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.
Christian Rocha
I grew up in Pleasant Grove, a neighborhood in Dallas, in a humble home that, at the time, many of my peers and classmates saw as a run-down house on one of the toughest streets in the area. To me, it was simply home. It was where I learned the value of hard work, humility, and resilience. Read more>>
Kali Rogers-Smith
Very long story short: I come from a creative family and was immersed in the arts at an early age. For reference, my mother was a fashion designer and my father is a long-time musician. Read more>>
Ishan Shivanand
I was born into an ancient lineage of Yogis, where the pursuit of self-realization and service was not a philosophy but a way of life. From a young age, I was nurtured in the monasteries of India under the guidance of my mentor and father, Dr. Avdhoot Shivanand. Read more>>
Avery James
My name is Avery James, aka Subpartist, and I am a queer emerging artist in Dallas. When I am not creating art, I work full time as a speech language pathologist. Read more>>
Jarius White
Yeah, so my name’s Jarius White. I’m from Denton, Texas, fourth of five kids. Music was just always around growing up—church, school, writing songs over YouTube beats. It never really felt optional, it was just part of my everyday life. These days I’m a producer and sound engineer, and I run audio for weekly music events at Bee Hippy in Garland. Read more>>
Carly Hansen
Owner of Our Fair Lady Boudoir Carly Hansen born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m married, a mom to two boys—15 and 9—and deeply rooted in the city I call home. Read more>>
Chrystal Young
The image will forever be etched in my memory: a Dixie cup filled to the brim with prescription pills, representing both my mother’s hope for healing and the beginning of her decline. My journey into holistic health began long before I knew it would become my life’s work. Shortly after I was born, my mother was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Read more>>
Carol Sullivan
I’ve always had a love for design and paper, which led me to launch CW Designs, my custom stationery business. Creating invitations and stationery for weddings, families, and events taught me early on that my passion wasn’t just about making things look beautiful—it was about crafting experiences, curating details, and connecting people with the things they love. Read more>>
Jerry Crespo
My name is Jerry Crespo, owner and operator of Texas Chosen Handyman. I’ve always had a passion for working with my hands and learning from those around me. Over the years, I’ve been blessed with mentors who shaped my skills, and today I’m proud to mentor others in the trade. What I value most is building genuine, lasting relationships with our customers. Read more>>
Nia Black Amuzie
Nia Black Studios was founded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. At the time, I was working for a local television station in Houston but felt constrained by the network’s operations and editorial direction. This experience led me to establish an independent, Christian-based media platform with the freedom and autonomy to host meaningful, purpose-driven conversations addressing issues impacting the global diaspora. Read more>>
Daniela Orozco
It started with a hat. I was drawn to them from a young age, and that instinct grew into a career spanning over a decade in the fashion, Western hat, and accessories industry. I trained under highly respected industry veterans, with brands such as Stacy Adams, Biltmore, Larry Mahan, Stetson inl. Read more>>
Xiamara Cooper
I was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana—a city built on music, culture, and rhythm. From an early age, music was a constant in my life, as my parents immersed me in every kind of sound and style imaginable. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, my family relocated to the DFW area, seeking new beginnings. Read more>>
Nicole Simmons
I am a cinematographer whose journey began at fifteen, when I received my first home video camera and knew, long before I fully understood how, that filmmaking would be my path. I pursued that calling academically at the University of North Texas and The Art Institute of Dallas, earning a Bachelor of Arts and an Associate degree in Video Production. Read more>>
Abbrielle Schenck
I grew up seeing what healthy marriage can look like. As I got older, I realized that not everyone had that experience, and that realization stayed with me. I found myself wanting people to experience safety, connection, and repair in their relationships, especially when things felt stuck or painful. That desire is what first drew me toward becoming a therapist. Read more>>
Ham Rasul
I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. I moved to the United States in 1994. Texas has been my home ever since. Even as a baby, I was very intrigued with art and producing sketches. I almost drowned just trying to save my sketchbook that I dropped in a water hole at the age of four. Read more>>
Pam Flint
I was born in Cowtown but lived most of my adult life in the Dallas area. I started in nursing working at JPS hospital. Then moved to Dallas to work at Presbyterian hospital on Walnut Hill. After starting my family, I stayed home until I was ready to return to school at UTD to pursue psychology degree. Read more>>
Anisha Mandem
My idea for NeuroNext Foundation initially occurred while volunteering as a pianist at memory care centers and hospitals, where I noticed a common thread—neurological disorders. I realized many people, including myself, were unaware of the daily challenges faced by these individuals. Read more>>
Cortney Phillips
I have been a licensed massage therapist for 24 years, and while I truly love what I do, it was not the career path I originally envisioned. I graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, fully intending to pursue a master’s degree in social work and become a licensed professional counselor. Read more>>
VanDella Menifee
I am grateful to have retired at an executive level from the Dallas Regional Office, as a Regional Administrator. At one period during my career, as the Operations Manager, with an amazing team, I was responsible for managing the Agency’s entire population of over 216,000 prisoners. These skills later assisted me with organizing youth programs, coordinating large community events, mentoring students, and building teams of volunteers who believe in giving back, as passionately as I do. Read more>>
