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.
David Teran
The article was written by a ballerina who had been working as a guest dancer at the Buenos Aires Teatro Colón. As David read the story and looked at the photos, he realized he had been to many of the places featured in the article during his previous trips to Argentina. At the end of the article, the author mentioned an Argentinian ballerina friend named Marisol Lopez Prieto. Captivated by the allure of Buenos Aires, often referred to as the Paris of South America, David decided to include a photoshoot during his trip. He asked Marisol, and she agreed. David brought along his “hobby” camera at the time, the Hasselblad 500C/M, and used it for the shoot on film. Read more>>
Brandie Regalado
I completed my first teacher training thinking I’d just deepen my personal practice, but San Antonio had other plans. One class led to another, and suddenly I’d taught thousands. Crystal singing bowls had been a staple in our house for years but it took me a while to build up the courage to follow the vibrations calling me to bring them out to classes revealing new dimensions of healing I hadn’t imagined possible. Read more>>
JAMIE LUM
Service-based businesses face numerous challenges, including acquiring and retaining customers, scaling operations, managing resources, and ensuring consistent quality. They also need to navigate pricing pressures, manage customer expectations, and adapt to evolving technology. This is especially critical in the floral industry where flowers and plants for holiday sales must be ordered months in advance to obtain the best wholesale pricing. Read more>>
Precious Kingdom
Through market research, I realized the construction industry could really use a tech facelift. Reporting is usually done across different software systems, making it difficult to share information in a structured format, allowing stakeholders to stay informed on project progress and performance at their fingertips. We enable effective communication, monitor progress, and help manage risks and costs through automated PowerBI reporting for effective decision making. We have a key interest in safety, project management and finance reporting. Read more>>
Joshua Cortez
I’ve always wanted to make some type of content growing up, whether It was gaming or vlogging. I first started making content on Twitch and YouTube during quarantine mostly streaming video games. I then transitioned to video game playthroughs and uploading them on YouTube under the channel name of Hoswae. After I turned 21, about 7 months later in June of 2024, I then again changed the content I wanted to make, going a more mature route. I started making reviews on THC products in and around my community, with the hopes of uplifting and changing the stigma surrounding THC and Hemp in Texas, going by the name, Sesh With Swae. The names “Hoswae” and “Swae” come from my name Joshua, which in Spanish is, Josue (Ho-sway). Read more>>
Aleah Duquette
Saki : “I loved dancing since high-school, and I taught myself how to sing/dance! It used to just be a private hobby, until I was inspired by a local dance-idol from San Antonio, TX. That was when I realized I also wanted to be on stage, but in alternative themes, still staying cutesy! I was always quiet/shy throughout school, and I had low self-esteem. But throughout these past 3 years as an idol, I gained confidence with all the support I have been given. At first, I was a solo idol for about 2 years, until I wanted to start the alternative-idol unit; ‘BERiKiLLA’! I had planned the group’s concept in my 4th year of highschool, and so far it has been an amazing ride!” Read more>>
Marisa Gomez
There are actually a ton of data-backed benefits to families living this way – financial savings, shared caregiving responsibilities, stronger family bonds, emotional support, and even longer life expectancy for older adults. That really hit home for me, especially since I come from a very close-knit family myself. In fact, I live in a kind of modern-day family compound. My family and I are in one house, my sister and her family live a few houses up the street, and our mom is in a home just behind us. We’re together almost every day – helping each other out, sharing meals, and just doing life together. It’s been a huge blessing, and I know a lot of other families are craving that kind of support system too. Read more>>
Angela Bills
Within those three years we realized although San Antonio offered a lot of resources to help the unsheltered, they did not understand how to connect with or navigate the systems. God laid it on my heart to begin our ministry called “The Journey from Homelessness to Wholeness,” where GMOVP journeys with the unsheltered to help them overcome the barriers that prevent them from gaining independence and freedom from homelessness. GMOVP provides the unsheltered with a safe and loving environment that empowers them through ID recovery, food and clothing assistance, employment assistance, spiritual coaching and discipleship among many other resources. Read more>>
