Michigan’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Tony Mcaleave

the online hate can become a lot, due to growing that size of following, which is more then the entire northern ireland population i grew up in, it can be overwhelming and people take shots at anythign they can, the way i look, any inseciruity so you do build reslience, however the fact im doing this for the people that need it is the reason it drives me and this allows me to provide a life for my mum dad and sister that i could of never dreamed of. Read more>>

Evan Haines

We aimed to create a group of service companies able to provide resources and labor needed to make spaces livable and beautiful for those who can’t or don’t have the time or means to do so themselves. We also wanted to give an alternative to the spread of companies for services that could be packaged under on another just to make another sale. Seeing firsthand how hard it can be as a business owner in the property sector we offer commercial services at a agreeable price while giving them a network within to attend their needs. Read more>>

Atsuko Gore

I came to the U.S. from Japan over 30 years ago, and my plan was to study English for a year and go back home. At the end of the year, I took a photography class and fell in love with it. I enjoyed taking portraits that showed the subject’s beauty and personality. Photography was not the only thing I fell in love with; I met my future husband and have been here since then. One year turned into more than 30 years. Read more>>

Madeline Fancett

In the two years since graduating and trying to figure out what was next, I slowly realized that the personal brand I really wanted to hone in on, was myself. I wanted to create and capture, to see my own visions come to life, to create a community that resonated with my work and to collaborate with fellow creatives. Read more>>

Alyssa Shirkey

After I started to really find my footing in the industry, I decided to move shops in 2019. I started tattooing at Ironclad Tattoo Company in Troy. Here, I was able to see that I was developing a style that was molded by my own interests and guided by the talented artists that I was surrounded by. I have spent six wonderful years building clientele and my portfolio into something that I am proud of. Read more>>

Rebecca Bilodeau

By the end of that year, I was pregnant with my second and my family decided to move closer to home to Michigan (we moved to Dallas, TX right after college). We both grew up here and wanted our children to grow up where they could experience the lakes, the four seasons, and family all around. We moved to Michigan in 2019 and gave birth to our second child. A few months later during the lockdown, we found ourselves pregnant with our third child. About 6 weeks after he was born, I was offered my first principal job – my dream come true! Read more>>

Missy Fojtik

Absolutely not are you gonna be a woman named Missy trying to build out a glamping resort with modified shipping containers and geodesic domes on a retired golf course not the average population is 65 and only 4000 full-time residents. There’s been nothing but challenges. Read more>>

Mark Clague

In October 2019 the University of Michigan launched a new Presidential Initiative called “the Arts Initiative.” With a $2 million startup investment and a mission to elevate the arts across campus, this new Arts Initiative would seek to: illuminate and expand human connections, inspire collaborative creativity for the arts units and schools and colleges across campus, and build a more just and equitable world through Michigan arts. No small task! This marked the beginning of a 5-year plan for reshaping and reframing the role of the arts within the university. Read more>>

Empress Torisaun Shiniece

After I attempted to be my own companion during my traumatic childbirth experience, I completed massage school, and then went back to my childhood dream to work with babies and mothers.. I became a doula, traditional birth companion is more fitting. I slowly transitioned into a traditional birth attendant and discovered my true calling for birth is not as it appears. I knew I wanted to be an educator, continue working with pregnant women, and make sure mothers did not experience any of the trauma, and neglect as I did. (during birth and healing during the 4th trimester (0-3 months postpartum)). Read more>>

Rhonda Miller

Started with 400 sqf just growing a little at a time until reached 2000 and bought the building. Covid was a huge struggle and dispensaries have done a lot of damage to my industry. Glass blowes, bong makers everyone got hit. So the struggle is right now. Read more>>

Heather

After the leather earrings, I then began with Wood, Wood & Acrylic, Glitter, Cork and also Polymer Clay. June 2024 I started doing our most popular Interchangeable Wood Dimensional Hair Clips (with some acrylic mixed in!). I knew I didn’t want these to be just your everyday Hair Clips, but they had to be a way they could be more fun! Growing up, my mom and I were always obsessed with hair clips, but we had one major problem – they would always get lost or scattered around the house! I set out to create something unique and functional. Read more>>

