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.
Alex Kirkland
I first started writing stories in my youth. Silly little things, really: Zelda and car racing and ghost invasions. I didn’t start writing stories again until my early thirties, when I left my home of seven or so years, Colorado, and the hemp farm I was working on, back to my native Kansas City. Read more>>
Hailey Campbell
After seeing videos online of people in other states creating custom hand painted and burned hats, my friends and I started looking for someone local who offered a similar experience. We couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for, so I decided to try to learn how to do it myself. Read more>>
Jordaan Ramirez-Jennings
My story of joining the financial services industry started as an intern back in college while attending Ottawa University. Through that experience, I was able to quickly learn what it would take to build a financial planning practice by working alongside fulltime advisors. That early experience allowed me to build key relationships and obtain skills that has helped me excel to where we are today. Read more>>
Drake Zion
Drake Zion is the founder and operator of The Zion Woodshop LLC, a custom woodworking company dedicated to creating high-end, handmade serving boards and furniture for both commercial and residential clients. With a passion for craftsmanship and a deep commitment to community and ethical business practices, Drake has built The Zion Woodshop as a Christian-based, community-driven company that prioritizes sustainability. Read more>>
Str8 Drop Lou
In 2015 or 2016 a group of friends and I were in my car doing freestyles to old YouTube beats. Which was almost a daily routine for us but it sounded so good this particular night to the point everyone encouraged me and a friend of mine at the time to take the music thing seriously. Read more>>
Brianne Johnson
For years, I struggled with my health. I went from doctor to doctor searching for answers, but despite countless appointments and tests, I never felt like anyone could explain why I was constantly exhausted, overwhelmed, and just didn’t feel like myself. Eventually, I realized I needed to become my own advocate. That journey led me to explore a more holistic approach to health. Read more>>
roger m suggs
Roger M. Suggs, professionally known as **VigaTruth** (formerly **Vigalantee**), is a recording artist, songwriter, entrepreneur, speaker, and community leader from Kansas City, Kansas. As the founder of **Truth Apparel LLC** and the visionary behind **F.B.O.E. (Fringe Benefits of Education)**, he has dedicated his career to using music, mentorship, and creative entrepreneurship to inspire people to discover their purpose and become the best version of themselves. Read more>>
Ariel Kahn
I started in the beauty industry at a young age, I was one of those toddlers who cut their own bangs. In high school I was the designated hair and makeup friend, which led to me becoming a licensed cosmetologist and building a business around hair, makeup, and helping people feel confident. Along the way, I discovered that my creativity extends far beyond beauty. Read more>>
Harrison Mitchell
the catering side of the business serves a wide range of clients from weddings and galas to corporate events and university gatherings. regular customers include Kansas City state Capitol Kansas State University and community festivals such as the Tulip Festival and Wamego, Raleigh County Fairgrounds events, and Oktoberfest. smokin H’s also sells directly to customers online through Shopify and in person at the Breadbasket Farmer’s Market in Topeka. Read more>>
Nash Bellows
I grew up in an idyllic landscape-a small surf town in Southern California. I spent my childhood crafting, reading stories, playing computer games, and exploring the many landscapes of California. The teachers at my school would excuse me from class so I could make nice bulletin boards for them. I drew pictures of my friends in silly notes that I’d pass in high school. Read more>>
Sophia Alexander
I’ve loved makeup for as long as I can remember. Even as a little girl, I was fascinated by creativity and self expression. I always looked up to creative women, and my older sister was one of my biggest inspirations. Watching her experiment with makeup showed me that it could be so much more than something you put on before leaving the house. Read more>>
Quincy Watkins
My wife and I both grew up in Mississippi, where we learned the value of hard work, determination, and faith. Life wasn’t always easy, but the lessons we learned growing up shaped us into the people we are today. As a teenager, I was never afraid of hard work. In the South, cars were more than just transportation—they were something people took pride in. Read more>>
Alexis Randolph
I’ve always had a passion for makeup, and in 2016 I decided to turn that passion into a career. I enrolled in cosmetology school while working part-time at a makeup store, where I gained some of the most valuable experience and truly fell in love with the artistry of makeup. Back then, makeup was really bold dramatic looks. Read more>>
Sarah Buckley
My story began when I was diagnosed with failure to thrive at 18 months old. I was literally allergic to everything, including my mother’s breast milk. That was just the beginning of 47 years (and counting) of multiple misdiagnoses and traumatic experiences, including—but not limited to—medical gaslighting, being denied care, frequent emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and surviving domestic violence and other forms of abuse. Read more>>
Gabrielle Stuart-Betzel
I’ve always loved art and being creative. Whether it was painting, crafting, or working with my hands, I’ve always been drawn to creating something meaningful. That passion eventually led me to floral preservation, where I found the perfect way to combine creativity with preserving life’s most treasured memories. The journey began when I preserved my own wedding flowers. Read more>>
Addison Stonestreet
