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>>
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>>