Abby Aka Nemo

I came to the US when I was about 3 years old and have lived in the Metro Detroit area ever since. Growing up here shaped my love for culture, community, and creativity. You would always find me with a Polaroid or disposable camera in hand capturing details others might overlook; food, drinks, street art, landscapes, and other randomness. Photography and art became my quiet way of expressing myself. Read more>>

Amber Kwong

It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like so many in the lash industry, I’ve faced my share of struggles—balancing family life with building a career I love, the constant learning curve of perfecting my craft, and even finding my voice and confidence in such a competitive industry. There were moments of doubt, setbacks, and times when I wondered if I was truly capable of achieving the goals I set for myself. Read more>>

Mooji

Like most people, when I first started learning tattooing, I lacked experience and my skills weren’t strong enough, so I had to put in more effort than others. I stayed up all night practicing, and with every piece I worked on, I studied what I was missing and what I needed to improve. Read more>>

New Troy

Not exactly. Max and Sam had to uproot their entire lives to start this band. They moved 1000 miles across the country, leaving all of their friends and loved ones behind in Florida. Rowan left his friends in Lansing when he transferred from MSU to Grand Valley to pursue the dream, and Aidan spent the first 6 months of the band formation commuting from Lansing to Grand Rapids to play shows and open mic nights. Read more>>

Tomm Becker

I began farming in earnest in my early twenties, drawn by the challenge of making a living from the land and the belief that regional food systems are a foundation for resilient communities. I got my start at Michigan State University’s Student Organic Farm, where I oversaw vegetable production and helped train beginning farmers in the Organic Farmer Training Program. It was there that I started learning the deeper mechanics of protected culture and year-round growing: hoophouses, high tunnels, crop rotation, and soil health management. Read more>>

Money Soup

Money Soup started when we all met up to jam in the basement of our drummer’s house. Lainey, our drummer, knew us all through high-school or college, and we played our first shows at the open mic at the Park Theatre in Holland. From there, we’ve gone on to record and release and album, a few singles, and play a ton of cool venues around Michigan! Read more>>

Andrea Skrocki

My journey into mental health care has been shaped by a deep commitment to people and a passion for creating meaningful change in the lives of others. I was born and raised in the Mountain West, and in 2024, made the move to Northern Michigan full time. My husband is from the area and we have been going back and forth from Missoula, Montana and Suttons Bay, Michigan for over 10 years. Read more>>

Lisa Stroup

I have amazing foster homes in Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana that help me live out my passion of helping these animals. I am always looking for more foster homes in order to expand the number of animals I am able to save. I take in owner surrenders and work with local shelters to pull dogs that need help. I supply everything for my fosters and try to make it as easy as possible for them so that we’re able to work together to find the best homes. Read more>>

Marcus Davis

I started GrindHouse Basketball Skill Development about 12 years ago while I was still in college. At the time, I was living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Canada, and I saw a real need for both mentorship and on-court skill development. Once I began working with young athletes, I quickly developed a passion for helping them improve their performance and seeing the results they achieved. Read more>>

Malcom Shakur

His debut came at a live open mic on exposure night in front of a crowd of 500 people. Following this success, he made Then, in 2020, he released the album, TASIMM, a 10-track project produced, mixed, and mastered by Malcom himself. With a title sounding like a whisper, TASIMM stands for “Take A Step Inside My Mind.” Completely self-made, TASIMM, is a personal expression of emotion. He learned a lot from the process. Malcom top track, “Topdown” was on the national radio station 93.3 as well. Malcom created a music label known as A.O.K THE LABEL LLC JUNE 18 2021. Read more>>

Lorin Burke

I was just 12 years old when my sister Nicole was killed, not long after leaving a domestic violence relationship. At that age, you’re supposed to be worrying about homework and school dances not funerals and final goodbyes. I didn’t have the words for my pain back then, but I found a lifeline in grief counseling. It was there I learned the power of having someone sit across from you, really listen, and hold space for your truth. That experience planted something deep in me a knowing that one day, I would help others the way I had been helped. Read more>>