I was born in Kansas City. My childhood was formulated growing up in the Midwest. I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2011. I moved to San Diego, CA for an artist residency in 2014. I lived in many different parts of San Diego until 2019 when I moved to Joshua tree. In 2020 I moved to Ensenada, Mx. Read more>>
Demetri Tsakiris
I started playing music when I was 19 years old. I played in many bands throughout the local KC metal,rock, and rap scene. Winning a battle of the bands, opening up for many national acts (slaughter to prevail, volumes, the summer slaughter tour, mushroomhead etc). Read more>>
Sam Simons
I’m a Congolese-American artist born in Los Angeles and grew up in Kansas City. I started off hosting concerts and writing for magazines. I quit sports because it was time for something greater in my purpose. Fashion and music were my interests, and things grew from there. I graduated school and moved to LA for an internship. Read more>>
Amanda Schwartz
My path to becoming a therapist wasn’t a straight line, but every step has shaped the clinician and business owner I am today. I’ve always been drawn to helping people, especially children and families navigating life’s hardest moments. Read more>>
Ricky Ames
In 2019 I was 18 years old. It was an important time for me because I would have to choose how I was going to start out my adult life. Social and financial pressures told me to go one way. My heart told me to start a band. So I did. The band was formed online. Read more>>
Michael Castro
I started playing piano when i was 5 years old, it became an escape for me after a couple years of practice, I put down my xbox controllers snd focused on music every day, 4-10 hours a day spread out between the morning, during school, & after school. I focused on virtuosic composers like chopin, liszt, rachmaninoff, ect. Read more>>
Maria Coronado
My journey into henna started during one of the most meaningful seasons of my life—pregnancy. I wanted a custom henna design for my belly blessing that reflected my story, my intentions, and the symbolism that was important to me. After researching the meanings behind different symbols, I reached out to several henna artists around Kansas City, only to discover how difficult they were to find. Read more>>
Laila Johnston
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are of me sitting at the table with my sisters, cousins, friends, and even my grandfather just coloring. All of my childhood was art. As I got older, I only fell more in love with creating. Read more>>
DaGuyInBlack
I got started recording music 8 years ago. I started to get serious about my brand 5 years ago. Its been alot of fun figuring out what i like and how i’d like to put it together! I always knew i wanted to make something different. That was certain, though some things have changed. Read more>>
Madeline Falley
Growing up, I started taking recreational circus classes right here in Kansas City. When it came time to choose a college, I realized I didn’t want circus to just be something I did after school. I wanted to see how far I could take it. Read more>>
Avilynn Rea
I actually got started with photography when I was in high school. I fell in love with it pretty quickly, and after I graduated, I spent the summer at Rocky Mountain School of Photography (RMSP) in Montana. That experience gave me a great foundation and confirmed that this was something I really wanted to pursue. Read more>>
Johnny Youssef
I’ve always loved hospitality and creating memorable experiences. I started in real estate, then expanded into short-term rentals, where I discovered how much I enjoyed creating places people genuinely loved staying in. For years, I’d drive by the old church that is now Melrose Abbey. Read more>>
Chris Munce
My career trajectory makes perfect sense when you look at my roots: I was raised by an elementary school music teacher and a college baseball coach. Growing up at the exact intersection of education and high-level athletics shaped my entire professional worldview. Read more>>
Austyn Crawford
I grew up in my great aunt’s beauty salon and when I was 12 I colored my mother’s hair. I realized that hair is what I was meant to do. I started doing my friend’s and their families hair. When I was 24 I decided to head to cosmetology school. Read more>>
Deborah Jean Templin
I began my career as a vegetable, when I was cast as a Sweet Pea in Mr. McGregors garden in the second grade operetta PETER RABBIT. You grow where you are planted. My dairy farmer father Henry wanted four sons and he was blessed with four daughters. Read more>>
Jeff Guzman
I spent 20 years in the U.S. Army before retiring, and as a disabled veteran, I understand firsthand how much mobility and independence matter. Read more>>
Beth Jones
Like many writers, I decided early on that I wanted to be creative! Originally, I planned to write casually, but my grandfather encouraged me to go to college and get a degree. I decided to go for it and to major in English so that I could pursue any type of writing I wanted. I started out as a professional blogger and travel writer. Read more>>
Lindsey Jensen
My name is Lindsey Jensen and I am a 500-hour certified yoga teacher and fitness instructor who has been teaching since 2019. I am originally from Westchester, New York, an hour north of New York City. I relocated to Kansas City for my husband’s assignment as a pilot in the United States Air Force. Read more>>
Kenda Graves
My true beginning as a creative started when I was 3 years old. The family and I were having an outing, and this guy was playing background music on the piano. I fearlessly jumped on stage and danced to his music. Ever since then, life has aligned me with leadership roles in a creative element, sparking my entrepreneurial journey. Read more>>
Jeff Mundinger
I was able to get my creative start in the confines of my small Missouri town of Warrensburg, Missouri. Read more>>
Dan Smith
The band Bound & Determined was started by Dan Smith almost 10 years ago as an acoustic duo playing local venues around the Kansas City area. After about a year we put together a full band. Read more>>
