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.

Cinnamon Rae

I founded Medina Massage & Skin Care to be a safe haven from the outside world. A place to receive global wellness treatments, holistic skin care and medicinal massage. I have a background in patient care and come from a long line of medicine women. I lived in Florida most of my life and fled Hurricane IRMA to live in Ohio. Read More>>

Will Freed

I got started very young as my step-dad Dave Liles Jr helped me by getting me my first guitar at 5 years old. It didn’t really take tell I was 12 & my mama got me a blue Johnson acoustic guitar. Read More>>

Tooney Lean

I started as a graphic designer around 15 or 16, and I would remake my favorite cartoons in my own style. Throughout the year, I would draw my homies, celebrities and do commissions. After I graduated from college, I stopped art for a while just because of COVID and burned out. Read More>>

Jay McFarland

My photography journey began in 2017 after the birth of my daughter. Wanting to capture those special moments, I realized that the camera on my phone simply wasn’t producing the quality I wanted, so I invested in a used Nikon D700 professional camera for about $300. What started as a desire to preserve memories quickly turned into a passion for photography. Read More>>

Jeannie Seabrook

Glass Rooster Cannery began with a friend, a magazine article, and a spark. The article described the disappearance of community canneries—once common during World War II, when victory gardens flourished and neighbors gathered to preserve their harvests. Back then, the government helped communities build shared canning kitchens, and women worked side by side to “put up” the season’s bounty. Read More>>

Ruby & Suki Rendrag / Kuehn

Some of the biggest chapters in our story began with events we never would have imagined. Suki and I met in New Orleans in May of 2005 while auditioning for another band. At the time, I was already building momentum with my own project, and neither of us suspected how much life was about to change. Read More>>

Gabrielle Vinson

I often tell people that my social media journey started long before anyone was watching. Back in 7th grade, when Musical.ly was the platform everyone was obsessed with, I was the kid dreaming about creating content. While other people saw social media as just an app, I saw it as a way to connect, inspire, and build something bigger than myself. Read More>>

Issiah E.P.M

I started as a Music Specialist & Artist in the local Greater Cleveland area. I was a Opening act for a Few Major Artist, The Clipse/Gza of the Wu-tang Clan/Stalley and a few others. While pursuing music, I decided to pick up videography. I started shooting my own videos, and then I relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina. Read More>>

Westsidetony

I’ve always had a love for music and wanted to be a rapper I really got the confidence when my son was born because I wanted to show him to take a chance on hisself but how could I do that if I didn’t do it for myself then I had 3 daughters so I just want to push myself and believe in myself so I can be an example for them to chase their dreams and believe in themselves always Read More>>

Dumpstar Slim

Born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Washington DC Dumpstar Slim had to grow up fast. A product of his environment he had to make something out of nothing which landed him in trouble with the law at the young age of 15 also at such time he was homeless. Read More>>

Ryan Richardson

Introduction Ryan Armand is a recording artist and public speaker. Since Ryan was a child, he has always had aspirations to use his gift to rap and make music. What started off as a hobby eventually evolved into a mission and movement. Ryan uses his story and experiences in his music to uplift, inspire, and encourage others to become the best version of themselves. Read More>>

Marquis Storm

I was born in Youngstown ohio but was raised in Cleveland heights. Growing up I listened to a lot of Jazz and R&B but it wasn’t until middle school that I started getting interested in hiphop. I started writing songs at the age of 13 but didn’t start taking it seriously until I was a freshman in College. Read More>>

Aja Nicole

Hi! Well ever since I was a little girl, I was always drawn to performing and creating. I always wanted to be the people I saw on TV! I started really pursuing it when I became a freelance model and actress spending several years making connections, working on print shoots, walking in local runway shows and acting in local film projects. Read More>>

