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.

Jennifer Bacha

I like to say my story began with a healthy dose of curiosity, a lot of flour, and a firm belief that life is simply too sweet for mediocre treats. What started as a passionate obsession in my kitchen has bloomed into Bacha Cookies Bakery in Austintown. Read more>>

Tiraj Lucas

FROM TIRZ was born from my belief that clothing can do more than make a statement—it can tell a story, challenge stereotypes, and create community. Growing up, I saw how streetwear was often unfairly associated with crime or negative perceptions, especially in Black and Brown communities. Read more>>

Darsy Amaya

My story starts in two places at once: hospitals and art studios. For 22 years, I worked as a certified healthcare interpreter in conventional medicine here in Columbus. I was the bridge between doctors and patients, and I saw firsthand how much stress, fear, and unspoken emotion lived in clinical spaces. Read more>>

Monster’ Mike Cobb

Monster’ Mike Cobb Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, I remember it like it was yesterday. At seven years old, the needle dropped onto a record, and a powerful four-bar bass line grabbed me by the ears. The music filled me with a feeling I’d never experienced before. The song was ‘Ah… Read more>>

Tony D Sanders Sr

Tony D. Sanders, Sr. Entrepreneur | Entertainment Executive | Artist Manager | Author | Booking Agent | Business Strategist With more than 44 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry, Tony D. Sanders, Sr. has built a reputation as an entrepreneur, talent developer, artist manager, author, and entertainment executive dedicated to helping artists and businesses achieve long-term success. Read more>>

Hankin TV

I started my journey in media off with writing an urban fiction novel titled Hankin In Love With The Game and the Hankin brand grew from there. The definition of Hankin is, when you can supply the demand and consistently turn a profit. Which is a synonym for hustle and everyone is hankin in one way or another. Read more>>

Nick Dewald

After living in several major cities around the country, most notably New York City, my wife Lindsay and I move back home to Cincinnati and wanted to do something interesting and be part of the urban renaissance that was beginning. Read more>>

Janelle Bonfour-Mikes

I’m an interdisciplinary artist, educator, administrator with a background in visual art, durational performance, and dance. I earned my MFA from CCAD and my BFA in Dance and Choreography from OU. After undergrad, I spent time in Nashville, where I worked as the Assistant Director of an arts nonprofit focused on STEAM education in public middle schools. Read more>>

Honasty Blade

I started rapping, writing and recording at the age of eleven years old. My name was H2O. My two uncles and my older brother were my first influences. At the time, my uncles went by the names Lyrical Lord and Uncle Uno. My brother went by the name of Lil Weedy. Read more>>

Joyce Sano

My passion for braiding started with helping people feel beautiful and confident. What began as a small braiding business has grown into Braids On Point Agency, where we connect clients with talented braiders and salons throughout the Dayton, Ohio area. We offer all types of braiding services for women, men, and children. Read more>>

Kyle Brooks

The land belongs to my partner Sasha and her parents. They built the retreat centre here as her mom was battling cancer, a battle she finally lost a couple of years after the project was completed and the first dozen or so retreats had run successfully. Read more>>

Thomas Ambush

I got my start early I’m sales when I was 20 years old in Louisiana. Door to Door selling telecommunication services. I had developed a deep passion for helping others. Went through some ups and downs with different sales companies through those years and once I relocated to Ohio I found that passion again through Insurance and LegalShield. Read more>>

Victoria Jennings

I’ve been passionate about the beauty industry for as long as I can remember. Growing up before streaming services, you had to be in front of the TV at just the right time to catch your favorite shows, and mine were America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway. I was fascinated by the transformations that happened in hair and makeup and the confidence they inspired. Read more>>

Josh Earwood

Starting back when I was 17, now 41, Ive been weight training. Back then it was a way get away from the craziness going on at the house, training always felt good. Great way to use my energy in a positive and rewarding way. I had always used the weights as a way to deal with stress and lifes struggles. Read more>>

William Ryan

Well, being the creative here in the city of Columbus doing Music poetry and songwriting in general. I needed another outlet recently married. And having a teenage creative I need another outlet to express Music, creativity, and how all of these things can be therapeutic. Read more>>

Jpaq Music

Hello my name is Jpaq. I started music when my uncle had cancer MANY years ago. He wanted to listen to music even through what he was going through. He asked me to get my headphones, so I ran down to the car on the 1st floor to get them. Came back up to the elevator and let him have them. Read more>>

Maricel Galarza-Arroyo

Coming from a family of barbers, I always knew I wanted a career where I could help people feel their best. I attended cosmetology school and spent several years working in a salon. While I enjoyed it, I had a passion for learning every service a salon and spa could offer. Read more>>

Malik Aziz

LeekGoated is a Cleveland Artist on the come up. His music represents himself as young man who grew up in the streets of Cleveland Ohio that went through a long period of struggles and is destined to succeed. Read more>>

Jay Kalagayan

I’ve been obsessed with comic books since childhood, captivated by the power of sequential, panel-to-panel storytelling. While I love the medium, my path to becoming an independent writer and publisher built on years of championing the regional arts scene—from my early days co-founding Know Theatre of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Fringe Festival to working with local cultural non-profits in Cincinnati and Columbus. Read more>>

Sol Koeraus

I was born in Argentina and moved to New York City in my early twenties with a dream of building a life as an artist. I had already studied dance, but in New York I fell deeply in love with flamenco. I took classes, watched performances whenever I could, and slowly began finding work as a dancer. Read more>>

CERTURA DOWDY

I am an educator, I started the introduction to this journey in high school. My work study assignment in my junior year was in a child care center preschool classroom, where I was impressed with how much a child could absorb and learn very young. Read more>>

Donesha Helen Marie

My story began when I entered foster care at around 7 – 8 years old. Like many children in foster care, I experienced instability, but one of the biggest struggles I faced growing up was being bullied. I had very little confidence in myself. I didn’t always feel like I belonged, and I often questioned my worth. Read more>>

Dazmin Laster

I grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, & from a young age I was drawn to music, storytelling, & creativity. Read more>>

Capt. Dab

I first started into this by becoming a manager to a really crappy artist. I soon realized that I had a passion for the music scene. Fast forward a little bit and I became a superhero as a marketing gimmick. Read more>>

Jimmy King

I began my musical journey in Detroit, Michigan. I was a member of an original band that had decent success, touring the eastern US and being featured in the big national magazines of the time. When that time ended, I moved to Hollywood, California where I worked in film production for almost a decade before returning the Detroit to work in advertising. Read more>>

Candace Boggan

I’m a native Ohioan and adopted Floridian with a background in business, focused on marketing and human resources. As a strategy consultant, I help organizations clarify their vision through strategic thinking, compelling content, and impactful marketing. I’ve worked on a wide range of domestic and international projects, and have also contributed to various media outlets— including publishing two journals. Read more>>

Khali Davis

I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I knew I wanted to make art in some way for a living, I just didn’t know what that would be. One day, my mom had her favorite channel, TLC, playing in the living room. LA Ink was on and it clicked for me then. Read more>>

Zackery Nicolosi

First of all, thank you for asking. I consider myself to be incredibly fortunate to be able to do a number of different things that I love as a way to support myself and my family. Music and photography are the two pursuits that keep pushing my ambitions to higher limits. I will be a lifelong student of both. Read more>>

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>>