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.
Christopher Sandoval
I’ve been drawing since I could remember, it’s always been fun to me. I never thought I’d become the artist I am today when I was a kid, but continuous effort and trying new mediums led me to becoming a muralist. Surrounding myself with people who also love art was a huge key I didn’t know I needed! Read more>>
Chef Chandler
Born and raised in Starkville, MS, growing up it was just my brother, my mom and I, we wasn’t in poverty, but were somewhat poor class. My brother whom was 15 at the time downloaded a beat making software on our family desktop. At 11 years old I began making beats, 2 years later I began writing and freestyling with my brother. Read more>>
Katie-Rose Watson
I remember riding my horse Wendy one hot summer day when my dear friend Jessica asked me about the dinner I had made the night before. ‘You should start a food blog!’ she enthused. ‘Who would read it?!’ I asked. To which she replied, ‘Who WOULDN’T read it?!’ That exchange later appeared in my cookbook, The Rose Table, named after my food blog, therosetable.com. Read more>>
Tempestt Phillips-Smith
My journey began back in 2021, right around the time we were emerging from pandemic lockdowns. At the time, I was pregnant with twins—who brought my total to four children—and wasn’t working. I needed an opportunity with low startup costs that a mom could build from scratch, so I searched Google for flexible ideas and discovered notary work. Read more>>
Grace Kompany
I first discovered photography at 11 years old, using my Nintendo DSi to capture the picturesque landscapes of the Pacific Northwest where I grew up. My interest didn’t go unnoticed, and my dad surprised me with my first digital camera, a tiny red point-and-shoot. It wasn’t fancy, but it had transformed a childhood curiosity into a genuine passion. I loved taking photos and making videos. Read more>>
Veronica Mercedes
My fascination with entertainment and performing arts has shaped me for as long as I can remember. Seeing how deeply art can resonate with people drew me toward a path where I could help create that same impact. I started as a kid in choir, plays, musical theater-anything that allowed me to perform. Read more>>
Michael Duncan
Well, how I got started with photography was I got married and when I received my wedding photos, I did not like it. I told myself I can do a better job than it is and I surely did. Read more>>
Kim Andrews
I am QueenK, owner and operator of SW2Podcast, a podcast available on all major platforms giving women the voice to be themselves. I grew up in a military home. My roots originated from Marianna, Arkansas and Wrightsville/Sweet Home, Arkansas. I’m the 2nd from youngest of 6 (four girls and two boys). I became a teen mother at the age of 16. Read more>>
Axvl
My name is Axel, and I make music under the name Axvl. I’m originally from Laredo, Texas, but I eventually made my way to the Dallas-Fort Worth area while pursuing music and new opportunities. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. What started as a creative outlet eventually became something much bigger. Read more>>
Theo Boyd
In June of 2018, I was a high school English and Creative Writing teacher in Waxahachie, TX., and I was out for the summer. Everything was going great in my life. I had a beautiful home, a successful husband, a career that I loved, and a daughter that was off at college. Read more>>
Chris Whalen
My creative journey began at the age of 14, when my older brother and I started making stop-motion animations with a still camera in middle school. That early curiosity led me to learn the fundamentals of photography, including shooting in manual mode, and sparked a passion for visual storytelling. Read more>>
frank moka aka dos négros
i’m a nigerian american musician born and raised on pine bluff arkansas where i studied music and theater until i moved to dallas texas at the age of 19… there, i met rc williams and began playing with rc and the gritz band… shortly after that, i began playing with erykah badu as a drummer/percussionist… this opened up more doors for me artistically.. Read more>>
Kayla Thompson
I’ve always been artistically inclined. Looking back, I also realize my brain has always worked a little differently. School was never where I naturally excelled academically. I was much more interested in creating, connecting with people, and applying myself to the things that genuinely inspired me. Read more>>
Tatyanna Harvey
My esthetics journey started in 2017, but Waxx A Holics Beauty & Body wasn’t born until 2021. It’s funny because one of the questions I get asked the most is, ‘What made you choose waxing?’ The answer always takes me back to my very first Brazilian wax. Read more>>
Anthony McGhee
I started training kids boys and girls in all sports not long after finishing college in 2015. From there, it led to the formation of my organization which was formally Underdog Athletics and now operates as Garland Bulldogs in 2019. Read more>>
Mariah Alvarado
I’ve always been drawn to creativity and making people feel confident. Makeup started as a hobby, but it quickly became something I was incredibly passionate about. After college, I decided to take a leap and turn that passion into a business. Read more>>
Vickie Akins