Marlee Maddox

Even though I have had it since 2020. I started posting consistently and finally got accepted as a shop affiliate and that’s when it began for me! Brands started reaching out to me to promote their products! I don’t have a huge following or anything but the more you post, the more support you start to receive. I also went to school for Public Relations and Advertising so it has helped with content creation immensely. Read more>>

Marielle Pasquier

I’m a the weeknd fanpage basically. So I post everyday about his news or milestone. I’m maybe not known but I always try to put the best I can in this account. The thing that I’m most proud of is the frequency of my work. Like I said I post everyday and lots of times per days. It’s isn’t easy but I always try to. And this is what set me appart too and I also try to send my passion to the people who see my account Read more>>

Karen Bell-Brege

We have won awards for our books and were chosen as the 2021 Gwen Frostic Award Winners (the first duo to win) from the Michigan Reading Association for inspiring literacy in Michigan. We visit countless schools and do family nights where we include art, reading, writing and comedy and inspire our audience to create, read and follow their dreams. We have recently partnered with Northwoods Soda to support literacy in Michigan and will have a flavor to go with our books – ‘Bigfoot’s Butterscotch Cream,’ which we are super excited about. It’s been an amazing, fun journey with lots of hard work – but we would do it all over again. Read more>>

Hannah Snow

I (Hannah) grew up in Marquette but spent time living in Alaska, Colorado, and Copper Harbor before returning home. During my twenties—often on a shoestring budget – I developed a deep love for cooking. I also became passionate about the idea of breaking bread with friends, family, and even strangers, and the unique connection that comes from sharing a meal. All of that, plus a creative Thanksgiving leftover egg roll concoction in 2015, became the seed for All Rolled UP. Read more>>

Shon Hart

That experience changed me forever. Day after day, I sat across from men who carried pain, regret, and brokenness—stories that mirrored pieces of my own life. Working with them forced me to take an honest look inward. I knew I never wanted to become a public success but a private failure. Those men became mirrors, making me confront my own wounds and commit to the hard work of forgiveness, healing, and becoming whole. It was in those moments that I began to see the deeper purpose God was calling me to pursue. Read more>>

Lorena De Cosio

Over time, I realized that these pictures weren’t just for me. They held meaning for my kids, my family, and eventually for others, too. That’s when the passion grew stronger. I started to study more, learn more, and invest in this craft that had brought me so much healing. And as I photographed other families, I noticed a common thread, parents everywhere are craving the same thing: a way to hold onto little moments before they disappear. Read more>>

Ninb Adam

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The war in Syria was the biggest struggle my family and I faced — living through that and then having to leave everything behind. When we came to Australia, it felt like a complete reset for our lives. We had to start from the very beginning — new language, new culture, new opportunities. At first it was difficult, but with time, effort, and support, things slowly came together. Looking back now, I see how those struggles shaped me and gave me the strength to keep moving forward toward my dreams. Read more>>

Jasmine Wisz

Jasmine Wisz, contemporary watercolor artist, known for her signature collection of sea glass paintings. She draws inspiration from collecting sea glass and other beach treasures at the coast in sunny North Florida. Her studio offers a variety of sizes including collectable mini paintings up to one of the largest watercolor paintings in the U.S. Her artwork is notable for its deep sense of peace and calm with a natural and zen feel. Read more>>

Eric Andrews

Rather than not having a job I chose to take a bit of a demotion until I could figure out a better situation. In that time, it was winter time so mainly I shoveled snow and walkways all day in the cold snow to make sure that the pathways stayed free of ice while taking work orders, which I was horrible at (I’d watched my dad do construction and fixes around the home but I never really learned to use tools in the capacity I do now). The job honestly wasn’t that bad as I didn’t have to interact with high-end demanding clients all day like I did in leasing. Read more>>

Elle

I thoroughly enjoy making people happy and story telling. Rather it’s through film, podcast or poetry I want to tell and talk about what’s uncomfortable. I want people to know they aren’t alone and learn new perspectives. Educate. I plan to start a podcast this year. Filming more writing and producing more films. I cowrote a film on tubi called “Justice” which is loosely based on the murder of my father. It was tragedy and triumph telling that story. Revealing Dealing and Healing is therapeutic. That’s my job here on earth. To help Gods children heal through art. Read more>>