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.
Vaughn Ara
It was about 23 years ago I started my journey into herbalism and the importance of taking a mindful approach to the products we use daily, including skincare and cosmetics. What came to follow was an adventure into understanding ingredients, how our skin responds, and the delicate dance between the two. Read more>>
Bobbie Nichols
There are so many paths that have lead me to where I am today. Most I never realized how important they have played a role in the kind of photographer I am today. I have always been a very creative person in all areas of my life and I think it lead to creating fun photoshoots, banners and products for my clients and teams. Read more>>
Lindsey Carter
Meeple-a-thon started in 2016 as a small charity gaming event in someone’s garage with around 50 people. It was really just a group of gamers getting together to play games, raise some money, and do something good for the community. I became involved not long after that and eventually stepped into a leadership role. Read more>>
Avia Ramsey
What started as me thinking I had to lose weight in order to be a model. Motivated me to workout daily, sometimes 2 and 3 times a day. That drive was seen by a director at my local Linwood YMCA who asked me if I wanted to be featured on the newest YMCA marketing materials. Read more>>
Shanxi Omoniyi
My story owes a huge amount to homeschooling, which enjoys a large following in Kansas City. I graduated from KU with journalism and English degrees. After several years as a newspaper copy editor and online content manager, I started my own digital marketing business, Wordspire LLC. I also work and volunteer with Midwest Parent Educators (MPE), a homeschool nonprofit in Kansas City. Read more>>
Melinda Hawley
I started shooting back in 2000, as Y2K was a little unpredictable. I didn’t know I was left eye dominant until I was an adult, so when picking my first bow, I decided to try left hand shooting, and I am so glad I did! Read more>>
Jordana Santarsiere
Las Giras de York began very spontaneously, long before I ever imagined it could become a business. In 2012, a group of friends and I found ourselves spending our Friday nights at home, talking on the phone, drinking wine and wondering what else we could do. Read more>>
Ashley Jewell
I started A.S.H. Vintage in 2018. I wanted an outlet for styling and creativity and I wanted to be a small part of a garments journey. I’ve always loved older antiques, older clothing, anything vintage so getting to do something with that is really fulfilling for me. Read more>>
Justin Nolasco
I grew up in Northern California, playing soccer, skateboarding and making art. Skateboarding exposed me to new, unique and different styles of art and artists, and ultimately led me to finding tattoos and tattoo inspired art. Read more>>
Michaela Caedo
I have been creating content for about six years now but only seriously for a year and a half. I started off by creating content about mental health awareness and the small, online business I had created for it. I then started doing more lifestyle and Kansas City content which is what my main focus is now. Read more>>
Jordan Mills
I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2018 with a bachelors of music education in Music Therapy. I spent the first 5 years of my professional career working at Music Therapy private practices mainly with children diagnosed with Autism. Read more>>
Monika Teal
I am the child of a mother who grew up under Hitler and a father with a healthy dose of American Indian blood . Encouraged to get out of my small southern town and see the world and a close bond to nature and the earth have been strong influences in my artwork. A lifelong process in my art. Read more>>
Marisa Franklin
I graduated from the University of Missouri in 2020 with a B.A. in Communication through the College of Arts and Science, with an emphasis in Media Communications. I graduated right in the middle of the pandemic, which was obviously a pretty unusual time to be entering the workforce. Read more>>
Susan Thom
Harrigans’ Barn is really a story that began with my parents, Jack and Madaline Harrigan. In 1971, my dad took on the job of tearing down the old Emerson Grade School in Girard. Rather than seeing the building as something that was simply going to be demolished and hauled away, he saw an opportunity to save what he could. Read more>>
Erika Jenkins
Erika Jenkins is the founder, owner, and creative force behind Queen Bee Boutique, a destination for vibrant women’s style based shop in Atchison, Kansas. What started in 2008 as a humble handmade jewelry shop running out of her home quickly grew into a passion for restoring vintage furniture, which eventually blossomed into the full-line clothing, accessory, and lifestyle boutique it is today. Read more>>
Colby Winfield
I am here today because I finally bet on myself, one of my favorite quotes is “you are one decision away from a completely different life.” – Mel Robbins And I couldn’t agree more. Hi Voyage KC! I am a 37 year old, Social Media Creator, Dog Sitter and Wife. Living my very best child free life. Read more>>
Kyle Clark
I began primarily with piano in middle school. Mostly, a lot of piano receitals in high school and then finding a group of likeminded people in my early adlut years who wanted to play rock and genres with synthesizers. I really took to recording and producing more in college and starting cutting records for my own bands I was in at the time. Read more>>
Shea Swinford
I knew I did not want to create another company that simply made pretty websites or posted content for people. I wanted to help people connect the pieces. What do you want to be known for? Who needs to trust you? What are people seeing before you ever have the opportunity to meet them? Read more>>
Alexia Vondrachek
Prettiest Pixel was founded in 2007 with a passion for design, a background in print, and two young children in tow. What began as a creative venture grew from a love of beautiful paper and thoughtful design into a boutique luxury wedding stationery studio. With years of experience in print design, transitioning into luxury wedding stationery was a natural fit. Read more>>
Kyle Stanley
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was constantly drawing, painting, designing things, or finding some way to make something. Read more>>
Youku Tarnue
I started The Velvet Standard from a desire to create something that felt bigger than a traditional cleaning service. I’ve always appreciated beautiful, well-kept spaces and the way an organized, thoughtfully cared-for environment can affect how you feel. I wanted to build a company that brought together cleanliness, comfort, presentation, and a higher standard of service. Read more>>
Claudia and Katie B.