Chosen Ones was birthed out of a great need to support and connect foster and adoptive parents. . As adoptive parents ourselves, we wanted to create a space for support groups, family fun events and material assistance for families( upon receiving a foster placement.) We also began heavily recruiting good quality foster parents through churches of all sizes. Read more>>
Justine Bridges
I always saw myself becoming a fine artist. In high school, my beloved art teacher needed more kids to join his new graphic design course to get it approved by the school. I was coerced, joined, and fell in love with graphic design. Read more>>
David Kozlowski
I’ve always been a traveler with a camera and, as I like to say, curiosity issues. Travel has been part of my life for decades, including a long career in the airline industry, but photography became something more almost by accident. I began sharing the unusual places, small details and overlooked stories that caught my eye—not necessarily the landmarks everyone else was photographing. Read more>>
Alexandra Phoenix
Hi, I’m Alexandra Phoenix, the founder of Crimson Creates Studio. When I was younger, I was inspired by my family and New Jersey hometown friends’ families who were the first or second generation business owners. Moved by stories of their journeys, it felt like listening to mythology; amazed by the obstacles different people conquered to create a more settled and established place. Read more>>
LaShonda D. Perkins
My journey has been anything but linear. I’m an author, advocate, and entrepreneur, but before any of those titles, I was simply someone trying to survive. As a survivor of domestic violence and sexual abuse, I spent years believing my story was something to hide. Eventually, I realized my experiences weren’t meant to silence me, they were meant to empower others. Read more>>
Rodrigo Rodriguez
Rodrigo Rodríguez is an internationally acclaimed shakuhachi master, composer, musicologist, and producer dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional music of Japan. Born in Argentina and raised in Mallorca, Spain, he began his musical studies on classical guitar before traveling to Japan, where he studied under the renowned shakuhachi master Kohachiro Miyata. Read more>>
Richard Johnson
I’ve always been passionate about music, entertainment, and creating experiences that people remember. I started DJing over a decade ago, teaching myself the craft and building my reputation one event at a time. What began as local parties eventually grew into clubs, festivals, corporate events, concerts, sporting events, and radio, including opportunities on SiriusXM Shade 45 and becoming a Core DJs Legendary DJ Award recipient. Read more>>
Don Hunt-Ford
My name is Don Hunt-Ford. My journey began during my sophomore year of college when I started working at an emergency child and youth shelter in Lubbock, Texas. In 1996, I made the decision to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. My first role here was at a residential treatment center in Denton, where I gained valuable knowledge and experience. Read more>>
Timothy Hall
My journey has always lived at the intersection of engineering, music, and art. I’m an aerospace mechanical engineer by trade and a classically trained musician by passion. Along the way, I married my junior-high sweetheart, Kennedy, a graphic designer with an incredible eye for aesthetics. Together, we’ve always shared a love for creating things that are both beautiful and functional. Read more>>
Lauren Sanders
My love for beauty began at a very young age. Long before I ever picked up a makeup brush professionally, I dreamed of becoming a makeup artist. Makeup wasn’t just about enhancing someone’s appearance—it was a form of creativity, self-expression, and confidence that fascinated me. Read more>>
Ashley Miller
Every great brand starts with a story. Mine begins with a cowboy hat. Not just any hat, but one shaped by hand, built with intention, and worn long enough to become part of someone’s story. The kind that gets better with every road trip, every beach sunset, every concert, and every adventure. Read more>>
Christian Valdés
I grew up in Cali, Colombia, in a family that’s been part of the salsa scene there for generations — my dad and my uncles all played in some of the big Colombian orchestras, groups like Grupo Niche and Guayacán. So music wasn’t really a choice for me, it was just the air I grew up breathing and all I could see myself doing. Read more>>
Richard Prince II
I started very young, born in 1980, parents were In the ministry and also Dad was a Pastor, teacher, and ran a nonprofit while mother was also a teacher and clerk for the state so I watched them and other family members help people but I had faced my own pressure having to go through family life separations. Read more>>
Carli Zurga
I began my journal a long time before knowing it. My mom volunteered with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) when I was a child, I got to go with her to a few events and helped make some goodie baskets for the kids. Read more>>
Bella Brown
I’ve always believed that storytelling has the power to change lives. From a young age, I found myself drawn to the arts, and over time that passion grew into a career as an actress, theatre educator, director, and entrepreneur. Read more>>
Julia Verdin