Betty Lopez
Because of the way Jesus has transformed my life, my business and my mental health, I dedicated my business to God and now use it as a place to share my faith and speak to others about the struggles of mental health and also the transformative power of Jesus Christ. This gift I have though didn’t come from me alone so as long as I live I will use my gifts to give back to The One who gave me them and to His people. However, regardless of age, race, or religion, my studio remains a judge free environment where there will always be a safe place open to anyone who’s in need of physical, mental or spiritual upkeep. Read more>>
Amanda Dickinson
One of the greatest challenges I have faced is learning how to manage my time effectively while balancing the demands of running a business, pursuing my education, and being a single mother. Each of these responsibilities requires dedication and effort, but they are also incredibly rewarding. Despite the challenges, I feel truly fortunate to be able to build a career that I love while creating a life that fulfills me. Read more>>
Joey Ytuarte
The venue had an AV system so for the reception we played the CD’s. Planning for a whole year and for one of the major things to be a problem is upsetting and can ruin your day. For that reason, I said to myself that I want to help every bride and groom I can to ensure their day goes off exactly as they planned. I want to make sure the DJ is equipped to handle his/her duties, the cake is there on time and the seating is exactly what they wanted. Each and every detail should be tended to. Most of all I love ensuring the bride and groom that their day is going to be beautiful and stress free. I am there every step of the way. And thus, JRay’s Event Planning and Savor the Sip Mobile Bar were born. Read more>>
Throckmorton
Throckmorton started out in a garage, when two best friends (Julian and Eyan) whose passion for music brought them together to start creating compelling compositions of their own. We met in middle school band and remained friends up until high school. All throughout high school is when we started creating music of our own, and playing covers in Eyan’s garage, and we noticed our instant connection. But it wasn’t until 2025 when we started taking it serious. Quitting our jobs and making music full time. We had the music the music down, but we can’t do everything ourselves. So we then brought in our other best friend (Riley) to help us with all logistics, and social media managing. And thus, Throckmorton came to life. Read more>>
Saima Siddiqui
Woodworking has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done — but it’s also been one of the hardest to fit into my life. Being a full-time physician, a mom, and trying to run a household already felt like juggling knives most days. Adding woodworking into that mix meant stealing time late at night, early in the mornings, or on rare weekends when everything else could wait. Some weeks, I barely touched my tools because life just pulled me in a hundred other directions. Read more>>
Jon Medrano
There will always be obstacles in life and for me a major one came when I lost my dad in January of 2020. It was sudden and I really took it hard. He was the guitarist in my band – SA Brass Tacs at the time. And to make things worse, the pandemic hit a couple months later. Aside from that tragedy I’ve had a few members move on to other projects or pursue other things but all in good terms. Read more>>
Eva Ybarra
For me being a lady musician it’s been difficult because like I say this is a mens world,Some musician don’t give me the respect but not all the musicians are the same,Some of good accordionist yes they recognize the way I play the accordion. In this industry is not that easy,I’ve been ignored.I am a music lover and music make me happy and I enjoy playing for my audience I love my fans. Read more>>
Autumn Williams
It definitely hasn’t been all smooth sailing, though. There have been plenty of challenges along the way. It can get overwhelming, especially since I’m a one-woman show doing all the baking myself. And don’t even get me started on the price of eggs constantly going up (seriously, why?). But even when things feel stressful or exhausting, I always try to come back to my “why.” I started this to connect with people and share something I love, and that’s what keeps me going. On the hardest days, just seeing a finished product I’m proud of (or getting a message from someone who loved what I made), reminds me that it’s all worth it. Read more>>
Hayley Summers