Ben Teters

SunDub is a multiracial, multigenerational, family-rooted reggae collective led by powerhouse vocalist Joanna Teters, whose smoky delivery rides over the band’s airtight rhythm section. Formed in 2013, the New York City–based group blends deep roots reggae with soul influences, delivering uplifting grooves and songs centered on social justice, resistance, and spirituality. Read More>>

Kellie Craport

I have always loved the arts. When I was a child, one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up was an artist. As a teenager, I was always making my friends and sisters get dressed up to do photoshoots with my point-and-shoot digital camera. I had no clue what I was doing but we had a lot of fun! Read More>>

Jeremy Umansky

I grew up cooking alongside my grandmother who was a kosher caterer. She inspired me to attend culinary school to become a chef. While in NY for culinary school I did many things; I met my wife, and worked as a farmer, culinary scientist, chef, and food access lobbyist. Read More>>

Jessica Messmer

Cup & Kettle Tea Co. began with a simple love of tea and the belief that something as ordinary as a cup of tea can create extraordinary moments of connection. I founded the company in 2015 in Bloomington, Indiana, after years of exploring tea, herbs, and the rituals that bring people together. Read More>>

Ryan Mundy

With what started as just wanting to play guitar around a campfire at some point in my life, turned into buying a guitar from my cousin at 19 (later start than most). Self taught via YouTube went quickly from open mics around Columbus to catching the music bug. Read More>>

Megan Albert

I bought my salon, The Studio Collective back in 2023. I worked under the leadership of Marcy Cona (MC Hair Salon) for 13 years, and she came to me in 2021 and offered to sell me the studio location. I was beyond flattered as I looked up to her so much as a leader and business woman who has created these two amazing salons. Read More>>

Joe Colón

I developed an interest in photography at a very young age. I remember always being fascinated looking at the pictures my father documented and took while serving in Vietnam as a Marine. I bought my first camera with my own money at the age of 16. Once I had my own kids it was just natural to always want to take pictures of them. Read More>>

Khaleeqa Sadiika

Life Beyond the Streets Inc. (LBTS) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a critical lifeline of hope in Columbus, Ohio. Our mission is dedicated to breaking the cycles of addiction, homelessness, mental health crises, and human trafficking for women and young girls. Read More>>

Kassondra Taylor

I have always loved Art and felt most confident in myself through all the different art mediums. After being a stay at home mom for 10 years, the plan was I would go back to College as my children started school full time. I was pursuing my Art Education degree when the pandemic changed everything for the world and my family. Read More>>

Frans Stiene

I started teaching the system of Reiki in 1999 when I was living in Darjeeling, the Himalayas, for a year. Most if it was volunteer work, doing hands on healing on the local community. The local people didn’t really know what the system of Reiki was but they just wanted someone to help them. Read More>>

Leah Harper

I always wanted to act since I was young, but I really didn’t get started in it seriously until after college. I was focused in fine arts and music in the beginning of my life, realism and classical piano to be specific. Read More>>

Dr Diane Linston

I’m Diane Linston, a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and community advocate from Cleveland. My journey began with a passion for fashion and sewing at a young age, which grew into a lifelong commitment to design, craftsmanship, and empowering others through creativity. Read More>>

Cherie Morgan

Hi I’m Cherie, the baker behind Morgan’s Lovely Loaf. I am a mother, wife, teacher, friend and bread maker! I find making sourdough relaxing, and like to do it everyday! What started as a simple curiosity about sourdough quickly turned into a passion I couldn’t put down. Read More>>

Alec Berlin

I got my first guitar when I was 7, but I remember playing air guitar on a tennis racket even before that. I took lessons and played as much as possible throughout school, including playing in bands at school dances and such. Eventually I moved to Boston to study jazz at The New England Conservatory and then to New York City. Read more>>

Riley Steiner

I’ve always had a love for animals from a young age. Growing up I had all sorts of animals from rabbits, to guinea pigs, goats, chickens, cows, sheep and of course dogs. Dogs have almost always been apart of my life. Read more>>