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.
Shelby Criswell
I find it funny when people ask me when I started making art because I’m one of those kids who started drawing but never stopped. I knew I wanted to be an artist all my life– I wasn’t sure what kind but I knew I’d end up with a creative career. My family always fostered my imagination and pushed me to pursue art, and I’m happy to say that I’m living out my dreams. I’ve been a full-time artist, graphic designer, illustrator, and comic artist for nearly ten years. Read More>>
Yitzchak Pierson
From there, I’ve continued to grow personally and professionally. I’ve earned numerous designations and certifications, completing over 750 hours of advanced training, which places me in the top 2% of REALTORS® in Texas. I’ve also embraced leadership roles, serving as the Chairperson for the Four Rivers Association of REALTORS® NextGen Committee and being involved with The New Braunfels Jaycees, on the Philanthropy Committee and the Professional Standards Committee for Texas REALTORS® as well as the Board of Directors at The Four Rivers Association or REALTORS® and I was Voted Best Real Estate Agent in New Braunfels Texas in 2024 by the New Braunfels Herald Zeitung. Read More>>
Aaron Zavala
I started drawing as far back as I can remember, maybe 4 or 5 years old. I grew up in a family that is very artistic, especially on my father’s side. Throughout school, while most were involved in sports, my interests gravitated to sketching and learning about different mediums. Throughout middle school I was fascinated by comic book artists and their understanding of anatomy, but later on I developed an interest in portraiture and architecture. Read More>>
Shawn O’donnell
I already had a truck, so the next step was acquiring a dumpster trailer—a cost-effective option that would allow me to start small while minimizing risks. Once the idea solidified, the work began in earnest. I ordered the dumpster trailer and tackled the essentials of setting up a business: securing an LLC, choosing a name, designing a logo, building a website, and obtaining both business and commercial vehicle insurance. From these efforts, iRock Dumpsters, LLC was born, operating under the DBA name iRock Dumpsters. Read More>>
Jocelyn Rivera
In May of 2024 I hosted my first creative event called Cirque de Silk. It was a circus themed event that held dance acts, mimes and a solo art exhibition all curated by me! This was definitely a big moment for me as it was my first art installation and my first event I’ve hosted on my own. One of my proudest pieces was the 5 photographs of some friends all painted by me, each in a different makeup look. It was the first time I challenged myself to create individual looks for 5 people in a span of hours and was more than happy with the outcome. That event as a whole was more than I could’ve hoped for and definitely a learning experience! Read More>>
Lillian Oler
At the time, I took stock of everything: my skills, resources, and what my community seemed to crave. With a wild imagination and a lot of determination, I turned that vision into Assemble Cocktail Workshop—a space where people come together to learn, laugh, and connect. What started as a small idea has grown into something I’m proud of, and it’s been incredible to see it resonate with others. Read More>>
Mike Carter
My journey in student ministry began with a leap of faith and a heart willing to serve. My first official role working with students in a church setting was at Heights Community Church. I connected with Pastor Ken Hicks through a mutual friend, and during our conversation, he shared that the church was looking for a student pastor—though it would be on a volunteer basis. Without hesitation, I agreed. I saw it as a perfect opportunity to gain experience and help build something meaningful, especially since the church didn’t yet have a student program. Read More>>
Wendy Kephart
To be honest I was never interested in photography growing up, but life has a way of taking unexpected turns. In July of 2024 my dad passed away, grieving and depressed, my husband suggested I find a hobby. Not too long afterward he gave me my first camera. I soon found photographing nature and landscapes therapeutic during this time. As time progressed, my skills did as well and I fell in love with my Canon camera. Soon I discovered that capturing happy moments between families and couples to be truly fulfilling as well. What started out as a therapeutic exercise has become a full fledged job! I’m so grateful for the support of my dear friends and family and I look forward to what the future holds in store! Read More>>
Laura Tannenbaum
Earlier in the year I quit my job. I was working as an attorney at a small law office and realized I wasn’t well suited for that life. Though I enjoyed law school and did well academically, the practice itself wasn’t for me. Working in an office all day, being away from my dog all day, and having people’s lives in my hands started to weigh heavily on me and for the first time, I started experiencing anxiety. It all led to depression which led to me quitting with no backup plan in place. Read More>>
Fernanda Madriz
With a lot of effort I have managed to reach the right customers who value the quality of the service and at the same time know the origin of the products we offer. Read More>>
Ashlie Scott
My love for thinking outside the box and mixing art with functionality was noticed early on. I’ve always been a creative, but a lot of people ask me how I got started tattooing. I give most of the credit to my older brother. When we were about 14 years old, he made a homemade tattoo machine with a race car motor, some fishing wire, and the barrel of a ball point pen (Sorry Dad if you’re reading this)! We used regular pen ink to tattoo ourselves and four of our cousins, who shall remain unnamed.. Now, I have one tiny dot on my back, the last remanent of my first matching tattoo, a smiley face! Read More>>