Before founding Livin’ La Vida Local, I built a successful career as a hairstylist—and, unofficially, the go-to marketer in every salon I worked in. But long before the pandemic, I felt a stirring to do something more. I was already dreaming of full-time entrepreneurship when 2020 forced the world to pause. Between the masks, hand sanitizer, and burnout, I made the decision: I wasn’t going back. Read more>>
DeShaunJay
Definitely not, but as I look back over the years and reflect, each and every dark night, bright moment, heartbreak, disappointment, it’s all a part of the journey and you can’t skip any of it. Of course it’s painful and it takes a toll on you sooner or later, but not every person blessed with the talent of music is meant to pursue it. This journey isn’t meant for everyone. But if you are one of the “chosen” ones, just remember it’s all a part of the process. It’s only preparing you for the exact moment you’ve worked for. So when you reach that spot you’ve aimed for, your experiences will mold you into the person that deserves it. Read more>>
Leslie Newberry
In 2020, while searching for home decor, I stumbled across sola wood flowers. I was instantly intrigued by their uniqueness and the endless creative possibilities they offered, plus, they never wilt or die! Curious and inspired, I purchased some wood flowers and started crafting pieces for my home. I quickly fell in love with the process. Each arrangement felt like its own little work of art, and I loved how they could last forever without any watering or maintenance. What started as a personal hobby soon grew into something more. I began gifting my creations to friends and family, and their reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Before long, people began requesting custom order, and that’s how Always N Bloom LLC began. Read more>>
Keith Phillips
Started helping my wife after looking for a job for 18 months. I realized if I help her we could make a business together. Two months after I came to that conclusion we formed That’s Clean Professional Services LLC. We continued to grow little by little mostly by word of mouth. We make sure our cleaning level is 5 star. When we are done, we want everyone to say,”Now That’s Clean!” Read more>>
Andrew Brooks
At first, getting garages to donate their time and talent was tough. It’s one thing to ask someone to volunteer; it’s another to ask them to rebuild an engine for free. But little by little, we found generous shops who believed in the mission — and once the impact became clear, more and more joined in. Read more>>
Ryan Ross
Ryan Ross Band burst onto the music scene with their debut LP “11 Mile Road” in September 2021, featuring 12 original songs written entirely by Ryan Ross. The album quickly gained traction, amassing over 30,000 streams across various platforms and attracting a dedicated fanbase of monthly listeners across Texas. With a strong social media presence boasting over 4,000 followers, RRB’s music reaches far and wide gaining radio play across the United States. Read more>>
Danielle Campbell Steans
One of the biggest challenges was guiding a relatively new business through the pandemic. What could have been a devastating setback became an opportunity to innovate. I had to quickly adapt and find creative ways to keep our dancers engaged, inspired, and progressing — even from their living rooms. That period tested me as a leader, but it also reaffirmed my commitment to the next generation of dancers and the resilience of our arts community. Read more>>
Lizette Elizondo
When I learned that San Antonio’s market was up for sale, I saw an opportunity to turn my passion for organization, design, and helping others into something bigger. With the support of my family, friends, and this incredible community, I took a leap of faith—and it has been the most rewarding adventure. Seeing the impact of a well-organized space on my clients’ daily lives has made this journey even more magical than I could have imagined. Read more>>
Frank Campos Jr
We’re a multi-media outlet focusing on music, creativity & culture. Inspired by the blog era, we pride ourselves on being ahead of the wave when discovering a new artist or something worthy of attention. We strive to give the people content to enjoy and be grateful for. We still stick to writing our reviews but brand them in a way that the masses can enjoy and be proud of, especially an artist who has worked to complete a single video, project, etc Read more>>
Tayla Russell
When I started seeing my clients I had a limited space to a small town in northern Utah. Having the confidence to take my business online and creating content for social media has been the most intimidating part of all. Even though I was a coach for over 5 years before going online I still had major imposter syndrome! Read more>>
Arthur Giron