I am a filmmaker. I write, direct and produce films and media. My path to becoming a film maker started by going to drama school in London and training as an actress. I enjoyed acting and achieved a certain level of success but was not good at sitting around waiting for the phone to ring and so I started to develop film projects. Read more>>
Casey Muze
Casey, I haven’t felt my own heartbeat in years. Tonight, behind that drum, I finally did.’ A woman told me that after a session last spring. She’d survived things no one should survive, and she’d spent years in talk therapy trying to find her way back to herself. Twenty minutes of rhythm did what words alone couldn’t. Read more>>
Clarke Lott
It hasn’t always been smooth but it has definitely been an upward trend. Every obstacle I encountered prompted me to depend on God more and more, and every time he has been faithful to help me in everything big and small. He taught me to keep going and be sensitive to His voice and that it was keeps CIMANI growing not me. Read more>>
Guerrilla Performance & Recovery
At Guerrilla Performance & Recovery, we’ve always believed that health is the foundation of human performance. Performance means something different for everyone. For some, it’s competing at the highest level of sport. For others, it’s raising a family, building a career, staying independent as they age, or simply living without pain. Read more>>
Cherry Fields Wilson
As a distinguished short hair stylist in Texas, I, Cherry Fields, have been perfecting my craft since October 2nd, 1990, with 35 years of experience under my belt. I’ve had the opportunity to showcase my skills in esteemed locations like Houston, Texas, Hollywood, California, and Dallas, Texas. Celebrities such as Frenchie from American Idol and Jennifer Williams from Basketball Wives have sought my expertise. Read more>>
Phillip White
My story with music starts when I was very young and my parents would introduce me to great singers like Luther Vandross. When I was 13 I was into very 90s pop and fell in love with the spice girls. From that moment I knew music was going to be what I wanted to do in life. Read more>>
Uberney (Uber) Uribe
My story started when I moved from Colombia to US. With several challenges along the way, I had to do different things to get to where I am today. I worked in retail, restaurants and after years of accomplishing, I worked in social services helping people diagnosed with HIV and Prevention of HIV. Read more>>
Chelsea Williams
Honestly, I never thought cooking would turn into what it is today. It started because I was a college student at the University of Houston who just loved feeding people. I was the girl putting chicken in the crockpot before class, checking on it between lectures, and somehow turning a jar of Bertolli Alfredo into the best alfredo on campus lol. Read more>>
Elijah Taylor
I started writing poetry in the Fall of 2018, as a coping mechanism for various changes in life. This eventually led to the publication of As Life Happens which was my first book to be published. (Poetry) As the years have progressed I have written more books which has helped me to share my craft with the world. Read more>>
Christian Leal
OUR WHY: My name is Christian Leal. I am a 29-year-old, Dallas-based business owner, a wheelchair user, and I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta (commonly known as Brittle Bone Disease). I founded Spinny Brand Co. originally as a clothing line designed to bring awareness to individuals with disabilities. Read more>>
Yareli Esteban
Building Strategar began with a simple belief: the best communications start by understanding people. I simply saw a gap between what organizations needed and what traditional marketing agencies were delivering. Too often, communications were built on assumptions instead of real community insight. I believed there had to be a better way. Read more>>
Tariq Otuemhobe
STRIQfit started from two passions that have been with me for as long as I can remember: creating videos and helping people become stronger. Long before I ever posted fitness content, I was fascinated by video editing. I had an old Windows 98/99 computer that took what felt like 15 minutes to boot up, but that never stopped me. Read more>>
Caitlin Aurand
I’ve always loved photography. I bought my first DSLR camera in college, and wanting to learn more than just how to use it, I took a photography course to better understand the art behind photography. After college, I entered the workforce and spent six years gaining valuable professional experience before becoming a stay-at-home mom after my children were born. Read more>>
Brittney Taylor
My entrepreneurial journey began with a swimwear line. I loved designing and creating pieces that helped women feel confident, but as I grew, I realized I wanted to build something bigger than swimwear. I wanted to create a brand that reflected my passion for fashion as a whole and offered timeless, elevated pieces women could wear beyond the beach. Read more>>
Jamaal Randall
Growing up in Inglewood, California, I was introduced to the entertainment industry at an early age through my aunt, who worked for the Hollywood Film Commission. She took me to the set of the cult classic Poetic Justice, an experience that sparked my lifelong passion for acting. Read more>>
Hayley Knight
Throughout my entire life, the one thing that I have had the strongest passion and strongest connection to has always been music. When I was a child up until the time I went to college I had convinced myself that I would be a musician one day. Read more>>
