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.
Jamie Simon 
My journey into the world of barbering and product development has been nothing short of remarkable, defined by over 15 years of hands-on expertise and a relentless pursuit of excellence. It began with a simple curiosity that blossomed into a profound passion for the artistry and precision required to craft unique haircuts and develop high-performance grooming products. Read more>>
Natalie Hobock 
I’d love to! I opened Houston Dyslexia LLC about ten years ago to serve students with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, along with other co-occurring conditions. In total, I have almost 25 years of experience inside and outside of the classroom. Read more>>
Joy 
Joyousdiva Beauty began from a personal need and a deeper passion. Booking hair appointments wasn’t always easy, but I still wanted to look beautiful, polished, and confident—whether I had an appointment or not. That experience drew me to custom wigs and showed me how powerful it is to have beauty on your own terms. Read more>>
Victor Castillo
I started as the son of a church drummer, before I had any musical aspirations for myself all I wanted to do is be like my dad. So around 13 years old I picked up my first pair of drums sticks and got to work. I eventually ended up playing for the church as well. Read more>>
Kamitra Scott 
Mental Shift Therapy was created from a personal passion to make mental health care more understood, accepted, and accessible. Growing up in a Black household, therapy wasn’t something that was openly talked about or commonly encouraged. Even today, seeking therapy can still carry a stigma, especially within communities of color. Read more>>
Karen Castillo 
My story with photography actually began in college, when my classmates would constantly compliment the photos I took with nothing more than my cellphone. I never imagined then that those little moments would eventually lead me here. Years later, when I could finally afford a better camera, I started photographing landscapes and birds. But something was missing-I wanted to capture people, emotions, and stories. Read more>>
Alexis Irene-oshias 
My love for cooking started long before I ever thought of it as a business. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, I loved being in the kitchen and creating food that people enjoyed. During my university days, whenever friends had birthdays or celebrations, I was usually the person they called to help with the food—and, of course, I was doing it for free! Read more>>
Cecealia Burns
My story has really been about growth, trying new things, and learning that I don’t have to put myself in just one box. I’ve been with the University of Houston-Downtown for more than 12 years, and what makes that journey special to me is that I actually started there as a student employee. Read more>>
Samone Stewart
My journey has really been about finding myself, embracing who I am, and turning something that started naturally into something I’m intentionally building. I’ve always enjoyed being around people, going out, experiencing new things, and sharing different parts of my life and personality. Over time, I started sharing more of those moments online, and that gradually grew into my presence as DamnSamone. Read more>>
Kendrique Jefferson 
My journey has always been about turning ideas into something real. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for creativity, but over time I realized that I didn’t just want to have ideas—I wanted to build something from them. One of the biggest steps in my journey was becoming an author. Read more>>
Hayden Fancher 
I spent 7 years as a college minister in College Station and after meeting my husband, I knew no job could compare to the life of international travel, & coffee with college students, so finding my something ‘next’ was a bit up in the air. Read more>>
Dr. Quynh-Huong Nguyen 
I’m the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, and I learned early that being responsible, dependable, and useful was how you earned your place in my family, and everywhere else. That lesson took me far. Read more>>
Ebone’ Hemingway 
Aydan’s Kreations came about because I love to craft , decorating for all seasons, and having my house smelling good. So instead of continuing wasting money with candles that wouldn’t burn completely or were made with harmful toxins I decide to make my own. Our candles are made with love, luxury oil and wax that’s not harmful and pet friendly. Read more>>
Elizabeth Castillo 
My journey with writing and art started from a very personal place: the need to express the things I couldn’t always put into words. I’ve always wanted to become a writer since I was young. I’ve always been drawn to creativity and storytelling. Writing became a way for me to process my thoughts, emotions, experiences, and the things I observe around me. Read more>>
Jamaica Bell 
I started my DJ journey through Global Lynk’s 8-week DJ Cohort in Charlotte, NC. Global Lynk is a community that sparks creativity within DJs through events, cohorts, DJ sets, and hands-on workshops. I actually discovered Global Lynk on Instagram. I started with their introductory DJ workshops during the summer of 2025, and shortly after, I was accepted into their 8-week cohort. Read more>>
Matthew Salcedo 
I got into filmmaking inspired by people like Robert Rodriguez. Seeing someone take on so many different parts of making a film made me want to understand the whole process and learn how to bring my own ideas to life. As I got older, David Fincher became another big influence. Read more>>
Liana Choate
Charmed by Choate really started with my love of creating things and making them personal. I’ve always enjoyed finding little ways to make something feel special, whether it’s a gift, a piece of jewelry, or something that reflects a person’s personality and story. What began as a creative outlet gradually turned into something I realized other people genuinely enjoyed being a part of, too. Read more>>
MONICA WILLIAMS 
I started Candace Way Out Foundation in 2015 because I lost my daughter Candace in 2014 because of domestic violence and I wanted to make a difference in my community and help people facing difficult circumstances find support and hope. Read more>>
Coco Tee 
Our story is probably a little different than people might expect because we didn’t start out as friends. We actually met through a mutual friend when Tee became a client of Coco’s for waxing services. After being a client for a short time, Coco hired Tee to assist her at her med spa. Read more>>
Tierra Walker 
Natural Beau-T originated in Tampa, Florida, where I’m from. I’ve called Houston home for the past five years, but the story of the brand started before I moved here. I’ve always loved beauty and skincare, and I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with different products and ingredients on myself to see what worked for me. Read more>>
Callie Price 
Fitness has been part of my identity for as long as I can remember. I grew up as a competitive cheerleader and spent 13 years traveling across the country competing. Being an athlete from such a young age taught me discipline, resilience, teamwork, and how much I loved pushing myself physically. As I got older, that passion evolved into competitive NPC bikini bodybuilding. Read more>>
Author Britt W. 
