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.
Fatou Jome
However, my journey took a life-changing turn when I was diagnosed with endometriosis—a painful condition that affects 1 in 10 women. Experiencing the immense challenges of living with endometriosis inspired me to take action. I founded Let’s Fight Endo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women who are battling endometriosis, particularly those who struggle to access treatment due to financial constraints. Read more>>
Jenny Hyland
As a single mom, my kids were everything to me. I dedicated myself entirely to raising them, always being present for every school activity, every sporting event. The four of us were incredibly close, and I wanted to share my love for travel, adventure, and road trips with them. Whenever we had free time, we’d pile into the car and explore—choosing a new city or destination and seeing where the road would take us. We loved visiting quirky roadside attractions, hiking scenic trails, enjoying fun and unique restaurants, and diving into adventurous activities. People often asked me for ideas or what we were planning next, so I decided to start an Instagram page to help others find exciting things to do with their teens. Read more>>
Catherine Glynn
In the late 1990s, I was a part of the Rude Mechs in Austin, Texas, and we did something called the 7-Day Project. I based A.R.T. on that. We take seven days to create seven new works with seven people. Now in our ninth year, we have made far more than seven pieces in a week and up to 35 new theatrical pieces or vignettes. Some years, we’ve had more than seven performers and in others, we’ve had less. Other than the year of the pandemic, we have always stuck to working within seven days. Read more>>
Autumn Carolynn
I went after the goal to visit 30 countries within 30 years. Using a mixture of journals from years past with photographs of my travels, I published my first book, Traveling in Wonder, where I discuss the 30 countries within 30 years. Each chapter is about a different country, with the book starting off flying to my first country alone and ending as soon as the goal is complete. Thankfully, I have been featured on Kare11, Minnesota Public Radio, Good Day on Fox9, and WDIO. I currently have my photography in galleries throughout Minnesota as well as in stores and museums! Read more>>
Beth West
A little more about us: AJ and I first met at Franconia Sculpture Park, where he was working as the Site Manager. I later moved to North Carolina for a ceramics residency at The Bascom, and we got married shortly after I returned to Wisconsin. AJ holds an MFA from the Glasgow School of Art, and I earned my BA from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. You can learn more about us and our work at: Read more>>
Alyvia Taylor
I am a young black female journalist striving to create honest and entertaining content connecting others throughout MN. I have done a variety of journalistic jobs from creating monthly magazines for UMD, sideline reporting and now lifestyle reporting and producing. I graduated from UMD at 20 years old with a journalism and art degree. I was able to land my first full-time job back home in Rochester at KTTC directly after graduation. I have a niche in fashion and design, but I have done many things outside that realm. I have had the opportunity to speak in front of large crowds in NYC to share how I was able to grow my media career early. Read more>>
Em Baker
Building Riley + Ro has been a journey filled with passion, learning, and resilience. Like many small businesses, we started with a clear vision but quickly realized how much there is to learn behind the scenes—sourcing quality fabrics, managing production timelines, finding the right partners, and navigating the ever-changing retail landscape. Read more>>
Tori Seymour
Babes Who Book Club started as a New Years resolution in 2023 as a way to have an intentional way to discuss books with others. Over the past two years we’ve met monthly at various locations around the Twin Cities Metro to catch up with new and old friends and talk about that month’s book selection. Our membership ranges from never reading the book and attending for the camaraderie to those wanting extra book club in their life and attending our annual Book Club Retreats. Read more>>
Renosh Rejoy
Of course! As a child, I was always fascinated by the art of taking photos and videos. I noticed how taking photos and videos was a great way to preserve memories. During nearly every family vacation, I was either recording every step of the journey on my dad’s old Sony Camcorder or taking photos on my dad’s Nikon D5100. Read more>>
Britney Radel
I did the same thing with Crystals. I used different books, websites and testimonies to gain knowledge about just how versatile rocks and gems can be. I was blown away by all of the facts I was learning! Finding out where to get all of the product to sell was hard because I had not previously been a part of that community, however I joined some groups online and began to order products and attend trade shoes locally and nationwide. Read more>>