James Sherman
Hi my name is James Sherman. I am the owner of ShipSherm. We are a delivery service located in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. I have been in this field for over 25 years. I have worked pretty much every logistical operation in the supply chain over my career. It started at a car dealership in 2001. Read more>>
Autumn Heathman
Birdie Bean did not start with a plan. It started with me looking for something of my own, a purpose outside of motherhood that I could build alongside raising my children rather than instead of it. The very first spark actually came from my youngest at the time, a teething 6 month old. Read more>>
Tina Polite
I am an accomplished communications and public-relations strategist with nearly 30 years of experience in global business. I have the unique ability to speak to multiple generations and cultures. I understand diverse audiences and can quickly assess where they are in their personal and career development and what they need to glean from me to help take them to the next level. Read more>>
Shannon Adam
Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has changed since 2010. My co-founder Alex, and I started Best Ride On Cars with just five products, a small office, and a big dream. We didn’t have a perfect roadmap or unlimited resources—we simply believed that if we worked hard, stayed patient, and never stopped learning, we could build something meaningful. Read more>>
Sam Brand
I started off with traditional photography back in 2005, then slowly transitioned into digital photography working in studios working with families. In 2018, Michelle Domb started and open mic and many comics starting out came through and I started taking pictures of them on stage. One top comic that came through was Ralph Barbosa. Read more>>
Kane Champagne
My journey has always been driven by music. Looking back, it really started in childhood. Music was always a part of my environment, whether I was in a recording studio or backstage at an event. My dad managed nightclubs, and my uncles had a rap group, so I grew up surrounded by people who lived and breathed the music industry. Read more>>
Wosheka Jefferson-Burriel
Looking back, I can honestly say that every chapter of my life has prepared me for the one I’m living now. My journey hasn’t been defined by a straight path or an easy road. Like so many people I now have the privilege of serving, I’ve experienced trauma, abuse, loss, significant health challenges, disappointment, and seasons that stretched my faith to its limits. Read more>>
Joshua Lewis
Hi, my name is Joshua Lewis. I’m a Worship Leader, Artist, Content Creator, and overall Creative who grew up in North Dallas. I’ve always been the creative kid. The ‘annoying’ one at that, haha. While a lot of guys were into sports, I gravitated toward music, cameras, comedy, and anything that let me create. Read more>>
Tiffany Dillard
My journey to becoming the Founder and CEO of New Voice Books is one of faith, healing, and purpose. Before I became a publisher, I was a woman who had to rediscover her own voice. Having survived domestic violence in my first marriage, I experienced firsthand how trauma can silence dreams, confidence, and identity. Read more>>
Sanesia Tillman
Like many people, my entrepreneurial journey wasn’t something I originally planned…It grew out of an unexpected turning point. Before pursuing music full-time, I spent years working in the corporate world in roles such as payroll administration and office administration, while also working as a licensed hairstylist. While I enjoyed those roles, I always dreamed of becoming a professional vocalist. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Craft
I started narrating in January 2024. I was working as a graphic designer in a corporate job that was in a hybrid setting, and I found that I had A LOT of free time because I would either finish all my work pretty quickly, or I just wouldn’t have any work. So I took up reading again. Read more>>
FADO The Kidd
My journey began with a deep passion for music, which quickly became my primary focus and career goal. Through hard work as a recording artist and event planner, and by using tools like BandLab, I’ve built a solid foundation. Getting to where I am today required dedication and a strong mental focus on my craft. Read more>>
Elda Santos
My name is Elda Santos, and I am the founder and owner of Intricate Beauty Bar. My journey began in 2019 when I returned to Dallas after living in San Antonio for seven years. At the time, I was navigating a separation that later became a divorce, raising two daughters, and rebuilding my life without an established clientele. Read more>>
Keith Anderson
To understand how we got here, you have to go back to where it all began. Founded in Birmingham England, Harrison helped shape the UK hospitality landscape by designing many of the country’s leading restaurant brands. Read more>>
Hannah Dimock
From a young age, I knew I aspired to own my own business. I have always had a passion for helping others and bringing creativity to every project I take on. My journey, from serving restaurants to bartending, has shaped the business owner I am today. Hospitality is my passion, and I’m equally dedicated to crafting delicious, fresh drinks. Read more>>
