Raleigh’s Most Inspiring Stories

Waleed Asad

We share a strong work ethic and drive for perfection. Beker had experience with pressure washing and recognized a real demand for this service in our area. We began small, spending the next year building the foundation of our business. We set up our LLC, a Google My Business profile, designed our website from scratch, and established our presence on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Read More>>

Dr. Michelle Chambers-rollins

Afterwards, I wanted to work more on the preventative side of social work; I really wanted to be a mental health therapist. I completed my MSW at UNC-Chapel Hill and obtained my clinical social work licensure (LCSW) and my license as an addiction specialist (LCAS). My journey was really God filled. God led by steps as the journey was not easy. After obtaining my licensures I begin to practice as community based clinician, meeting people literally were they were, in their homes! Again, my humble career beginnings led to my successes. Read More>>

Melissa Bailey

What better way to do that then do create garments that make people feel like the Devine creatures that they are! That is when the vision of Fin Fatale Fashion LLC was born. If I can affect just one person and help them to feel comfortable, powerful and WORTHY in the skin they are in then I AM SUCCEEDING! I can honestly say I am now living in my truth and living my BEST LIFE. I hope to continue to be approached and anointed with opportunities to be SEEN and to support others as they are SEEN, so that we normalize people with differences and uniqueness. We are all made perfectly imperfect! My life’s purpose is to empower, uplift and make humans as a whole, no matter what their walk of life, feel the best they’ve ever felt! Or at least close! Read More>>

David Nguyen

Watching my very own people, Asian Americans from all over the U.S. such as America’s Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance?, World of Dance, and The Jabbawockeez, all has led me to the direction of where I am today. The only Asian representation on American soil was being a dancer. So I went for it. Over the years since the 6th grade, I’ve practiced in my room with no mirrors. No music, and just did the robot in my room for several hours of the day. It didn’t matter cause I thought it looked cool haha. Till I got my first laptop, I discovered all the early-age access to dance and watched reruns back to back of all the Asian representations. Read More>>

Gladis Martinez

Victoria raised us alone, with a strength and warmth that could only come from someone who knew what it was to struggle—and still see beauty. She taught me to love people, to find joy in serving others, and to work with purpose. Though money was tight, she found ways to make life feel abundant, bringing laughter to our home and food to our table. I have so many memories of her cheerful voice, guiding us, teaching us. She instilled an entrepreneurial spark in me and my siblings early on. She encouraged us to be resourceful, to look for ways to help others, and to dream of bigger lives than what we could see. Read More>>

Jessica Cousin

It was really my husband’s idea for me to start wedding planning once I had gotten going with planning our wedding. He saw that it all came so naturally for me when I jumped into planning. He was blown away by my organization with all the tables, and spreadsheets, and documents that I created to keep everything aligned and flowing properly. He immediately said, “Yep, you should do this.” It took a couple of months of convincing me to really take it on outside of our own wedding planning, but I eventually gave in and I am loving every bit of it. Read More>>

Typhani Gray

I’m Typhani Gray, the owner and creative force behind The Red Petal Vault. My journey to becoming a florist has been an unexpected, yet incredibly fulfilling one. After spending years as a news reporter, I made the leap to a new career path and relocated to Raleigh almost two years ago. It was during this time of transition and self-discovery that I began exploring my passion for flowers—a love that’s been with me for as long as I can remember. Read More>>

Johana Melbert

In 2011, my life took an unexpected turn when I lost my husband. Seeking a new beginning, I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where I became a Deputy Sheriff in Wake County. It was a challenging but rewarding chapter in my life, and I dedicated myself to service until 2020. With the onset of the pandemic, I transitioned to a remote job, which gave me more time to rediscover my creative side. During those quieter days, I picked up my crochet hook again, feeling the same joy and peace I’d known as a young girl. It was a powerful reminder of where my heart truly felt at home. Read More>>

Alison Wojnarowsk

The journey hasn’t been smooth by any means—it’s been filled with constant learning and growth. Navigating the challenges of becoming a leader in this industry and building confidence in my own leadership abilities has been one of the most rewarding yet demanding parts of the process. Read More>>

Thomas Allen (Tommy) Garvin (Allgood)

Our mission is simple but profound: to cultivate environments where trust can flourish, wounds can be acknowledged and tended to, and collective wisdom can guide the path forward. We specialize in supporting teams and organizations navigating the aftermath of harmful leadership, guiding them toward alignment, resilience, and values-driven collaboration. We help teams set strategic priorities and develop adaptable strategies to understand and accomplish their goals. Likewise we tend to the needs of individuals in holistic ways through spiritual care and connecting to mutual aid services. Read More>>