Aaron Johnson
Give it some more time, and George Floyd was murdered in front of a store I went to from the 90s. Between the hospital and pandemic shutdown, I would spend about a year and a half in various stages of isolation. During the year I spent alone in my apartment, I effectively retaught myself to walk using a cheap treadmill off Amazon, sometimes while listening to my neighborhood exploding in the background. During that time I had one thing on my mind: I re-learned to walk so I could march in the streets once I was out. Read more>>
Abby Oxborough
Our mission is to meet everyone who comes to us with the energy of a longtime friend. We value connection, authenticity, and above all else, enjoyment. We’re helping build high-performing teams through custom organizational retreats, we’re encouraging people to gather for friends weekends, family getaways, reunions, and celebrations. We love our community and we love our guests and it is our desire to know each and every one of them on a first-name basis (a lost art, if you ask me…) Read more>>
Genevieve Wilson
My journey in floristry began while I was finishing school, when I had the opportunity to secure an internship at a floral design studio. That’s where I really learned the foundational skills of the trade, working alongside talented designers and honing my craft. After my internship, I started freelancing with some of the top floral designers in the country, working on some incredible, high-profile events. This experience exposed me to a variety of styles and high-end clients, and I was able to learn from the best in the industry. Read more>>
Waler Hanson
Over summer and breaks I helped out in the store and got to appreciate more the ethos of Scandinavian Design in homegoods, jewelry, and clothing. When I was getting close to graduating with my masters Louise wanted to try a concept she had for a Scandinavian Shop in a more appropriate location somewhere in the Upper Midwest. After some research work we settled on Rochester, MN. This was to be a One Year Experiment and after that we would move to Chicago and a job that I had lined up as a design architect. Read more>>
Sara Hamdan
I am a 19 year old Palestinian-American entrepreneur, model and actress. Growing up, I’ve always had big dreams and a passion for bringing a unique perspective to every endeavor- I’ve always had this innate belief that I was capable of anything. I still genuinely believe I could become president if I wanted to. I never felt like I had a “true calling”, just that I was meant to be here, now, and share my experiences with the world. I’ve always loved creating- whether it was in the form of a story, poem, drawing, or a unique solution to an ordinary problem. I’ve experimented with many different outlets, and continue to do so. Read more>>
Julie Mockler
The road has not been smooth as the membership fluctuates as the membership of each club fluctuates. It has been more difficult as we move along as the younger generation tends not to join in clubs and commit time to same. DGFS tends to be more of a beautification organization and grows flowers and perennials and not so much fruits and vegetables. Read more>>
Chelsea Lambert
In 2002 I was involved in a catastrophic car accident. It was 2 weeks after i got my driver’s license. I was airlifted and diagnosed with a TBI. I went through PT and OT. I was prescribed opiates by my doctor and was soon addicted to coping with life’s trauma I was experiencing at home. My mother is mentally unstable as a result of deep seeded unresolved generational trauma. I left home and found myself homeless. In 2006, I met my daughter’s father. He offered me a shot at sobriety. I took it. A month later I was pregnant and never looked back. Read more>>
Jasmine (she/her) Kirsh-Binner
Before becoming a massage therapist, I spent a lot of years working behind the scenes in salons and spas, helping other people do their thing. I always liked the idea of service, but the whole hair thing never clicked for me. Once I found massage, though, it felt like home. I knew I wanted to create a space where people could truly unwind, let go of stress, and feel cared for. But there was something missing in a lot of wellness spaces—something for bigger-bodied folks. As someone who’s lived in a larger body most of my life, I wanted to make sure that everyone, regardless of size, gender, race, or background, felt welcomed and valued. Read more>>
Sunny Cochrane-Cole
However, over the years, I’ve faced my share of difficult situations and obstacles. Like many independent contractors, adjusting to the lack of structure compared to my previous jobs was a challenge. But I’ve always chosen to take a positive approach. Before my mother passed, she would always say, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” I took that to mean that I should work hard to achieve the best possible outcomes while also educating myself on potential setbacks. That mindset has helped me navigate the ups and downs of this business with resilience and confidence. Read more>>
