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.

Lizbeth Jordan

My journey in the beauty industry started with a genuine love for makeup and the way it can make someone feel. What began as a passion slowly became something much bigger than I ever imagined. I started by practicing, learning, and taking every opportunity I could to improve my skills. Like many entrepreneurs, I didn’t start with everything figured out. Read more>>

Jamaica Miles-Bey

My story is honestly a little bit of everything, faith, hard lessons, resilience, motherhood, big dreams, and a whole lot of figuring it out as I went. I was homeless for four years, living on the streets of Minnesota with my young son at the time. Read more>>

Cheff P

Well I’m multi-talented , born and raised in Minneapolis MN. I’ve been producing for about 20 years, Ive been making music for 10 years. I’m also a mechanic going on 10 years now. Got a car collection started. I’m an outstanding father raising a son with wonderful talents himself. Read more>>

Andrew Vick

I grew up in Edina, Minnesota, so in a lot of ways this whole journey has led me right back home. I went to school for photography out in La Jolla, California, and that’s really where two things clicked for me: I learned to surf, and I learned to really see light. Read more>>

Debbie Hartmann

I have enjoyed photography since I was in high school, I was the one who always brought a camera whenever my friends and I were out and about. I took some photography classes in college and loved every minute of learning about the darkroom and the creative side of things. Read more>>

Murata Wolldeyohannes

I was born and raised between Northeast Minneapolis and St. Paul, and growing up in Minnesota has deeply shaped the way I see people, culture, and everyday life. I started photography as a way to document the world around me, and over time it grew into a passion for storytelling through portraits, fashion, street photography, and film. Read more>>

Tim Thornburg

I started filming weddings in 2014 and then relocated to Minnesota in 2022. I quit my corporate job early 2023 and jumped into the solo entrepreneur life full time. Read more>>

Brad Peasley

We have been a successful streetwear clothing brand for sometime now but the specific line that lives inside of the clothing brand is what I want to share with you. It is a brand called ink over scars. It is a tattooed inspired, mental health awareness clothing brand. But it is much more than a clothing brand. Read more>>

Jeanne Cook

My journey on social media started pretty naturally. I began posting about my everyday life, especially my dog Bella, and I never expected it to become what it is today. My account started gaining traction, and before I knew it, my audience was growing rapidly and my content was reaching people far beyond my own circle. Read more>>

David Felton

well, I’m a father of 3 and happily engaged, I decided to start my cleaning business in Feb of 2024, it was an idea id had for awhile, never took the time to see it through, and one day i just did it. i started out as a residential cleaning company and then stubbled into short term rental cleanings. Read more>>

Nicole Middendorf

Live It List began with Nicole Middendorf’s own journey of finding the courage to change her life. In 2010, Nicole was a mom to a six-month-old daughter and a two-year-old son when she realized she was going to be a survivor of domestic violence. Read more>>

Jennifer Amaral

About six years ago, I found myself at the culmination of a profound master journey in plant medicine—a milestone in becoming both an asa paqo and a modern shaman. It was during this pivotal moment that something unexpected unfolded. For twelve hours, I walked with Jesus. Now, I’m not a religious person—so this was not only unusual but life-altering. Read more>>

Bedo Rodriguez

I started pottery 20 years ago. I took it as an elective in college. I found pottery to be both fun and challenging. Even though I didn’t need the credits for my major, I took ceramics repeatedly. Before I left the community college I was attending to go to the University of Minnesota, I had taken ceramics 6 times. Read more>>

Samantha Bednar

I started out studying in northwestern Minnesota, then went on to respiratory therapy school in East Grand Forks. After graduating, I worked at a children’s hospital in the Twin Cities for a couple of years. Eventually, my husband and I moved back to our hometown, and I started working at hospitals nearby. Around that time, I started a health and wellness business on the side. Read more>>

Lee Anne Wong

I think every chef’s career is peppered with challenges and struggles. We work in a high pressure performance driven industry and historically restaurant kitchens have not only produced some of the greatest meals in existence, but also a level of PTSD that every seasoned cook can relate to; sacrificing comforts the average person takes for granted, while pushing ourselves to please others. Read more>>

Morgan Walworth

Photography has always been a part of my life, but it wasn’t until I had my children that I found the time to pursue it more seriously, and I never thought it would become my career! After learning the craft in high school, I set my camera down for years as I became a pediatric nurse. Read more>>

Samantha Fiero

I’ve spent years working in medical sales while also building a career in wellness. My yoga journey began as a student in 2013, which led me to become Yoga Sculpt certified in 2016 and begin teaching in 2022. Since then, I’ve continued expanding my training in meditation, mindfulness, and somatic practices. Read more>>

Rondria Smaller

Sisterhood Circle -Crown Fixer really started through life experience. I was going through a very difficult time, and at the same time, several women in my family and close circle were going through things of their own. I had always been the go-to person—the one everyone called for just about everything, even when it came to finding activities and things for us to do together. Read more>>

Abdinor Ahmed

I grew up in Somalia, where music, dance, and storytelling have always been an important part of our culture. My journey as an artist started with a love for Somali traditional music and especially Dhaanto. What began as a passion eventually became a way for me to express myself, preserve my culture, and connect with people. Read more>>

Post Mortem

I’ve been writing lyrics since I was in elementary school. I played various instruments throughout middle school and high school, before eventually writing rhymes around 9th grade. Through the help of friends, family members and other local artists, I honed my craft and that’s what led to where I am today. Read more>>

Empress

Ahhh! It’s been a winding road, as I started on a completely different path — studying Sociology at Clark Atlanta University, in the same halls where W.E.B. Du Bois once taught. Read more>>

Kevin H Komadina

My interest in art began at an early age by sketching and drawing in charcoal and pencil. Gradually, this interest expanded and became focused in college, where I learned to make pottery on the wheel. After college, art was placed on hold due to medical school and a career in medicine as a pulmonary and critical care specialist. Read more>>

Ebony Aya

I started Aya Collective Publishing out of a desire to create meaningful opportunities for Black women writers—spaces where we could write in community with one another, develop our voices, and see our stories in print. Founded in 2017, Aya Collective has grown from that initial vision into a publishing and writing community committed to supporting Black women in telling, preserving, and sharing our stories. Read more>>

Lincoln Matt

I got my start the same as any other artist, just doodling non-stop wherever I went. I probably started drawing when I was 4 or 5. I used to present a pencil and paper to whoever I thought would draw for me, but after receiving one too many stick-figure drawings, I just decided to draw things myself and do it better than other people. Read more>>

Katie Huhe

I identify as a slow runner, and I’ve been a slow runner for as long as I could remember. In high school, I ran cross country. I would complete the Junior High workouts (shorter distance) to make sure I could complete the workout in the time as my teammates. I truly enjoyed the sport. Read more>>

Natalie Pierson

I opened Vagabond Village ten years ago. It started out with a small vintage collection and a dream to support the underserved community through small business internships for young people and community partnerships. Vagabond Village has funded and hosted community sales and other fundraisers in support of Veterans, animal rescue, local unhoused support, student school projects, and youth entrepreneurial practice. Read more>>

Megan Derby

I am very much a ‘noticer’ I fell in love with film photography in high school — the grain, the process, the darkroom, and the magic of not quite knowing what you were going to get. I carried disposable cameras everywhere and was constantly creating ridiculous images with my friends. I just loved keeping memories, in physival form. Read more>>