The Most Inspiring Stories in St. Louis

The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.

Owen Pye

I wouldn’t say my journey has been smooth or easy, but it’s been obvious next steps that I’ve taken. When I decided to leave my stable corporate job in 2023, that was a challenge financially with having a family of 4 kids. But I’d hit a ceiling as far as growth and creative opportunity. The setting I was in wasn’t honoring to me or my values. Read More>>

Margaret Green

Margaret Green, a Jesus Girl, wife, mom, is a 6 time author, faith influencer, speaker, and mentor to many, was awarded Mentor of the year, by Dr. Mesha’s Chosen Womens Foundations, and Awarded a Proclamation by the City of St. Louis for her Girl Get Your Strength Back Mentorship, has been featured on many television and media platforms with countless amazing testimonies how lives have and are being transformed, revitalized, and changed through her Girl Get Your Strength Back Mentorship! Read More>>

Felicia Ford

Our mission is to support under-served families impacted by autism and to raise awareness and acceptance of autism. We provide support through social events and activities that foster a strong community network. Our efforts include parent support group meetings with expert speakers, engaging social activities for children and teens to help them strengthen their social skills and build friendships, and community events that promote autism awareness and acceptance. Read More>>

Wil Reeve

You can go online and read the forums where people argue all day about the “proper way” to record an electric guitar. The real magic happens after you’ve tried all the “proper” methods and built some muscle memory for what actually seems to work. Struggling along and doing it the “wrong” way was probably the best teacher I ever had. It even yielded some pretty cool sounds at times in the form of little happy accidents that add intrigue or something fresh to the recording that wouldn’t have been considered otherwise. Read More>>

Jason Pippi

Our goal was simple: to bring together likeminded St. Louisians in a laid-back atmosphere where anyone, regardless of pace or experience, could feel welcome. Whether you wanted to work up a sweat, meet new people, or just enjoy a drink after a short run, Three Run Four was designed to be that space. It’s been incredible to watch this community grow and become a place where people can show up exactly as they are and feel a sense of belonging. Read More>>

Mlyka Lecher

At the time, crocheting was becoming very popular, so I decided to give it a try. I went to a craft store, got the materials, and watched a YouTube tutorial. The first thing I made was a bucket hat. Let me tell you, it was far from easy! I laughed at myself the whole time because I felt so clumsy with the hook, but I kept practicing. Every day, I sat on my couch for hours, working on that one hat. The relief and joy I felt when I finally finished were incredible. After that, I was hooked (pun intended), and crocheting became my new passion. Read More>>

Wendell Mosley

We are a film production company who believe in changing the world with one story at a time, because we believe films can help change lives. The same thing we’re proud of is the same thing that sets us apart, which is family. From the director Wendell, editor and cinematographer in Tydel, and actor in Nigel. We showcase not only are skill individuals but how we work as a family. Read More>>

Sabrina Cope

We are a 4th and 5th generation farm that has been in Truxton for over 150 years. We are a regenerative farm, meaning every year we strive to improve our farm (whether its planting native grasses or grazing practices, etc) and follow the natural model as closely as we possibly can. The products that we offer from our farm includes grass fed grass finished beef, acorn fed and pasture raised pork, grass fed grass finished lamb and no corn no soy chicken, duck and turkey. We currently sell our products at the Lake St. Louis Farmers and Artists Market where we have been a vendor for 7 years. Read More>>

James Líôn

As a child, visits to my uncle’s home in Columbia, Missouri were transformative. His backyard shed was a treasure trove of instruments—drums, guitars, keyboards—and even housed a recording studio. Each visit, I would head straight to the drums, losing myself in hours of experimentation. Sometimes my dad, uncle, or brothers would join me, sparking impromptu jam sessions. These moments solidified my lifelong affinity for sound, rhythm, and movement. Read More>>

Olivia Fowler

I’ve been lucky to have a strong support system throughout my journey in makeup, but it hasn’t always been easy. Starting at a young age, it often felt like a hurdle. Many people, both in and outside the industry, didn’t take me seriously. When I got my first professional gig just in my early teens, it was intimidating to work alongside adults with much more experience. Looking back, I’m proud that I stayed committed to something I loved, even when it felt challenging. Read More>>