Maria Jose
It was at my first wedding, which was btw the wedding of the mom of one of my dearest friends, who lit the spark in me to know that is what I wanted to do, that is what I wanted to document, all the rollercosters of emotions that a wedding day wraps. With that first spark it was like a dynamite string hat only grew bigger as I continued (and still am) to lear more about the capturing of the moment, of the mindfulness of being present, of enjoying the ride with my couples and capture more of them, more of their souls more of the intangible. Read more>>
Patrick Bentz
I’ve had a camera in my hand as long as I can remember. From countless disposable film cameras to the early days of digital video in devices like the flip camera and iPod touch, I was always looking for ways to capture life around me. My passion for photography and film took off when my family moved to Africa while I was in high school. My parents served as missionaries in the small country of Lesotho as a teacher and midwife. I lived in Kenya with my sister at a boarding school and graduated high school there. Read more>>
Christa Wadekamper
I grew up in the country on a hobby farm, we had a garden, chickens, rabbits and for a little while, we had a strawberry field that we sold strawberries from and we did a lot of hunting and fishing. Once I was out of the house, my husband and I spent many years moving from town to town due to job changes. I always knew I wanted to live in the country again but it just wasn’t possible until 2020. I did what I could to be a homesteader no matter where we lived. I grew in pots, small gardens, hunted, fished and cooked/baked from scratch. Read more>>
Beth Petersen Randall
My boss called me one day and said “Beth your product line with the bank is being discontinued because its too risky and I do not have a severance package to offer you” As weird as it sounds, I was relieved when I got off the phone and I had no idea how I was going to pay my bills. I ended up doing a short-sale on my home and did a voluntary repossession of my car which means I drove my car to the dealership, handed it over with the keys and said here you go! Read more>>
Holly And Ally Fellows
Thanks to the overwhelming support and positive feedback, we expanded beyond our market roots into wholesale distribution, allowing us to share our delicious, handcrafted granola with an even wider audience. At Good Fellows Goodies, we believe in using high-quality ingredients and creating flavors that not only satisfy your tastebuds but also nourish your body. Our journey has been a labor of love, and we’re thrilled to continue growing and connecting with granola enthusiasts everywhere. Read more>>
Karissa Peterson
I would say my biggest challenge throughout the years has come from myself. The internal dialog of not being good enough, comparison and worrying what clients might think. I think everyone can relate to such struggles and perhaps us “left brainers” even more. Read more>>
Ibrahim Demmaj
My name is Abe Demmaj, and I’m a community developer, entrepreneur, and the Founder of Grass Roots Developers. After the civil unrest and COVID-19 deeply affected the Lake Street Corridor, I made it my mission to help revitalize this community, not through outside control, but by investing in the people who call it home. Read more>>
Rebecca Keyes
Not long after, former NFL running back Darrell Thompson crossed paths with the program and felt something shift within him. What began as off-season volunteering soon became his life’s calling. After retiring from football, Darrell joined the team part-time, then stepped in as Bolder Options’ first full-time staff member. In 1998, the organization became its own nonprofit, and Darrell took the helm as Executive Director, determined to grow the seed of an idea into something enduring. Read more>>
Teréz Iacovino
Together we investigate the ways in which humans interface with plants, technology, and environment through a variety of sculptural installations and public art interventions. In addition, as the Assistant Curator of the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, housed within the University of Minnesota’s Department of Art, I work with a small, close knit team that includes undergraduate and graduate students. We center learning by doing and embrace an apprenticeship model. Back in 2012, I was one of those very graduate students working in the gallery and that experience opened a door to curatorial practice that I otherwise would never have stepped through. Read more>>
Susan Abi
