAP Career College to receive my death doula certification. Read more>>

Mary Macias

When we moved to Northeast Ohio, I was determined to continue this work. In 2015, Sarah Tabeling and I co-founded Footpath Foundation, and the next year we took 48 kids from Boys & Girls Clubs to overnight camp. It was a huge success. So we continued to expand our programming, taking even more children next summer and then launching an afterschool program. Soon after that, we created in-school programming for fifth- and sixth-graders, including a curriculum, a teacher’s guide, supplies, outdoor trips and even overnight camp for our sixth-graders. Read more>>

Brian Snyder

Brian’s vision quickly became a family affair. His wife, Debbie, stood by his side through the long hours and late nights, helping to keep things running behind the scenes with the same grit and grace that built the foundation of their home. Their son, Brian Snyder Jr., practically grew up in the shop — learning the trade, watching the values of integrity and hard work in action, and eventually joining the business himself. Read more>>

Easton Gladney

I was often referred to as a “million-dollar baby” due to the extensive medical care required during my early life. After three months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), I came home weighing just 4 pounds. I was sent home with 13 different medications, a suction machine, and oxygen support—tools that became part of my daily routine for the next year. My battle didn’t end there. I faced vision challenges, including a lazy eye that required a dedicated regimen of eye exercises, appointments, and wearing a patch over my stronger eye to strengthen the weaker one. Read more>>

Shaun Skerchock and Kat Roe

I was getting tattooed at the time and realized that i could make a living off of my art. This prompted me to drop out after perusing nursing. During the 18 years of tattooing I saw the ups and downs, a lot of downs. While filling my body with toxins through bad habits, food, environment etc. That leads to the next part of our journey. In 2023 we followed our intuition and started focusing on health and nutrition and that greatly impacted my tattooing. So then we became Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaches for tattoo artists to help them see the importance of nutrition and how it impacts our careers as artists. Read more>>

Angie Wagner

Angie Lewis Wagner is a Xenia Ohio native who moved to Waynesville in 2005 where she raised her two daughters, Alexa and Taylor. After spending 35 years in various Sales and Marketing roles in the Consumer Packaged Goods Industry, she decided to pursue a long awaited dream of opening her own business in a community she loves. Angie and Taylor are the mother-daughter-duo behind Lewis Community Mercantile. They wanted to create a space that embodies nostalgic memories for all ages while celebrating their love for family and friends as well as a place the community can gather and spend time together. Read more>>

Jen Deaton

I have always owned a camera since I can remember. I had a Kodak film Barbie camera in the 90’s that my mom purchased for me and I was always obsessed with her film camera growing up. As technology grew- I purchased my first digital camera and then I remember my first digital camcorder of course always borrowing my grandpa’s cameras because he took a camera everywhere with him. I always had a need for more! Eventually phones evolved enough that our phone camera was just enough to be better than the digital camera we owned. Read more>>

Michael Grega

Things were going fairly well with G4V, including lessons, finding volunteer instructors, practice guitar donations, and fundraising until 2019, when COVID hit. Everything came to a halt, as we were not allowed into the VA facility, as was the case throughout the country. The shut out continued for the next four years until early 2023. Just before the restart, G4V allowed us to provide lessons at VFW’s. We selected Cleveland VFW Post 2533 as our alternate site. The addition of the VFW has been very helpful for us. Although we’ve started up again at the VA, it’s only on a limited basis at this time. Read more>>

Max Rodriguez (Ted Cadillac)

I grew up in Pittsburgh and started making videos when I was in 6th grade (2001) for a homework assignment in history class. It wasn’t until I was in high school on the soccer team when my sister’s boyfriend showed me how to edit the highlight tapes that I really fell in love with editing. The kids nowadays won’t understand camcorders, tape decks, firewires, and the pains of early 2000’s filmmaking. Actually, maybe they will. Read more>>

Sylvia “Sadhu” Reeves

I wouldn’t say it’s been all smooth but God has a peculiar way of showing me that this is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. It shows up when folks give me free beats and studio time, or when the people around me believe in me and are willing to invest their time and money into what I’m doing. If there have been struggles, I’ve been blessed with support from people who have championed me to the point where our struggles become our triumphs. Read more>>

Tabitha Whitaker

I was with him constantly and I was always in edge he might overdose or do something crazy and overall it really affected my mental health. When I was 18 I went into a psychosis and my brain truly couldn’t take the stress anymore. I was diagnosed with OCD and other things. The ocd has really affected me and I guess there were signs all my life. OCD is a daily struggle and I’ve learned to handle it and love myself regardless. I am me and not my thoughts, it’s what I do that matters. I’ve learned I can change my outcome and no matter what happened in the past I can truly be whoever I want. I deserve to be happy and I will be. Read more>>

Austin Fitzpatrick

Ironically, it was a yoga elective — the one class I didn’t take seriously — that ended up changing everything. It pulled me into the body in a deeper way. I’d always been fascinated by anatomy and the brain, but yoga gave me a felt experience of how it all connects. That opened the door to movement, bodywork, and eventually to building a whole career around helping people untangle the patterns that keep them stuck — physically and neurologically. Read more>>

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