Erin Darling

Food was now just food. I was stepping back from our food obsessed culture and disengaging in the diet and self deprecation talk. It was hard at first, but over time, I grew strong and solid in what I created within myself. I wanted to share this system with others and so I began developing what I consider to be, The Mindset Method. This way of living cannot be found in a book, magazine or podcast. It is lived experience and my own unique method that I have curated over the last 20+ years. It is what I guide my amazing clients to learn so they too, can put down the heavy weight of diet shame and start living free! Read More>>

Zaire Joyner

HeritageU: Youth Empowerment Coalitions was founded in November of 2023 by visionaries Zaire Joyner and Phalen Hamilton. Zaire, a junior at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Phalen, a junior at Xavier University of Louisiana, were both inspired by the strength and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to launch a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth empowerment and community development. Read More>>

Elliott Davis

We were able to get interviews with the prostitutes out on the street, that turned into a weeklong series called “Sex on the Stroll”. It was a ratings winner! I got a hired full-time as a reporter. Then a new News Director came and he wanted to do a series called “YouPaid For It” on government waste. Nobody else wanted to do it, but I was doing investigative reporting so I volunteered to do it. It really caught on with the viewers and gave us a way to really help people and really get to the bottom of folks having trouble with government. The franchise got to be the biggest franchise in the city of St. Louis. Read More>>

Jarrett Harrison

As an educator and entrepreneur, my journey began with a deep-seated desire to help others. While I always knew I wanted to make a positive impact, my path to finding my purpose unfolded during my time at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. I graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Educational Studies and am on track to complete my Master’s of Education this spring. Teaching has been a fulfilling passion for seven years, consistently igniting my excitement and allowing me to be the person I needed growing up. Read More>>

Sarajane Herrmann

I first picked up a camera in high school, and I carried the hobby through college by taking several photography and fine arts classes while getting my bachelors in social work. After graduating, my photography hobby fell to the wayside as I worked with family services and early education. Eight years later in 2019, I was planning to sell my camera as it had been so long since I’d used it. I picked it up for one last adventure and knew I couldn’t let it go! From there it was a whirlwind six months of realizing just how much I love portrait photography still, taking on sessions for fun, finding a small business community, and taking my small business full time! Read More>>

Alex Vanderheyden

My journey has been relatively smooth in terms of feeling like I was on the right path. Finding work over the years has been hard at times—being freelance, I’ve had big clients of mine change direction and outsource work that I had been doing for them, leaving me to scramble to find other jobs. After graduating college I worked full-time as a photo editor in an office, seeking some stability. After a year and a half of that I realized I wanted to be my own boss and in charge of my work. This sparked me to go freelance full-time, which was scary, but ultimately brought me so much joy. Read More>>

Belinda Enriquez-sanchez

I have been attuned to a philosophical curiosity regarding the nature of existence, life, and death, ever since, that I cannot shake. The lens with which I view and approach the world is firmly rooted in a sense of deep spirituality and existential debate. Let us fast forward to 2017, before my final year of graduate school. I was able to be with my maternal grandfather, Vicente, during the last ten days of his life. That time was monumental on multiple levels. Being with our grandfather and family at his death was the pivotal experience that ignited my heart and focus towards death care work. Read More>>

Kourtney Hay

In 2019, I began my college journey as a Biology student on the pre-med track. Immersed in labs and coursework, I had little time for art. However, the global pandemic abruptly changed everything, moving my classes online and giving me time to reconnect with creativity. Painting became my outlet during those uncertain times. By the start of my sophomore year, I made a pivotal decision to change my major to Fine Arts with an emphasis in photography. Why’d photography instead of painting, the medium I was most familiar with? I wanted challenge myself and expand my skills in new artistic forms. Read More>>