What led me to where I am today was a happy accident—my husband introduced me to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and I immediately felt drawn to it. I saw how powerful ABA could be in helping children gain independence, build communication skills, and thrive in everyday life. That introduction opened the door to a career path that combined both my passion for helping others and my desire to see real, measurable progress in children’s lives. Read more>>
Stefanie Margaret Tranchida
When it came time for college, I found myself at a crossroads between service and the arts. I chose to pursue a degree in Social Work with a specialization in International Development at Michigan State University, a path that eventually led me to intern with the Nonprofit group “Equal Education” in Khayelitsha, South Africa. Reigniting my love for teaching (and traveling), I joined Teach For America after graduating. I began teaching Kindergarten in rural Louisiana, and it was there that I fell in love with small towns and the impact one could have on them. Read more>>
Ryan Hayes
Creating music and performing started for me at an early age. I joined band in the 7th grade playing clarinet and then going on to play saxophone throughout high school in Jazz band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble etc… At about this same time is when my older brother really started to influence my music tastes, putting me on to whoever he was listening to at the time. That’s when I found Hip Hop music and I immediately fell in love with it. Read more>>
Peng & Soua Yang & Vang
Building something from the ground up is never as easy as it sounds. Starting a production company was entirely new territory for us coming from a free lance background. It was full of unknowns, lessons, and growing pains. We faced challenges we never saw coming and had to learn everything as we went. But through each failure, we found growth. Every misstep became a stepping stone, shaping us into who we are and how we create today. Read more>>
Heather Annis
Embroidery just felt like a new movement and new way to connect to myself. It has such a calming and meditative quality, and through all of the challenges of 2020 it was a great source of comfort and safety. In 2023, I officially started my business Earth Angel Works, and I have really just tried to follow my heart with what images come through in my art and what I make, to which events I attend. I have been so grateful to have found friends to collaborate with and communities of likeminded artists that I can share and sell my art alongside. We the Starborne/Cait the owner of the shop have been a huge part of my journey, especially with getting started and having a place to been seen and sell my work. Read more>>
Bianca Pettis
While at Antioch, I interned at the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis. I was a solo performer at the time, writing and performing my scripts. Quirky stories about ladders to the moon, traumatic memories turned comic monolouges. I loved the theater scene in Minneapolis so much that I moved here after college and worked professionally as an actor for several years while juggling temp jobs during the day. Read more>>
Alex Coven
I developed a passion for music and art at a young age. One of my earliest memories is from when I was around four years old, exploring my creativity in my family home in Cleveland. I was always drawn to the process of creating something from nothing, finding excitement in both music and visual arts. I began experimenting with the family piano and practicing by drawing characters from my favorite video games. Soon after, I started developing my own characters, sketching them on note cards, and selling them throughout my neighborhood—collecting my earnings in a shoebox. Read more>>
Louise Hanson
As factories were unable to pivot and as our customers’ lifestyles changed we found products that would become new favorites. The Nordic Shop that featured the finest Scandinavian porcelain, glass and silver in 1974 pivoted. We still sell Scandinavian products that are well designed, sustainable and authentic. Our products today match the wants and needs of the marketplace: Dale of Norway Sweaters, Hestra Gloves, Fjallraven Backpacks, Helly Hansen Jackets, and many other niche designers that answer the trends. Read more>>
Tina Marcella
If one thing is for certain, the need for rescue is continually growing. As the years have gone by, we have continued to make connections within our communities and have continued to open our doors to dogs and cats in need. We have tried to expand our foster network, fundraise for medical expenses, and opt-in to as many donation programs as we can because the need for rescue has never declined. Read more>>
Jonathan Giberson Jr
It started with the opportunity to purchase my grandparents ranch in 2017. After moving onto the ranch, I decided to attend Central Lakes College in Statples to get an agronomy degree. After all, I had 40 acres of land and was determined to turn it into something that would sustain my family and our way of life. Little did I know that would be learning as much as I can about the growing cannabis industry and its introduction into the Minnesota market. Determined to be on the cutting edge of that growing Minnesota industry – I embraced it fully. Read more>>
