Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Sharzad Parfait
My journey into healthcare started with a passion for sports and performance. I pursued a degree in Kinesiology with the goal of becoming an athletic trainer, but after graduating, I wanted to deepen my understanding of rehabilitation and find my place within the sports environment. This led me to complete a Master’s degree in Sports Science and Rehabilitation. Read more>>
Dr. Elyssa Molina-Arevalo
I’m originally from La Porte, and I’ve known I wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. My family still laughs about how at three years old I was calling myself “Dr. EG,” (Elyssa Gabrielle) and my favorite word was “patella” instead of just saying knee. That passion really never changed-it just grew with me. Read more>>
AJY
When I started music in 2018, it was just a normal hobby to have fun, until I quickly fell in love with the creation. I started off rapping, but I wasn’t satisfied. I’ve been a long-time R&B and Soul music fan, so I began taking some vocal lessons in 2024 but had to quit due to uhm… money… Read more>>
Kimberly Reyes
I have always wanted to own my own business. When I was a young girl, my dad had a catering company. We spent weekends catering weddings, parties and working concessions at the race track. I truly enjoyed the hustle and bustle of it all. My job was taking orders, cashier, handing out cutlery, passing out bread and other condiments. Read more>>
Shay Claiborne
My journey to building MilestoneMate started long before the company itself. I’ve always been rooted in child development and working with families, and through that work, I saw something that never sat right with me. Families were being told to “wait and see” when they had concerns about their child’s development, and in that waiting, too many children were missing critical windows for support. Read more>>
Frederick McDuffy
Frederick LeRoyal McDuffy is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and retired U.S. Army Senior Noncommissioned Officer whose storytelling blends authenticity, humor, and heart. A native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Frederick’s journey from military service to the world of film is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and purpose. Read more>>
China Maria
I started by simply showing up as myself. I’ve always had a natural eye for style and a strong sense of individuality, but at first it was just me experimenting putting outfits together, cosplaying different characters, and tapping into acting as a way to express different sides of who I am. It was creative, fun, and honestly just something I loved doing. Read more>>
Marianna Crump
I didn’t start Pilates as a career plan, I started as a client. A few years ago I walked into my first session and quickly fell in love with how it made me feel: stronger, more connected and truly in control of my body. It wasn’t just a workout, it was something deeper. And that feeling made me want to understand it more. Read more>>
Keisha Nicole
Radio personality for 97.9 The Box 9a-2p – The Keisha Nicole show. I have always known I was meant to use my voice, but the journey to get here came with real sacrifice. Read more>>
Jonathan Brindley
I originally started out producing music, primarily electronic music. I had gone to school for Audio Engineering and at the time, my goal was be a music artist and make electronic music. That is how my name Abiss originally started. After some time, my interest slowly faded. Read more>>
Keely Petty, CPsy.D.
Dr. Keely Petty’s entry into the fields of trauma and mental health was driven by a combination of personal history, lived experience, and a specific turning point in her professional training. Personal Motivation and Lived Experience Dr. Petty’s interest in trauma is rooted in her family history. Read more>>
Cheron K. Griffin
My story begins in childhood, shaped by a traumatic experience – molestation – that altered how I understood love, safety, and connection. Like many women who endure early violations of trust, I found myself searching for love in places that could not truly sustain or heal me. That season of my life, while painful, became the foundation for my voice and my purpose. Read more>>
Ashanti Brown
My story is so unique! Early on, I was introduced to crochet and fashion by the women in my family. In fact my childhood dream was to become a Veterinarian in my hometown of Hampton, Virginia. After graduating, I joined the US Army as a culinary specialist competing in joint military culinary competitions and pageantry. Read more>>
Salomé Bissa kopasz
I began my career as a model in Paris before transitioning into design. I studied fashion design at the School of Fashion Design in Boston and creative entrepreneurship at MassArt, which gave me both a creative and business foundation. I later specialized in hat-making, training in New York and Florence under a master hatmaker. Read more>>
Katie Woodard