Ree’ Trice

As I continued my journey, I noticed a lack of soundbath practitioners locally who looked like me. I knew that many people, especially in my community, wouldn’t feel comfortable in spaces where they didn’t see themselves represented. So, I made it my mission to create a welcoming environment for Black people to experience peace and healing without judgment or fear. Naming it Balanced Rituals. Read More>>

Jacoby Andrick

After graduating from my 4 year university, my now husband and I moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I started my legal business and he started in the music industry. We spent a couple of years in Tennessee before feeling the desire to be closer to our families. We knew St. Louis was an amazing city and was perfect for what we were looking for. Read More>>

Heather Pearson

Confidence and business savvy-ness! I grew pretty organically until shutdown in 2020. I jokingly say all the time that the one good thing that Covid did for me was spark my own personal curl journey. Once I started bringing my curls to life, it inspired me behind the chair to help others. Since focusing my time and education on curls I have grown exponentially and I am extremely grateful. I believe my personal understanding of how they behave has helped me thrive. The endless passion I have for it makes me excited to work and help people fall in love with them, too! I look back often and think to myself, ‘I’m so glad I didn’t quit.’ Read More>>

Rain Fozzard

I spent years trying to find myself and a way to express my creativity without doing something I knew I’d get burnt out on. Life unfortunately led to some less than ideal situations and it’s honestly what I needed to finally push myself to take a risk and invest in myself and our future. One day I signed up for nail courses and bought everything I needed and dove right in. I’ve had amazing support from so many friends and even strangers that have been with me since day 1 and constantly help me practice and improve. There is still so much to learn but I’ve never been more proud of myself for finally investing in ME Read More>>

Tiffany Perfect

I was waitressing at a local club and the bottle girl there also modeled. She told me that I was pretty and suggested that I should start modeling. I always wanted to model but I thought I was too short do it being that I am only 5’2. One of my good friends at the time was practicing photography and offered a photoshoot. Once I posted those first pictures on Instagram it blew up and there were multiple people asking to work me. Through the years I’ve created business relationships with so many different people in the musical industry, photography, fashion and most recently film. My photos and work ethic has gotten me into rooms that I have dreamed about being in. Read More>>

Alyssa Saladin

Fast forward to high school. I had the opportunity to apply for dual enrollment during my junior and senior year at Tulsa Technology Center in their 2-year photography program. It was a stressful few months waiting for my acceptance letter as this program only accepted 40 students. Opening that letter and seeing that they wanted me to join the program was the most amazing feeling. I had this amazing door open in front of me that could truly change the direction of my life. From there I went on to take a semester of darkroom photography in college which really gave me an appreciation for taking my time with each shot since you can only take so many photos with a roll of film. Read More>>

Kim & Charles Saso

After some research and trial and error, we decided to give it a shot a little over 7 years ago. We wanted to work with all the amazing local independent craft breweries, so one by one we started to form partnerships with them. We have had the pleasure of collaborating with so many different breweries around St. Louis, St. Charles, and Illinois. We think it’s important to know where the grains came from, so we keep them separated specifically by brewery, as well as the type of beer the grains originally made. This gives the treats a color variation – they actually look like the same color as the original beer itself. Our beer grain dog treats are sold at the breweries we partner with, in retail stores, online, and are sold by us personally at many festivals & markets in the area. Read More>>

Aries The Artist

From choirs to theatrical performances to orchestra; immersing myself in the arts was all I’ve ever craved. I spent many days of my childhood building upon my writing ability and training my ears to hear every detail of a beat to create fluidity in my sound. At the age of nine, I began experimenting with cadence and merging my poetry with melody. This was the birth of a new flame. It was time that I became a child of rap culture. In the years to come, I’d soon realize that your voice, your craft, your passion is ever changing. Read More>>

Bria Thurman

I use skills learned through studying psych, sociology, creative writing, project management, and media fellowships to help up-and-coming creative entrepreneurs develop competitive marketing strategies. I have been in business for the last 3 months. Ive had clients here and there and growing slowely but surely. I am committed to growing my business and community over 2025 and am excited for all that is to come. Read More>>