Asheyla Joseph
I started my journey as a nail technician in the summer of COVID, during a time of uncertainty. I began with a simple Amazon kit, practicing in my garage through the Texas heat, teaching myself and refining my skills day by day. What started as a creative outlet quickly became a purpose. Read more>>
eleysia costa
Nalu Skin & Body began with my own journey with acne, which led me to esthetician school in the fall of 2018! After completing the program in spring of 2019, I took my very first client June 1st, in my small suite! Very quickly I was able to give clients results through facials and beginner peels. Read more>>
Ricardo Picena
I’m actually from Kaufman, Texas I was born in Dallas, Texas. Wanted to clarify that because it asked me where my business was located. I didn’t know this was a Dallas thing. But we moved from Dallas to Kaufman back in 1999. I was 10 years old and our family started a small drive-through business called Little Mexico. Read more>>
Ron Osorto
My journey into mortgage lending started with a genuine interest in helping people make confident financial decisions during some of the most important moments of their lives. Early in my career, I saw how overwhelming the home-buying process could be, especially for first-time buyers and self-employed individuals who didn’t fit neatly into traditional guidelines. Read more>>
Cassie Moore
This story isn’t just mine to share. ReInspire was founded in 2017 by Charise Olson, after she had a dream about moving to Texas and starting a nonprofit to help at-risk youth. She followed that calling all the way to Johnson County, where she poured her heart into young people who needed someone to believe in them. Read more>>
Mandrae Collins
Mandrae Collins is a former collegiate basketball player, coach, and development instructor with several years of experience impacting athletes on and off the court. A native of Denison, Texas, Mandrae played four years of college basketball in Sterling, Kansas, where his work ethic and dedication opened the door for him to continue his playing career alongside the Harlem Globetrotters Organization. Read more>>
Dr. Jennifer Smith
J&S Counseling was born not only from my professional experiences but from deeply personal ones as well. I grew up in the projects, raised by a mother who struggled with her own substance use challenges. From a young age, I witnessed firsthand the ripple effects of addiction, how it fractures families, isolates individuals, and often leads to involvement with the criminal justice system. Read more>>
Joshua Brooks
I grew up in Houston, Texas, shaped by education, friends, diversity, and athletics. After graduating from Texas Christian University, my path took a decisive turn in the years following 9/11, when I joined the U.S. Army as an infantry Soldier during the Global War on Terrorism. That experience—leading, serving, and learning in high-stakes environments—fundamentally changed how I view responsibility, stewardship, and leadership. Read more>>
Kidus Mezemer
I started my company my freshman year of High School. We originated by doing short form content editing for podcasts, essentially getting paid to turn hours of long format content into sub-sixty second bite sized shorts. Read more>>
Brad Lynch
In 2003, during a lending environment dominated by mortgage brokers, I worked as a loan officer for a mortgage brokerage in Irving. I remained with that broker for over eight years until significant changes in the industry began to destabilize the broker model. Read more>>
Joshua Boudreaux
I started out in music and audio before I ever got into being a DJ and Wedding & Event Entertainer. It goes all the way back to when I was 17 years old and I got my first guitar! I have dabbled with guitar, bass guitar, harmonicas, singing, and running live audio for bands over the years. Read more>>
Madhur Mehta
I didn’t take the “traditional” path. I moved to the U.S. at 30, later than many societal expectations, and faced the challenge of building a career, network, and sense of purpose from scratch. That experience taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of clarity in both personal and professional growth. Read more>>
Eliseo Robles
Started younger than most people expect. I was 14, running Minecraft servers out of my bedroom. Shimencraft. Taught myself everything—Linux administration, community management, monetization. Learned pretty quickly that people will pay more for a purple name than for actual gameplay advantages. That stuck with me. From there I got obsessed with building things that worked. Read more>>
Yixuan Han
For Dr. Yixuan Han, music was never just about performance — it was about responsibility. Trained in both classical voice and musical theater, Dr. Han spent years on stage and in the studio, working with students of different ages and backgrounds. Over time, she noticed something quietly troubling: many young singers were being pushed to perform before they were fully prepared. Voices were rushed. Read more>>
Tejiri Ojaruega
I started in healthcare by taking the long route from learning and understanding the basic needs of patients. That foundation was the building block for my clinical skills and confidence through nursing and advanced practice. Over time, I noticed a pattern where many patients were not lacking motivation, they were lacking genuine care, support, and clarity. A plan that fit real life. Read more>>
Kimberly DeShields-Spencer
Behind Her Brand was birthed from seeing how often women feel like they have to wear a mask for the world. There’s this unspoken pressure to look confident, accomplished, and certain on the outside, while quietly building, stretching, questioning, and learning behind the scenes. Read more>>
Hector Hernando
The idea of starting my own mariachi came from a deep sense of responsibility rather than a business plan. I grew up surrounded by mariachi music—coming from generations of mariachi musicians—and from a very young age I understood that mariachi is not just music, but culture, history, and identity. Read more>>
Adrienne Edmon
In 2015, one of my Sorority sisters randomly asked me to do her makeup for her Bridal Shower. I had no experience doing makeup on others, but because she trusted me, I gladly accepted the challenge. The Bride received so many compliments on her makeup from her guests and several Bridesmaids asked to book me for her actual Wedding. Read more>>
