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.
Persephone Starks
**With reference to the neighborhoods drop down above – We are located in multiple neighborhoods throughout the Dallas area. visit https://parentsasteachers.org/program-locator/ for our program locator to assist in finding a program close to you.** I serve as the State Manager for Texas Parents as Teachers. I oversee the statewide coordination and implementation of Texas Parents as Teachers programs. Read more>>
Karen Crow
There is a much longer version on our website if you would like to read ‘About Us’ and there are some really fun pictures of us on our Instagram. Bobby and I met in the 6th grade and quickly formed a grade school friendship, which grew into a deeper friendship through junior high and high school. Read more>>
LaQuishua Bursey
My journey into hair started from a genuine love for beauty, creativity, and helping people feel confident in themselves. What began as a passion quickly turned into a purpose as I realized how powerful hair can be—not just in how someone looks, but in how they feel. Read more>>
Bri Mulenda
Eight phazes was an idea I carried with me for nearly five years before I ever brought it to life. At the time, I was fully focused on building my career in marketing operations, leading go-to-market execution, building systems behind campaigns, and supporting product launches in the tech industry. Read more>>
Samantha Elandary
In the late 1990s, I was working in a hospital as a speech-language pathologist. I was amazed that people with Parkinson’s responded so well to speech therapy. In just a few weeks, my patients could be heard and understood. They could talk on the phone again and order their own food at restaurants. It was pretty exciting. Read more>>
Emilie Williams-Ingram, CPDT-KA
I’ve always been an animal lover and always had a house full of pets growing up, but it wasn’t until my early twenties that I found my passion for dogs. One night I was attacked and bitten in the face by our normally sweet and loyal family dog, seemingly without warning or reason. Read more>>
Teresa Grady
Originally from England, I moved to the United States with my family as a teenager. My early career began in accounting, followed by several years at home raising my children. When I returned to the workforce, I transitioned into administrative roles, where I developed a strong appreciation for systems, structure, and the behind-the-scenes work that allows organizations to operate effectively. Read more>>
Sharie Withers
I am about to celebrate my 15th year as a businesss owner. I bought an Allstate insurance agency in 2011, it was very small and since then I have increased it by 5x. Read more>>
Bianca Holley
In 2020, God gave me a vision to start a podcast that would create a safe space for women . A space where they could feel heard, seen, and free to be raw and authentic. I didn’t move in obedience right away. In fact, God had to deal with me about delaying what He had clearly instructed me to do. Read more>>
Brandan Fagan
Golden Touch Electronic Repair was built at the intersection of technical skill and community service. What started as a strong personal interest in electronics and troubleshooting quickly grew into a hands-on practice of repairing devices for friends, neighbors, and local families who needed affordable, trustworthy solutions. Read more>>
Anna Moore, Stephanie Palmer Whitney Davies, Ashley Shovel
Mahjong Wives Club started as a small group of moms about 1.5 years ago, gathering at the table – creating space for connection, friendship, and time away together. We’d meet once a month, which then turned into every other week and then that turned into weekly. Our friendship blossomed and it was all because of one night where we learned to play American mahjong together. Read more>>
Frelisha Jefferson
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, I found myself creating short stories and filling pages with imagination. Even at that age, writing was more than something I enjoyed — it became my escape. It has always been hard for me to express what I was feeling on the inside. Read more>>
Desmond Sumpter
My background is in program management , large-scale logistics and operations leadership. I’ve had the opportunity to manage complex supply chain organizations, optimize performance, and oversee transportation networks at a high level. Through those experiences, I learned how critical efficiency, accountability, and relationships are in this industry. Read more>>
Sid Patel
I have always been the kind of person who likes building things. I didn’t grow up thinking, I’m going to be a big entrepreneur, but I did know I wanted more control over my future and I liked the idea that if you work hard and make smart decisions, you can actually create something real. Read more>>
Taushey Sias
My journey hasn’t been traditional at all. I started out at Prairie View with plans that looked very different from the life I’m living now. At one point, I made the difficult decision to drop out of school, and honestly, there was a time when I felt like I had missed my chance to ever become a music professional. Read more>>