It took losing my job and our father starting cancer treatments to take the leap of faith. Losing my job allowed me to have more time with my father during his battle, but when I was ready to get back in the workforce, I had a difficult time doing so. I was getting frustrated and looked to my parent’s and asked for their blessing to start a buñuelo business. Read more>>
Isabel Paillao
I have always loved to sing, I think since I could first hear my own voice. For many years I’d sing to myself, in my closet, in the car along to the CD’s of pop queens that were in their prime at the time, assuming I wasn’t being heard over the volume, and at any chance I felt free to find a song in my voice. Though, it was never something I felt comfortable sharing with anyone until much later in my life. After being gifted my first guitar, I spent my teens teaching myself the instrument, learning to sing and play simultaneously, and growing little calluses on my finger tips, each layer like rings on the trunk of a tree. Read more>>
Brayden Williams
I am originally from a small town in Upper Michigan called Gladstone. I’ve spent most of my life there and I always call it home no matter where else I go. While I was living in Michigan, I contemplated a lot of my time trying to figure out what I wanted to focus on in life as a career or occupation. With all my goals and interests in mind to sum it up simply, I wanted to change or improve people’s lives. Having this in mind, it definitely didn’t make it easy trying to focus on a specific occupation because there are so many careers that can meet that goal in so many different ways. Police officer, dentist, psychiatrist personal trainer etc Read more>>
Eréndira Hernández García
It hasn’t been easy specially as foreigners, even though texas still has a large mexican community, we are still in a different country trying, dealing with a huge transition in which we have to rediscover who we are in this new land, allowing parts of ourselves to die in order to allow the new parts that will help us adapt and thrive to grow… finding a community has been very hard. Being in a kind of survival mode tryign to make things work, the stress of getting our investors visa, making our business work and so on all that hadn’t allowed us to socialize, network and meet the nicest people I’ve just started to met this year. Read more>>
Mildred Lopez
No, it certainly hasn’t been an easy path. The main obstacle I encountered centered around the cultural gap. American insurance companies are still in the process of fully understanding the healthcare culture of the Hispanic community. There are still significant barriers, deeply ingrained myths, and traditional beliefs that make it challenging for both communities to effectively connect and build trust. This often requires a nuanced and culturally sensitive approach to communication and education, which hasn’t always been consistently implemented. Read more>>
Jama Pantel
I started my portrait photography business with a mission to make people, especially women, feel empowered and beautiful in front of the camera. Over time, that mission grew. I leaned into education, started creating digital resources, launched a podcast, and began helping other entrepreneurs and personal brands show up confidently in their own story whether on camera, online, and in life. And, I am excited to share that a new app will be launching soon as well. Read more>>
Aaron
When I was about nine years old, I found an old accordion in my grandparents’ home. That discovery would quietly save my life. A few years later, when I was around twelve, my mother gave birth to my younger sister and was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression. Overnight, the strongest person in my world became someone fragile, scared, and battling silent pain. I was young, shy, and unprepared for the emotional weight that entered our home. I didn’t know how to process what was happening — but my accordion gave me a voice when I didn’t have the words. It became my refuge, my therapy, my survival. Read more>>
Lori
Of course, Covid in 2020 was definitely a hard time, with people cancelling parties and large events. We adapted by offering small cakes and cupcakes for curbside pickup for a while. I think my biggest challenge today is the high cost of supplies and ingredients. It’s definitely become more expensive than ever to run the business, but we are trying to adapt and figure out how to make enough money to continue operating successfully. I think we’ve been good at adapting to different challenges so far, so I am confident we will continue to do so. Read more>>
Tara Talanco
By the time I was five, he started building the restaurant on the front portion of the land. On January 1, 1996, when I was seven years old, we officially opened for business. I was already helping out—cleaning tables, refilling pickles, toasting buns, and doing my best to be a little shadow to every staff member. I would tag along with my mom and grandma on catering jobs, learning the ropes early without even realizing it. Read more>>
