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.

River Forest Berry

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. My Nana taught me how to sew when I was young, and my father is an artist, so I spent much of my childhood in studios, galleries, and museums. Read more>>

Andrew Egan

My journey has always been driven by a passion for creativity and independence In 2019, I channeled that passion into founding Inspire Digital Studios LLC, where I serve as the Owner and Creative Director. Based in Northern Wisconsin, I’ve spent the last several years building a full-service production entity that specializes in high-end commercial walkthroughs, digital development, and deeply narrative video projects. Read more>>

Ann Everson-Price

Who’s Who in Interesting Personalities Rev. P. Ann Everson-Price is an Ordained Minister, actress, radio personality (celebrating over 40 years in broadcasting), business owner, author, event planner and funeral celebrant for J. C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home, and female african american band leader for the All-Star Band- a 14-piece Premiere show band in Cincinnati. Read more>>

Stamy Paul

the biggest challenge has been Building the trust and network of Graffiti writers who have traditionally been anonymous or Underground into identify identify waste and opportunities to bring the Graffiti style art to commission walls. This however, has grown tremendously with more of a draw and interest from the community not only in Cleveland, but across the country. Read more>>

Jasmine Headley

Most people assume Salient Books began with a business plan. It didn’t. It began with a book. But to explain that, I have to start somewhere much darker. There was a time in my life when I couldn’t see a future for myself. Everything felt heavy, and I had convinced myself that the world would continue just fine without me in it. Read more>>

Megan Fenno

My business was born out of necessity. After graduating from Savannah College of Art & Design with a BFA in Fashion and Accessory Design, I struggled to find a job in my field. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong sense of ambition, so instead of waiting for an opportunity, I decided to create my own. Read more>>

Olivia Polash

I have been playing cello since I was eight years old, and I saw Yo-Yo Ma play on Sesame Street. I was heavily involved in all kinds of music growing up, and I knew I wanted to have some kind of career in the arts. I started gigging in college, before I even became a music major. Read more>>

Edward & Angelica Kisiel

EKA Build really started long before we officially opened our doors in 2016. We both grew up around construction. Ed spent his childhood on job sites with his father, who was a builder, and continued working alongside him for many years. Before we were even married, Ed had already built two custom homes on his own while working full-time as a Professional Engineer. Read more>>

Alisha Stevenson

My journey has been anything but traditional. I spent 13 years as a police officer, much of that time working with youth and families in the community. Law enforcement taught me resilience, crisis intervention, and the importance of showing up for people on some of the hardest days of their lives. Read more>>

Jennifer Wilkins

My interest in art and photography began during the pandemic. My office was shutdown and I need something to keep me busy. I started driving through the famous Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum and would get out of the car to photograph interesting monuments and mausoleums. Then I started taking an interest in graffiti and infrastructure. Read more>>

Emily Moser

Originally, I went to college at Kent State for fashion merchandising, but after graduating, working in New York City for big-name designers and some other really cool businesses, I realized the career I had chosen wasn’t fulfilling me in the way I had hoped. Read more>>

Margaret Bernstein

Through my business, Dad Storybooks LLC, I’m presiding over a joyful movement to recognize fathers of color who read with their children. My engaging storybooks, written in rhyme, are designed to create special moments between fathers and their kids and to let dads know how critical they are to their child’s reading success. Read more>>

Tyra James

Before modeling, my life revolved around athletics. Growing up, I played volleyball, ran track, participated in school and all-star cheerleading, and even band. Being active and constantly working toward new goals was a huge part of who I was. When I got to college, everything changed. Read more>>

Corey Forde

My name is Corey Forde, and I’m a 33 year old photographer from Cleveland, Ohio. I started taking pictures at the age of five, thanks to my late uncle, who gave me my very first camera. Read more>>

alan brown

My name is La from treemix ent. My music career started back in 2021. I’ve always been a fan of music but just didn’t know how to break into the industry. After the death of my two other kids mother Ashley I decided to write a song about it and it changed my life. Read more>>

TJ Cooley

As a young kid I watched a lot of sci-fi and horror movies, and thought I could be a writer or a make up artist. The filmmaking bug really bit me when I was making videos with friends using my grandfathers VHS camcorder. We made mock commercials, funny skits and music videos, What I really resonated with was narrative shorts. Read more>>

Dustin Nowlin

What if the only way you knew how to survive chaos as a kid was to draw your way out of it? That’s how my journey as an artist really began. As the oldest of four siblings, I spent hours alone sketching on whatever I could find. Read more>>

Caroline Weingart

The Lizzie’s Bakery Story: I started Lizzie’s Bakery Nut Free, in honor of the two Lizzie’s in my life: my Mom who passed away in January 2021 and for my daughter and people like her with peanut and tree-nut allergies. In January 2021, while sitting hospice with my Mom, I began researching nut-free bakeries in the area, or rather, the lack of them. Read more>>

Gloria Aflya

I’ve always loved creating beautiful spaces and making people feel special. While my professional career has been in nursing for over 15 years, event design has always been a passion of mine. I found so much joy in helping family and friends celebrate life’s biggest milestones that I decided to turn that passion into Emerald Event Decor. Read more>>

Charnise Lewis

I initially started taking Pilates and hot yoga as a form of self-care and a way to manage the stress that came with working as a registered nurse and everyday life. What began as simply taking time for myself quickly grew into a passion I never expected. Read more>>

Izzabelle (Izzy) Oley

POUT started simply as an idea back in 2022 when I was taking prerequisites in college for nursing school. Everyone who knows me knows I love anything skin/lip care related. I thought to myself- what if I could make my OWN lip care line? The name POUT came to me immediately. Read more>>

Logan Newark

I am a product of 100% me. Ever since middle school, around 7th grade, I’ve always been self taught at everything I do. I very quickly learned I didn’t want to pay others to do work for me that I could just figure out how to do myself. Read more>>.

Nick Fridenmaker

Cousin Boujee started in 2019 with a passion for creating original apparel and artwork. We began by selling through our website, working with local retail stores, and eventually taking our brand to trade shows and sneaker conventions, where we connected with people who appreciated unique, creative designs. Over the years, we’ve continued to grow by focusing on quality, originality, and craftsmanship. Read more>>

Rasheda Mills

I’ve always believed in creating opportunities instead of waiting for them. I spent over 12 years building a successful hospitality business that generated six figures, and while it was financially rewarding, I eventually felt God leading me toward something with greater impact. Read more>>

Sarah Jewett

It finally started when my husband showed me a photo of a cute little Honda Acty! We were hunting for a unit to build my cafe in, tossing back and forth: pull alongs, box trucks and vintage trailer conversions but not liking any of them. The Acty was perfect because it seamlessly blends both of our hobbies and skills. Read more>>

Antoinette Barkley

My name is Antoinette Barkley, and I am a serial entrepreneur, community leader, and woman of resilience. My journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has shaped me into the person I am today. I became a mother of four children by the age of 25 and learned early what it meant to work hard, sacrifice, and never give up. Read more>>