Jada Mullins
I am a fashion designer with over seven years of experience and the founder of the fashion brand Savvy Nevaeh. I created this brand in 2017. I’ve always had a passion for fashion but never really knew it. Read more>>
Krisette Cole
Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak with you! My story is a blend of a few worlds: motherhood, justice, and education. I am a Wife, Mother, Nurse (LVN & Certified Heath Science Instructor), Certified Childbirth Educator, Postpartum Doula, and Founder of Mosaic Cooperative Learning Center. Read more>>
Walter Bruce
My journey as a philanthropist began during a difficult season in my life. In that time, I made a covenant with God, promising that if He blessed me and revealed my purpose, I would honor that covenant by giving back to Him. Read more>>
Brodrick Archie
Any Event Productions – Company Story Any Event Productions, LLC (AEP) was founded with a clear vision: to provide high-quality, professional audio-visual and event production services with integrity, excellence, and reliability at the forefront. The company began with a passion for sound and live production, initially servicing small private events and community gatherings in Texas. Read more>>
Nicholas Uzoni
I started my business as a side hustle in 2020. I was working for another corporate company who moved us to start working from home. I used the sudden influx of time I had to start building this company from the ground up. Overtime, I gradually took on more customers spanning from digital marketing clients, data & reporting clients, and most recently software development clients. Read more>>
George Ferrie
We started this business with community in mind. As long time advocates for accessible mental health we realized there was a gap in our community for affordable mental health care. As career social workers we’ve worked in varying different arenas within the social work field including children, families, healthcare, and advocacy. Read more>>
JD Gibson
I grew up in a single parent blue collar household with my father. I went to school in Edmond, Oklahoma for my primary education and undergraduate studies at University of Central Oklahoma. I received my doctor of pharmacy degree from University of Oklahoma in 1998. Read more>>
Lauren Sanchez
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be two things: a writer and an entrepreneur. The writing came from my love of stories — I’ve always been fascinated by how people think, what drives them, and how ideas connect. The entrepreneur side came from watching my dad build a business from the ground up. Read more>>
Kelly Waller
My art-making journey began later in life than some, but I have always loved and been surrounded by art. Whether it be going to the movies every week, or watching my grandmother piece together gorgeous quilts, there has always been art around. I started out like a lot of other young people going to college, not knowing exactly what I wanted to do. Read more>>
Michelle Acebo
Rewiring Wellness: A Bottom-Up Approach to Emotional Healing in North Texas By Michelle Acebo (Umā Devi) In North Texas, conversations about mental health are expanding. Therapy is less stigmatized. Corporate wellness programs are becoming more common. Yet many individuals still find themselves asking a frustrating question: “If I understand my patterns, why does my body still react?” The answer lies in physiology. Read more>>
Robin ` Pandey
My journey into technology started long before AI became a buzzword. About 20 years ago, I taught myself website development simply because I loved building things. I spent nearly five years volunteering with a nonprofit, designing, managing, and continuously improving their website. That experience sparked my passion for using technology not just to build systems, but to solve real-world problems and create meaningful impact. Read more>>
Shaila Rubenthaler
My yoga journey began with a headstand I saw on Instagram in 2016. I remember thinking, I can do that. I tried, and very quickly, I was humbled. I couldn’t get anywhere close. What started as a simple goal to stand on my head turned into curiosity about yoga itself, and I began practicing small bits at home, focused mostly on that one pose. Read more>>
Dr. Donovan Fredricksen
Following completion of my bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1986, my wife and I married in 1988, and our children were born in 1989, 1991 and 1994. Our earlier family years were wonderful, as I completed both a master’s degree and doctorate (Ph.D.) in education and began a 20+-year career in higher education. Read more>>
Chloe Freeman
I started working the moment I turned 15, and I’ve been working ever since. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to do something that truly helped people. Over the years, I’ve held a wide range of jobs and each one was very different, teaching me something unique. Every role shaped me in its own way, whether it was building resilience, empathy, discipline, or adaptability. Read more>>