My exciting journey into boutique ownership truly began long before I opened my doors! Growing up, I loved watching my mother thrive in retail. Through her, I developed a deep appreciation for customer service and the vibrant energy of a fantastic shopping experience. Read more>>
nhu Nguyen
I started my journey with a simple goal: to create and share content that felt real, inspiring, and aligned with the life I wanted to build. As an immigrant, my path has been shaped by resilience, adaptability, and a deep drive to create opportunities for myself. Read more>>
Arhinna Luciano
Arhinna Luciano is a Houston-based guidance professional with over a decade of experience supporting youth and families through growth, transition, and self-discovery. Known for her grounded presence and intuitive insight, she bridges the worlds of traditional school-based guidance and depth-oriented personal development. Read more>>
Ivan Nacianceno
A son of immigrants I’m 42 years of age. Started cutting hair at 13 in my parents washroom. Went to prison at 26 Came to know God and the plans He had for my life based on my talents and gift He had been given me! Made me open my eyes. Read more>>
Alexander Tran
I started lion dancing at the age of 4, inspired by watching performances out in public—just like any kid filled with curiosity and excitement. What began as fascination quickly turned into passion. At 7 years old, I joined my first lion dance team through a Buddhist scout group. Read more>>
De’Andre “ Djdrummerboi “ Smith
Djdrummerboi is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, producer, music engineer and DJ whose career is rooted in the rich musical traditions of the church and the vibrant energy of the Houston music scene. Read more>>
Dionna Simone Jacobs
My name is Dionna Simone, and I’m the founder of The Cheesecakery, a Houston-based dessert brand built from passion, resilience, and creativity. My journey started with a love for making people feel good through food and creating experiences that bring comfort, joy, and celebration. Like many entrepreneurs, my path hasn’t been linear. Read more>>
Kelsea Thomas
Sending Myself Flowers started as a wellness hobby for myself. I always received fresh flowers and loved arranging them. I then decided I wanted to give other women a space to send themselves flowers as well. So, the idea of our mobile flower bar cart came to mind. Read more>>
Sydnee Kalberer
I started doing hair three years ago at 19 years old in Lake Station Indiana. Three years ago is crazy right? In such little time ive gained over a million followers across social media platforms, met celebrities, and had opportunities I would’ve never imagined. Read more>>
Sonny Naderi
Best Dental started with a simple idea between siblings: build the kind of dental practice we’d want our own family to go to. I’m Dr. Sonny Naderi, and I run Best Dental alongside my sister, Dr. Jasmine Naderi. Read more>>
Cash McIntosh
I started my journey in fashion working in retail, where I was exposed to styling every day. My manager saw potential in me early and encouraged me to explore wardrobe styling more seriously. I leaned into it, developed my eye, and realized I had a natural talent for it. From there, I committed to the craft. Read more>>
Domonique Green
I’m originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and my creative journey really started at home. My dad is an IT expert and a walking encyclopedia of music history, so I grew up around both technology and sound in a really natural way. Read more>>
Lenka Govender
I always wanted to support other people to be happy. I myself was born with an ability to find silver lining in every situation and a great desire for dance, movement and joy in life. Then as I went on, studied nursing and worked as a nurse in a hospital, I soon realized it wasn’t a sustainable job for me. Read more>>
Justin Killingsworth
I didn’t start The Color Bar with a perfect roadmap—I started it with a standard. Early in my career, I saw a gap in the salon industry. There were talented stylists everywhere, but very few environments that truly supported them in building long-term, successful careers. At the same time, guests were often receiving inconsistent experiences. Read more>>
Shemicka ‘Meeka Starr’ Johnson
My journey really started with creativity, vision, and refusing to be put in a box. I’ve always known I was meant to create, inspire, and build platforms bigger than myself. I started by using fashion as my first form of expression — styling, designing, and helping people feel confident through how they present themselves. Read more>>
Jiggaondabeat
I started out as kid that was always just a little different than most. I looked at the world in a third eye lens and was looked as weird for being my self and wanting to create. I’ve been making beats for about 8 years now, and been a full time producer for 7 of those years. Read more>>
Kamogelo Ngwenya
I started out with poetry but on how it come about early 2014 I was introduced my Speech therapist long story short ,she always told me if I have problems at school,home on how i feel I should write it down. All of a sudden it turned into books,performing at Kwa Thema community hall . Read more>>