Symone Dunlap
On February 27th, 2018, I took my first step toward healing by breaking my silence and allowing others to see the real me. I started with my YouTube channel, doing an introduction video where I shared my story and began to reveal the deeper parts of myself—the ones that went beyond surface-level beauty. That moment was pivotal for me. It was the beginning of my therapeutic healing journey, which I now call “healing through talking.” From there, I grew into other platforms like my podcast and Instagram, where I continued sharing my testimony and helping others see their worth, too. It’s been a process, but it’s been transformative. Read More>>
Roxann Vaughan
I started out in wildlife photography in my early 20’s but soon found a passion in portrait photography. I have been photographing teens and events for over 10 years now. Photography is a true love of mine and I pour all of my creativity into each session. I have a love for beauty and fashion, so my dream has always been to bring big city photography to our areas so that my clients can experience a portrait session similar to editorial and fashion magazines Read More>>
Mark Cantu
My husband was born and raised in a small town in the RGV, Raymondville, Texas. In 1959, his grandpa Chuey, or ‘Pops’ as he calls him, after landing on five beaches during WWII, returned home and considered opening a bowling alley. Instead, he opened a meat market. They would soon be going through 2-3 thousand pounds of just sausage per week. Chuey’s Meats was in business for over 50 years. Read More>>
Evelynn Gonzales
I had to learn to create boundaries and learn time management along with budgeting. I learned a lot through books, I wasn’t taught to question figures of authority of systems that have been in place for generations but by doing so, I was able to learn the flaws that are commonly overlooked. I learned how to be more human and how to respect and love myself as much as I respect and love the mission for the community. I learned how to treat others and how to listen to understand rather than responding. I learned how to not take things personally and understand everyone has a story and their responses are based on the way they view themselves and the way the have been taught to respond. Read More>>
Dezirae Fernandez-Bennett
At the very first ACW show here in San Antonio I met Jesse. Spoke through out the year but it wasn’t until I was home and at my lowest that he gave me a way to make a huge change. He gave me an opportunity to become a security officer and was able to work 75 plus hours a week. Which sounded impossible for me to do with my health but I had to atleast try. He even put a roof over my head till I got situated. Two months in my husband and I brought our kids here to our new home and started our new chapter. The job was a temporary contract but all I knew was anywhere was better than where I was and I needed that push and momentum of a new environment if I had any hope of feeling “normal” again. Read More>>
Lestire De Morningstar
I began my dance journey at NVC, taking classes in Modern, Jazz, Ballroom, Swing, and Ballet, while performing in musicals, such as Grease and Oliver! Outside of college, I also learnt metal belly dance from Lamia Chusi and Argentine Tango from Angela and Roy Avila. I found that belly dance comes natural to me, and I fell in love with it. I’m currently getting my certificate to teach belly dance from the Stygian Collective. Also, with my desire to be a sex icon, I naturally fell in love with the art of burlesque and boudoir modeling. And, I noticed that there weren’t many groups to join for burlesque nor metal belly dance, and I wanted to create my own to teach and empower others. Read More>>
Lynn Yao
However, I stayed consistent and determined. I began regularly posting my photography work and sharing snippets of my life, allowing people to get to know me both professionally and personally. Slowly but surely, my efforts began to pay off as I gained more followers and started receiving inquiries. I’ve always enjoyed learning new things, and while navigating social media in a new country was a significant challenge, I embraced it as an opportunity for growth. These early obstacles pushed me to be more creative and resilient, and I truly believe there’s no challenge I can’t overcome. This experience has not only shaped my career but has also strengthened my confidence in building a successful business in San Antonio. Read More>>
Jessica Montelongo Nira
Over the past 14 years, I’ve immersed myself in various facets of healthcare, working in hospice, home health, primary care, interventional radiology, ophthalmology, and pre-op/post-op care. Each experience has shaped me, but it was my time in hospice care that truly left an indelible mark on my heart. I had the privilege of building relationships with families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. It taught me the importance of empathy, connection, and the profound impact that compassionate care can have. Read More>>
Ansley Escalona
I use the power of the Neubie (electrodes & neuromuscular re-education), my knowledge of dance, and biomechanics to train my clients. Today I have clients at two different locations, from body builders, fitness enthusiasts, ACL/MCL recovery, postpartum mothers, and my favorite… high level dancers. I am so blessed with my business today and the people I have gotten the chance to work with along the way. Read More>>
