We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Celeste Purdie | Entrepreneur: Co-Owner & CEO of Foot Solutions Greenville & Realtor with Marchant Real Estate, Inc

As a parent, I believe the most significant impact I’ve had on my children stems from my unwavering commitment to family values. By prioritizing our family’s well-being and fostering an environment filled with love, support, and understanding, I’ve laid a foundation for my children to thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Read more>>

Scott Truman | Muralist, canvas painter

Taking any kind of risk in my career and or life has only brought lessons in which I’ve grown stronger and progressed in a way that’s only positive! Read more>>

Carissa Bowser | Artist & Designer

A few years ago I would not have considered myself to be much of a risk taker. My opinion on that has since changed though many small steps of saying yes to things outside of my comfort zone. To leave the comfort of a stable job and income is risk. Putting yourself out there for people to either accept or reject – is risk. But risk taking might better be said to be courage. And to make art – any art – is to be brave. I have found that often the reward far outweighs the risk. In my life, risk personally looks more like faith. Daily “yesses” to the things that scare me but also that hold so much abundance and joy on the other side. I have also found that the risks I am taking in my personal life parallel to those in my art career. So my advice, weigh the outcomes…but don’t be afraid to take the leap. You have no idea what you might find if you do. Both in yourself and through the adventure. Read more>>

Selvbrea SeVen Stone | Black Female Farmer

I want my legacy to be one of empowerment and education. I want people to remember me as a dedicated farmer who was passionate about teaching others about the importance of sustainability and self-sufficiency. I want to inspire a new generation to be mindful of where their food comes from and how they can make a positive impact on the environment. I want to be remembered as someone who instilled valuable skills and knowledge in youth, helping them to become more self-reliant and confident individuals. Ultimately, I want to leave a lasting impact on my community and inspire others to follow in my footsteps in promoting a more sustainable future for generations to come. Read more>>

Gabrielle Bankston | Neuromuscular Therapist

I make it a habit to network with local professionals in the health and wellness field. In Charleston, we stick together. The transplants love that and this is why the city has grown so much over the years. I’ve made friends with other therapists, doctors, you name it. It is our goal to create the best team for our patients. This is why I make an effort to get to know who I’m working with. It’s all about communication and support. We host each other’s events. We recommend patients that are the best fit for our personalities and specialties. We keep each other healthy. As a therapist, I put a good bit of wear and tear on my body. This is why I love having friends in the industry that are here to help me keep myself healthy as well. We care for each other so we can continue to serve our community. Read more>>

Meaghan Dunham | Small Business Coach & Consultant, Energetics Educator

In December of 2022, I was hospitalized twice on Christmas Eve for health complications due to long COVID. Due to this experience, and the ensuing slew of tests, therapies and treatments; I made the difficult decision to take a big step back in my business in 2023. I had to let go of some really fantastic consulting clients and stop focusing on growth in order to stabilize my health. I took a huge financial hit and it felt like a big set back in a lot of ways, but ultimately, I now feel like I have a much better grasp on my health and have stepped into 2024 feeling healthy and excited for what’s to come! Read more>>

Kaitlin Tufts | Managing Partner of Jane DO Charleston

Jane DO is based on the principal that every woman is capable of incredible things (physically, mentally, emotionally, financially etc) when given the proper support system. And that by DOing, she will build the strength and confidence to push further than she ever dreamed possible. Read more>>

Antonia Royal Whitmore | Author & Owner of Publack Library Publishing

Publack Library Publishing is a publishing house dedicated to diversifying the literary industry with representative, relatable, & accurate storytelling. We help our community by publishing quality literature featuring main characters of color, written by authors of color, for readers of color. We believe reliability in books can reinforce and motivate youth to read more and read longer. As literacy is a direct reflection of a person’s quality of life, our books are assisting with improving the overall quality of live in youth. Read more>>