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.
Melissa Vaughns-Guein
For most of my life, I thought my path was set in concrete—a career in criminal justice, working behind the walls of a county jail, then stepping into the role of a probation officer. But destiny had other plans. A single job shift in 1998, from the Jackson County Jail to Children’s Mercy Hospital as a home visitor, rewrote my story entirely. Read more>>
Danni Small
I’ve always had an eye for photography, and enjoyed the art. My love for photography really started over 10 years ago in high school, where I took photography and photojournalism classes. Though my assignments in photojournalism, I met my late mentor, Jeff Billings while photographing a basketball game. Read more>>
Rachel Pierce
My name is Rachel Pierce and I own Studio P, a private personal training studio for women in Kansas City. I have worked in the fitness industry for the last 14 years from collegiate strength and conditioning to corporate wellness, and it wasn’t until I began personal training six years ago that I realized there was a massive gap in the industry for women. Read more>>
Melody Alexander
I fell in love with writing as a child, so when I decided to become a writer as an adult, I thought the only way I could do it was if I became a reporter. That resulted in me going to school to become a journalist. Read more>>
