It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Dallas.
Lauren Dunn
I think anything worth doing does not come easy. It takes effort and perseverance. After starting a family, and my father passing away in 2017, I felt motivated to make my pain have a purpose. We all have to endure hardships that are unavoidable. Learning how to navigate life challenges and bumps in the road has been an opportunity that has helped me strengthen my faith and continue to grow as a person. Read More>>
James Delorean
REDEMPTION, SYFY’s THE ARK) production company. I quickly got promoted to Office Manager and used my salary to pay for countless writing classes. I wrote whenever I had time – honing my craft. I won over a lot of people by writing office wide emails in screenplay format. Instead of some boring welcome email for the new intern, it’d be a heartfelt scene about her father dropping her off at the train station and wishing her luck in Hollywood. Maybe it was kind of desperate but people got a kick out of it and it reminded them of my ultimate goal. Read More>>
Camille Gonzales
Getting a front row seat to watch love stories unfold and preserve the joyful memories of people who fell in love and chose me to capture it, is a job I don’t take lightly. I am forever grateful for the trust my clients have in me and my work to make their vision come to life. I am now 21 years old, and finishing up my senior year of college at Texas A&M (whoop!), and in the process of taking wedding photography full time when I graduate, and move back to Dallas. I am indescribably grateful for this job, the amazing people I get to work with, and the treasure it is to document their lives. Read More>>
Brhea Dawn Stevenson
Where my story starts depends on who you ask. If you ask my mother, who’s a major inspiration of mine it started when I was 18 months old and finger painted an elephant cutout. But if you asked me it started my freshman year of high school. Drawing and to a certain extent painting was something I always did, I grew up surrounded by creative people, so me taking an art class was a no brained. Read More>>
Noemie Lilombaz
My passion for real estate started in childhood, inspired by my parents. I was raised by my aunt in Brussels, Belgium, while my parents resided in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I depended on financial support from my parents, but there were times when I needed a little more money than usual and my mother would tell me, “We have to wait until the tenants pay their rent,” or, “This tenant hasn’t paid yet, so we need to wait a little longer.” This situation was so frequent that it stayed with me, though I didn’t pay much attention at the time. Read More>>
Courtney Elsbury
And now almost 5 years later, we’ve served hundreds of clients by taking wedding and lifestyle photos for them! 15% of each session has been donated to the non-profits and charities of the clients’ choice. It’s amazing how quickly that adds up and how much change that can bring! Nothing is more rewarding than receiving emails from non-profits about how our donations impacted them. And it’s a bonus that we get to use our creativity to bring about this change! Read More>>
Tarsjah Thomas
As a woman of color, in an industry dominated by men, the task was very difficult. Sex and alcohol sells. So in reinventing myself, I had to change my entire appearance, attitude, and my way thinking. What I learned out in the clubs was a reality check at best. I’m predominately Caucasian clubs I didn’t have to do much more than show up with the product, some material, and bottle girls to just an event. At the predominantly African American clubs I found myself surrendering to a plethora of terms to host a similar event. Basically giving up the kitchen sink. Read More>>
Kara Simonton
I never had the desire to have children and the conversation really stopped there. After being married for one year, I was pregnant. I was in disbelief and extremely confused on how this was going to affect our lives and quite frankly, very upset. This was never a possibility on my bingo card, or so I thought. Read More>>
Jara Herron
I am currently enrolling my first students for the Artisan Institute. My salon is a teaching salon where we have programs to build stylists careers. Hiring 100s of graduates over the years I am so excited to be able to nurture individuals at the school setting level. Over the years my husband and I have had 7 children and he is a supportive stay at home parent. I am the survivor of a SCAD heart attack and survived a plethora of life threatening events in CVICU 10 days after the birth of my 6th child. Only to have one more 2 years later! Read More>>
Pomai Uyehara
Our vision has always extended beyond the plate. We’ve cultivated Pineapple Grill Texas to be a gathering place, where everyone from all walks of life can come together. Creating a community has always been the heart of our mission. Through food we strive to bridge the gap between the Lone Star State and the Aloha spirit. Read More>>
F.L.i. Guy Q
Spending most of my teenage years in Ferriday, Louisiana (population under 4,000), I got a crash course in life that most people never get to experience. At the age of 14, I was doing the same things as most of the adults around me. This was when I first discovered that you can have anything in life if you work hard enough and smart enough to get it. This gave me a drive and hustle like no one else I knew. Read More>>
Leeandra Candelaria Velez