Sarah Stone

I was always the girl who did my hair and everyone else’s hair in the bathroom, but I didn’t know if it would be a good career. After going to college then dropping out not one but three times I chose hair school. Where I met some of my best friends who I wouldn’t trade for the world. The hour and a half trip each way was so worth it. Read More>>

Nia Scott

I find myself often searching on TikTok new restaurants in Durham or things to do and if I do it I’m sure 1000 other people do so why not be a one stop shop on social media so people don’t have to get overwhelmed by the amount of things that come up when you hashtag those things. I’ve found great joy in doing this and hearing other peoples stories on how they started their business and being able to help bring clientele just puts the icing on the cake. On Fridays, Adorn Content is going to start highlighting special small businesses so you as well can hear their story and take a visit! Read More>>

Artie Januario

Baking had become a hobby of mine in 2018 and really took off while cooped up inside due to the pandemic. My wife and I are huge fans of The Great British Bake Off and when I saw them tackle a millionaire shortbread technical challenge, I wanted to try the bake for myself. We joke now about my wife’s famous last words: she took one bite of the bars and said, “These are amazing, never make them again.” The bars were such a rich, unique and indulgent treat. I made them for a Christmas party we hosted and no less than a dozen people texted afterwards, “What are these amazing caramel things?” That’s really when I started to realize that there could be an opportunity to pivot into baking as a career. Read More>>

Kian Alberto

When my soccer career came to a close, I transitioned into corporate America, where I learned to navigate the fast-paced, results-driven business world. Here, I honed my strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, but over time, I began to crave a deeper sense of purpose. I realized I wanted to build something that not only reflected my values but also addressed critical gaps in society. That desire became the foundation for ‘Nurses to Nannies’. Read More>>

Mari Siegel

Photography has always been a creative outlet for me. I started when I was young and quickly fell in love with capturing moments. For a long time, it was just a hobby—I worked in real estate, and photography was something I did on the side to unwind. I’d travel and document my experiences, especially through Mexico, where I’m from. Read More>>

Tal Blevins

I grew up in Greensboro, NC, but moved to San Francisco in the mid-‘90s to pursuit a career as a video game, entertainment, and tech journalist. My wife and I moved back to Greensboro in 2017 to be closer to my family and for a more affordable, better quality of life. We both love good food and drink, so while we were re-familiarizing ourselves with the local culinary scene, we met and became friends with chef Kevin Cottrell when he was working at another ambitious, upscale restaurant in Greensboro that unfortunately had to shutter its doors not long after due to lack of local interest. Read More>>

Autumn Schleusener

North Carolina has some of the most diverse foods I’ve had in the states, and I figured if any place had a chance of getting this off the ground, it would be here. I created a private Facebook page and invited all Australians of N.C. (they have their own Facebook page) to sample my pies to see if I had the right stuff. I had a lot of positive reviews, and I was found by the Fuquay Farmers Market manager and they invited me to my first farmers market. After that I grew to covering a few other markets, mostly Holly Springs and Cary. Read More>>

Tanajah

Unfortunately, covid happened, the project was never released and the festival as cancelled. Fortunately, I made connections with a lot of bookers in the country and I was invited back in 2021. In 2021 I met with Rune Lak, CEO of BlikFlak, an indie label in based in Aarhus. I signed with them in 2022 and released my EP, “What if Dreams Came True?” through the label. With the help of bookers and the label, I’ve had three successful International Tours! Read More>>

Amy Bonis

I grew up in a strict, lower-middle-class household. My mom would go from store to store to find the best deals on essentials like cheese ends and other groceries. Dinner often meant spam or canned tuna with rice and mayo. Life was challenging; my birth father struggled with alcohol and was abusive, so my mom made the difficult choice to leave for our safety, even though her parents disapproved. We were on our own. Read More>>

Rob Wolf

I started making clothes back in high school, around 2011-2012, at Hillside High School in Durham, NC. Fashion was a huge part of our culture, and being well-dressed was almost like a silent language that everyone understood. At our school, it wasn’t just about looking good—it was about making a statement, showing you had style, and that you were in tune with what was current. Everyone was a sneakerhead, chasing the latest drops, and the culture revolved around having the freshest gear. But in a place where looking good was expected, trying to stand out wasn’t always easy. Read More>>

Shayla Kim

Hi! I’m Shayla, though some know me by my cosplay and gaming name, Skim Milk. I am the owner and artist behind Skim Milk Studio.

I am a Vietnamese-Cambodian-American artist located in Raleigh. I grew up in Cherryville, a small town in North Carolina. Being the only Asian student in my schools until high school was challenging, often making me feel different from those around me. Even when I transferred to Highland School of Technology, there were still only a handful of other Asian students in a school of about 500 students. Growing up in this environment taught me resilience, gave me a deep sense of identity, and helped me understand the challenges of standing out. Read more>>