MoonMagic Dance is a dance duo made up of twins, Claudia and Katie, from Springfield, Missouri. We perform to J-Pop, Vocaloid and English songs at local/out of state conventions and cultural events. Our dancing journey began in 2018. Back in 2015, we discovered cosplay. Katie and I were very new to it and interested in what it was all about. Read more>>
Eric John Campros
I spent my early years being shuffled around the California foster care system with no understanding of safety or home.. That changed when I turned ten and was fortunately placed with a family who loved the arts. Having been discarded over and over again I did not trust easily and had no sense of belonging. Read more>>
Elaine Buss
I started art like many art folks do: in my youth out of curiosity and creative inclinations. I grew up in a rural area with little resources, but craft and art are a natural part of human experience, so it was still part of my childhood. My grandfather was a woodworker, and my grandmother was a quilter, and two of my aunts paint. Read more>>
Patrice Perkins
I Am My Sister’s Keeper Women’s Ministry is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2016, by Elder Patrice A. Perkins. Our Scripture Theme: Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Read more>>
Aundrèa Mayfield
My Story: Where It All Began My journey as a cosmetologist began in high school, when I started working as a shampoo girl at a local salon. What I initially thought would simply be a job shampooing hair quickly became an opportunity to reveal a hidden passion for cosmetology. Read more>>
Dr. Marjorie (Marj) Williams
My story is rooted in faith, family, education, service, and a commitment to helping others succeed. I spent most of my career in education, ultimately becoming the first African American Superintendent of the Hickman Mills School District in 2000. Along the way, I learned important lessons about resilience, courage, leadership, and using my voice to create opportunities for others. Read more>>
Autumn Alicia
I began my journey with modeling a little over 7 years ago. Right after high school I had this vision to bring my love for fashion to life. So, I slowly started to find ways of adding my own creative touch to each photo shoot. Making my way downtown to find new places to shoot, and find new people to meet. Read more>>
Kelsi Green
Mother’s Refuge was founded in 1987 by a group of concerned Kansas City-area citizens who recognized that pregnant teenagers in local school districts had few safe housing options or supportive resources. Mother’s Refuge subsequently became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and continues to operate its original maternity home in Independence, Missouri. Read more>>
Renee McDaniel
I’ve always loved art and the first thought of being a photographer came while I was in high school. I fell in love with the photos from the National Geographic magazines my parents had. I’d see the photos of beautiful lands and people outside the US and I thought to myself ‘I want to go here. I want to be a photographer for National Geographic’. Read more>>
Lisa Pickel
I started photographing friends while I was still in High School for their senior portraits, which I turned into a business. At 17, I had developed a pretty healthy following from it. I was doing sessions on 35mm–which looking back, required so much intention and thoughtfulness. After college I found a management position in photography that ultimately launched my current career. Read more>>
Julie Skinner
My journey to starting JS Wellness was nearly 30 years in the making. I spent the bulk of my career in traditional healthcare, and kept seeing the same gap – healthcare treats sickness and doesn’t do well at wellness and prevention. Read more>>
Lynn Sisk
I never planned on becoming a massage therapist. I started my career as an EMT in Texas, and while I loved helping people, the stress of emergency medicine eventually began to take its toll. One of my own massage therapists was also an EMT, and after I confided in him about how stressful I was finding the job, he encouraged me to consider massage therapy. Read more>>
Fernanda Fregozo Torres
My name is Fernanda Fregozo Torres. I was born in 2001 in Uriangato, Guanajuato, Mexico, and I currently live and work in Kansas City, Missouri. I am a multidisciplinary artist, painter, sculptor, dancer, art tutor, and commissioned artist. I have always been drawn to different forms of creative expression, and I don’t feel the need to limit myself to one medium or discipline. Read more>>
Josa Comstock
It sounds cheesy but I really didn’t choose photography, photography choose me. Ever since I could remember I had a little point and shoot disposable or digital camera in my hand. I’d take pictures of our family pets, flowers, stuffed animals. As I got older it turned into family vacations and my horses and pets. Read more>>
Kristen Altoro-Nevins
I was born in the Bronx, New York, the youngest in a big Puerto Rican family. Growing up, I was surrounded by music, food, art, and my culture, and that’s where my love for all of it really took root. When I was young, we moved to Kansas. Talk about a culture shock! Read more>>
Kaitlyn May
At 13 years old, I starting my journey with autoimmune diseases. Taking two years, thousands of testing, and my mom adamantly telling my doctors and team she is not taking me home without any answers at 15 years old, I finally received a diagnosis. One was your gallbladder is dead. We need to take it out immediately. Read more>>
Alexis Puckett
My name is Alexis Puckett, and I’m the owner and photographer behind Alexis Renee Photographs. Art has always been a huge part of who I am, and I’ve always had a passion for capturing meaningful moments through photos. Just a year ago, I bought my very first professional camera and took a leap of faith to turn that passion into a business. Read more>>
Jill McDonald
I started Jill McDonald Design in 2004. I had five years under my feet working for large corporations. (Gap Inc. in NYC & Hallmark Cards in K.C.) I saw my art being selected at both companies & selling well this gave me confidence to try it on my own. Read more>>
Louis Fantasma
Paradise Locker Meats has been serving farmers, families, and food lovers for nearly 80 years. Originally established in 1946 in the small town of Paradise, Missouri, the business was purchased by Mario and Teresa Fantasma in 1995. At the time, it was a traditional custom processing locker with just a handful of employees, processing approximately 10 beef and 10 hogs each week. Read more>>