I’m author Britt W., a Black romance author from D.C. Writing has been a huge part of my life since adolescence. Initially, I wrote in journals about the things I couldn’t always express verbally. Writing became therapy for me—a safe haven where I could vent, process my emotions, and be completely honest on the page. Read more>>
Ilse Avila
When I think about the little girl I used to be, I can still picture her standing somewhere in the middle of a room full of people, surrounded by adults, family, voices, and activity, and somehow feeling completely alone. I grew up around many adults, but in many ways, I was a very lonely child. Read more>>
Lynnora Marie 
I’ve always been obsessed with clothing and taking pictures since I was a little girl. When I was 17 and going through a lot of mental health struggles, I found that getting dressed, putting on my makeup, and taking pictures really helped take my mind off of what I was going through. Read more>>
Lawrance Stephenson 
My name is Lawrance Stephenson, and I’m an independent artist known as DUKEOFRNB—“The Duke of Rhythm, Narrative & Blues.” My story brings together music, faith, and a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. As a cancer survivor, I know what it means to face uncertainty and keep moving forward. Read more>>
Sherrell Neal
I grew up inside the construction industry, with more than thirty years of family history in remodeling homes, long before I ever called myself a designer. That background taught me how a wall actually goes up, how to earn a contractor’s trust, and where a renovation can go wrong before it ever reaches the finish work. Read more>>
ARIEL “Berries” COLEMAN 
My journey in movement started long before I called myself a dancer. As a child, I was a cheerleader and hurdler, which gave me an early foundation in athleticism, discipline, performance, and competition. It wasn’t until high school, when I joined my school’s drill team, that dance truly became my passion and I realized I wanted to pursue it beyond the classroom. Read more>>
Vildan Camikj 
My name is Vildan. I am 24 years old, and I’m the founder of Squareboom. My story started in 2022, when I first came to the United States as an international exchange student. Read more>>
Ahmad Kilani 
My journey began with a dream and a deep belief that hard work can change a person’s life. When I moved to the United States, I didn’t have a clear roadmap—I only had determination, faith, and a willingness to learn. I started with a food truck, working long days and late nights, doing everything myself. Read more>>
Avery Courtney 
Courtney & Co. Florals began when I was sixteen years old. I had discovered my love for flowers through a floral design program at my high school, and it quickly became my favorite class to be in every day. Read more>>
Zoe Bailey 
I really got into slime in 2017 when my family relocated to Germany (my dad was in the military). I was 9 at the time and I loved watching slime videos on social media with my sister. It didn’t take us long to start constantly asking our parents for the supplies to make our own. Read more>>
Egypt Buie
My journey into mental health actually started long before I knew I would become a therapist. I’m an only child, but growing up, my mom worked for a foster care agency and would sometimes bring children into our home for respite services. Some of those children also received in-home therapy, and I remember becoming curious about the work the therapist was doing with them. Read more>>
Derricka Wilson 
I started ExfoliantsbyMalika in 2018 and launched the website in 2020. I have always loved natural skincare products. I wanted to create products that would work for my skin and help with melanin-skin issues. I started to create face scrubs that I would let my family and friends try out. I knew they would give me honest feedback. Read more>>
Sasha Legette 
I grew up surrounded by Black women: my mom, sisters, cousins and aunts. Family was everything. They made sure we knew who we were, and nobody in my family was shy about saying what they thought. I loved being around that. I loved the conversations, hearing what everybody thought, and I was always curious. Read more>>
Colleen Dippel 
Families Empowered started with a very simple question: What happens to the families who don’t get in? In 2009, I was a relatively new parent, but I had already spent much of my professional life in education. I had been a public-school teacher in Houston and had worked closely with school leaders and organizations trying to create more high-quality educational opportunities for children. Read more>>
Imene Guerrero 
My story grew from a love of cars and the connections they create. Over time, that passion became something bigger: helping build a community where people can come together, support one another, and share what they love. Alongside my husband, Jorge, I’ve helped grow HTXCorvettes into more than a car group. Read more>>