Whether it was helping me balance my studies, providing emotional support during tough times, or celebrating my achievements, they have been my rock. Without their belief in me, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today. Their understanding of the challenges I faced as I pursued my career allowed me to focus on my goals with confidence. Knowing I had a strong support system behind me made all the difference, reinforcing my commitment to helping others on their journeys. Read More>>
Brittni Armstrong
After moving to Texas in 2016 to start a new life following my marriage, I faced a lot of new responsibilities and challenges. Coming from Nashville, TN, I had fair credit but knew that improving it was crucial to building the future I envisioned. In 2019, I found Nicole Washington, the CEO of Revised Credit Repair, and invested in repairing my credit. However, in 2020, life took a turn, and I signed up with a large, commercialized credit repair company. Unfortunately, I was frustrated by the lack of communication and results. Read More>>
Edgar Ramirez
I started out studying chemistry at A&M Commerce, but I quickly realized that music was the only thing that actually interested me. After a year, I transferred to Dallas Baptist University to study music. I knew making a living from music wouldn’t be easy, so I had to figure out a way to make it work financially. During my first semester in 2019, I went to a lot of dance parties—everything from Greek life formals to holiday events—and this inspired me to give DJing a try. Read More>>
Michael Sartain
I did that for a while, and then 9/11 happened and because of that, I joined the military. Once I finished my service, I visited Vegas in 2007 for a week and had the most fun of my life going out. I know I’m 47 years old, but I still love going to nightclubs. That Vegas trip was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and it was the least amount of work I had to do for the most fun since my time studying at UT Austin.” Read More>>
Randall Blakeslee
I’m a second-generation legal immigrant, raised in a single-parent household in Tampa, FL. At 18, I found myself homeless. Through the struggles inherent in that particular social status, I solidified my relationship with God, picked myself up, got on my feet, and started taking college classes. Eventually, I enlisted in the US Army to pay for college, while serving my country. I never left and enjoyed my time in uniform. Read More>>
Ana Hernandez
From my mom’s side I had my ‘Abis Sofia who besides of being the best at protecting her family she was always found in the kitchen making the best desserts for gatherings, or just because it was a nice day to enjoy a French style lemon pie; and from my dad’s side I had my ‘Abis Santos, she was a warrior who took care of my dad and 11 aunts and uncles on her own after my grandfather passed. Her dishes were incredibly heartwarming, especially her pork ribs with cactus in red sauce. Both of these ladies showed me how to be a good host and the importance of creating connections with people by sharing a homemade dish. Read More>>
Markita Berry
That opened up so many avenues for me to choose and I chose them all. Lashes, Braids, Nails!, and I’ve combined my passion for art within my nail services. I take huge pride in providing my clientele with satisfaction in all the genres that I have chosen in the beauty industry. I love to see them happy, & feeling beautiful, it truly brings peace to my heart. Not to mention the connections, friendships and love that comes with it, it’s amazing and i wouldn’t change it for anything. Read More>>
Carla Samuel
Throughout my journey, one significant challenge has been cultivating and engaged audience. Initially, it felt daunting, but I”ve learned that consistency and authenticity are key factors. Building a followers base required more than just posting content: it involves creating meaningful connections with your audience. Engaging with then through comments and message has helped nurture these relationships Read More>>
Lakisha D. Boyd
There was a lot of personal growth and development I had to go through to overcome childhood trauma, hardships, moving around a lot and an absent dad in my life. I knew I wanted something different from the only example I had in my life and that was my mother so I had to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be for myself. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in January 2008. I was married with 1 son. After figuring out that my ex husband did not seek God how I did. We grew apart and later divorced. Read More>>
Jenny Vorabouth
Starting a new real estate business during the COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges, but it also became an opportunity for growth and innovation. As the market faced unprecedented disruptions, traditional methods of buying and selling homes were no longer viable. Instead of viewing these obstacles as setbacks, I embraced them as a chance to think outside the box. Read More>>
Kathrine Trueblood
She said “instead of going to 9 years of school for being a counselor, why don’t you go to 9 months of school and do the same thing!” I questioned her. Her response was “try cosmetology school! Your clients sit in your chair and unload all their gossip, troubles and venting, and you’re there to listen and help give them good advice! It’s basically the same thing without the degree.” We both chuckled. Now, I know it is NOT the “same thing” but she had an incredible point! Why not have fun making someone feel beautiful while also giving them a therapy session. Read More>>