Kieran Black
I don’t think any business really had a smooth road but I am extremely grateful for the support andlove I have received and it has helped me build up my confidence as a career artist and has pushed me into taking leaps of faith when I didn’t know if art could actually pay my bills. There will always be struggles but keeping that hope and confidence alive helps every step. Read more>>
Deb Frischmon
As I searched for meaning and healing, I started receiving answers in unexpected ways, some were from the other side as I became super sensitive to energy. I felt a strong, undeniable nudge to leave my teaching career —even though I had no idea what would come next. Trusting my heart, I took a leap into the unknown. Read more>>
Ellen Honsa
My journey into clinical psychology began with a deep fascination with how experiences shape our lives. Early on in my life, I sought out experiences to better understand how trauma, or negative experiences, impact daily functioning and relationships across the lifespan. Read more>>
Kayla Robeck
Building my own brand and gaining clientele was not easy—it took patience, persistence, and a deep belief in my passion for massage therapy. When I first started Muscle Revive LLC, I had to work hard to get my name out there, relying on word-of-mouth, social media, and networking to bring in clients. There were moments of doubt, times when the bookings were slow, and the challenge of balancing the business side with my hands-on work. But I stayed committed, focusing on providing quality care and building strong relationships with each client. Over time, my reputation grew, and so did my client base. Now, looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come and grateful for every person who has trusted me on their wellness journey. Read more>>
Bodie Emslander
Whenever I’m asked this question of “how did you get started?” I respond by bringing up that all kids at some point have an interest in Crayons, whether it be scribbling or eating them. I simply see myself as a kid that never really put down the Crayons – total contrast from the type of character I picture being featured in a publication – ha! But some of my earliest memories as a child involve coloring, drawing and just making things in general. This urge to create things remained pretty consistent throughout my life. It fueled the curiosity in experimenting with a variety of mediums, materials and formats as an outlet for expression. But at the end of the day, I have always had a certain fondness in the act of illustrating with pencil and paper. Read more>>
Colleen Baldrica
My grandmother was a very important person in my life and helped to influence who I am today. Grandma was 1/2 Chippewa (Ojibwe) and 1/2 French Canadian. She was born in Mahnomen and a member of White Earth. When she was young, Grandma along with 5 of her sister were taken from Northern MN and brought down to Pipe Stone to live in the Indian Boarding School. Usually, Grandma wouldn’t talk about her time there, however, she did tell me, “It wasn’t a good time”. I am also a member of White Earth, Pembina Band. My Grandmother lived with us from the time I was 7 until she died the fall of my senior year. Read more>>
John Kraus
Loaded up a uHaul and drove from Chicago. Arrived to 14 inches of snow in a driveway at 9pm. Even moving from Chicago, I felt as though I had never seen such a tundra. I quickly realized I love winter, which is good. A week later, the building began and now 15 years later Patisserie 46 has become a neighborhood corner with the goal of transcending our daily routine and providing pleasure even fleeting for a very valuable moment that we all deserve. Critical as these moments are not returning so spend them wisely. Seek pleasure. Read more>>
Cassandra Manning
One problem I found myself encountering, again and again, was how fiercely difficult it was for my peers to balance their home lives with their professional ones, especially if they didn’t have a plethora of support from their families. As I grew older, got married, started a family with my husband, and found myself tasked with caring for my aging Grandmother in my home, I knew returning to traditional retail would mean sacrificing my family’s complex needs for my career. This struggle began to gnaw away at me and I began to challenge this binary. Why couldn’t I find a way to both meet the needs of my family and chase my ideas? Read more>>
Luna Rey Hall
i always want to quit— writing is lonely and hard: i feel like i can never truly translate what’s in my head to the page, i spend too much time in solitude, i spend so much time worrying about words, and i just want to be with loved ones but i know i have something to say and only i can say it, so i must. Read more>>