Crissy Martinez
It definitely has not been a smooth road but on day one I told myself to “never stop dreaming” and I’ve stood by that even when things didn’t go my way. From making little to no sales at local markets to not being able to find certain supplies I needed for orders. I stayed up countless late nights to create my items and to finish up orders I was receiving. Although, I knew God had good intentions for me when I decided to take this leap of faith. It has taken a lot to keep going and to believe in myself. Read more>>
Cody Nunn
I became interested in selling my work at in person events in 2020 when I was 19. Noticing other artist selling their work at pop ups and large conventions. I felt I had something to work towards. I began selling my art for the first time at local pop up markets around San Antonio. My first being in late July 2024. And my largest event being C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) April 11-13 2025. I also got accepted to Anime NYC later this year Aug 21-24 2025 Read more>>
Celina Lozano Ramirez
In 2017, with the support of my husband, then fiancé, I took a bold leap and franchised with Webby Dance Company, based out of Long Beach, California. Since then, my business has expanded into Houston and grown by over 700%. Today, it stands as the #1 mobile dance company in Central Texas. I lead a vibrant team, mentor rising instructors, and continue to spread the love of dance to new communities — all while staying true to my mission of making dance fun, empowering, and accessible. Read more>>
Sydney Hawkins
It could be a photograph of a tree, the sky, a person, or even food. I believe the 2 biggest things that set me apart from others is my ability to photograph children because of my 9 years experience in the childcare field and how affordable I am. Many parents enjoy getting family portraits and sibling photos because of the endless patience I possess. I choose to have affordable pricing because I am self taught and I know how expensive most photographers are. So, for those who don’t mind using their local photographer then I make sure they are accommodated well. Read more>>
Bianca Araiza
Prior to starting my dream of my own boutique, one highlight of my career was serving as a Visual Merchandising Manager at one of the largest boutique chains in the country. It was there that I truly fell in love with the creative side of fashion. I worked with fabrics, colors, prints, and learned to appreciate the art of visual merchandising. I also gained valuable experience in sales and business analytics, using those insights to optimize store layouts to maximize sales. Read more>>
Tiffany Noriega
My skin became very sensitive over the years and after trying every “natural” product off the shelves I decided to make my own body care products at home. I did research and practiced infusing herbs to make oils for salves, lip balms and body scrubs. A couple of years ago, I started handing out these products to my family, friends and co-workers to get their feedback. After receiving positive responses I decided to give pop up markets a try. This July will be one year since Norapothecary has made a public presence. Our product list has expanded to loose leaf tea blends, bath salts and face masks. Read more>>
Sophia Martinez
I decided I would quit working to take care of her and then my grandma was diagnosed with dementia. So took care of both of them along with my sister and husband who helped along the way. About 4 months in my grandma’s dementia progressed and I needed to find a way to keep her calm.. So I started crafting again. It started out with Fiesta halos and took off from there. So ever since then, except for Covid time, I’ve made them. It was during that time I named my business. Grandma would sit with me while I worked and I would hand her my scraps of paper to separate. And every time she would help me, she said I had the prettiest paper. And that’s when Pretty Paper by Sam was born. And Sam are actually my initials. Lol Read more>>
MARGARITA RODRIGUEZ
Coming to my studio is more than just taking photos—it’s an experience. Clients get to see the love, patience, and knowledge that goes into every session. They learn about my process, the care I take in posing newborns safely, or how much detail goes into creating the perfect setup. It’s a chance for them to connect not just with the camera, but with the story behind the business and the heart behind every image Read more>>
Mia Connell
Flores Street Yoga opened in January of 2025. After practicing and teaching yoga for years we were tired of not having a yoga studio and community in our own neighborhood. FSY was born out of our personal need and desire for our community. Our studio’s vision is centered around community, accessibility, and education. Read more>>