Chris Marullo 
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor in Houston. After treating people for several years, I started noticing that the common stuff we treat, such as anxiety, depression, and relationship problems, shows up differently in people who have ADHD. ADHD usually makes it worse. In 2022, I became an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP). Read more>>
Evelyn Velasquez 
I was born and raised in Pasadena, Texas, the daughter of Mexican immigrant parents. I was the first person on either side of my family to attend college, so there really wasn’t a roadmap for what came next. I graduated number ten in my class from Pasadena High School. Read more>>
Sasha Ray 
Light Up Lives began with an idea that my co-founders, Aashna Parihar, Dia Chanana, and I had as freshmen in high school. The three of us wanted to create an outlet where we could give back to our community in a meaningful and positive way. Read more>>
Tommy Horn 
Hello! My name is Tommy Horn. I am a self-taught film photographer and creative local to the Humble, TX, area, specializing in documentary photography. My online name, which I’ve personally dubbed my photography name, is mokennekom, which is actually the words “moken-moken,” with one spelled backward. The words are spelled in English but are actually derived from Potawatomi (Bodéwadmimwen), an Algonquian language. Read more>>
Jazmin Porter 
As a first-generation college graduate, I entered the workforce and found myself very unhappy. Eventually I began looking for ways to just enjoy life, so I took up Acro Yoga. It was fun, scary, and surprisingly full of deeper lessons — it really highlighted how difficult it was for me to trust others. Read more>>
Tanyetta Hagger-Buckner
I started my own ladies accessory business in 2006. I was small and most of my customers came by word of mouth and doing small local events. I have always loved the idea of helping others, so I started a network of local businesses and my main purpose was providing networking opportunities! Read more>>
Viola Choice 
I’m a Bay Area entrepreneur with southern roots and a passion for creativity, culture, community, and bringing people together. At 17, I moved to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University, where I studied Business Management and had opportunities to intern with Master P and the Atlanta Falcons. Read more>>
Kimberly Joseph- Rawlins 
My journey into the hair industry began out of necessity. I was raised by my father, and at the time, he was unmarried and didn’t know how to style my hair. I had to learn how to care for and maintain it myself. By the time I was a preteen, I had started styling the hair of a few close friends as a hobby. Read more>>
Carlos Moore 
My name is Carlos “Dashawn Daniels” Moore, and I’m an independent hip-hop artist and co-founder of Tribe Mafia. I was born in Oklahoma and raised across Dallas, Austin, and Pflugerville, Texas. My story started with a love for music and the desire to create something of my own. Read more>>
Jessica Martin-Howell 
Cabana Club Haus started after I found myself in a new community and wanted to genuinely get to know the women building businesses, creating brands, and shaping the community around me. Read more>>
Chef Willie Holmes 
My journey in the culinary world started long before I had a title or a business of my own. I started in Florida working my way through professional kitchens, first as a line cook and eventually finding my real passion in pastry. Read more>>
Leigh Ann Moya 
My name is Leigh Ann Moya, and in many ways, I feel like I have been dancing my entire life. Some of my earliest memories are of listening to music with my family and dancing in the aisles of H-E-B. Music and movement have always been at the center of who I am. Read more>>
Casey Nwachukwu 
•This motivational journey began around my junior year at Fort Bend Bush High School. I had the opportunity to showcase a quote to my class. The type of reception that I got was surprising and cool. On top of that feeling, people came to me for advice or to be an energy spark/hype man. Read more>>
SAN CHENG 
We started with a small food trailer and a big dream: to share the food we love with our community. We put in long days, learned as we went, and kept building one step at a time. Today, that little trailer has grown into three restaurants and a food truck. It’s been a journey we could never have made alone. Read more>>
Sneh Patel 
My journey has never really followed a straight line. It has been a combination of cricket, education, technology, entrepreneurship, community, and a constant curiosity to learn something new and turn ideas into reality. Cricket has been at the center of much of my journey. What started as a passion for the game gradually became a much bigger part of my life. Read more>>
