Washington’s Most Inspiring Stories

Avani Desai

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” This belief has guided every step of my journey—from a young girl in Gujarat, India, to becoming a licensed henna artist and entrepreneur in the United States. I was born and raised in Gujarat as the eldest of five siblings. Read more>>

Dr. Alfonso Brown

A popular notion in the U.S. is that education is a great equalizer. In 2014, I was entering my fourth year of homelessness and decided to test that theory. I started at a technical college. I selected Human Services because the objective of the program focuses on meeting human needs through interdisciplinary knowledge that focuses on prevention as well as remediation of problems. Read more>>

La Manda Davis

Absolutely! How I got to where I am today began with learning to trust God. During many seasons of uncertainty, my faith became my only anchor, guiding me forward when clarity felt out of reach. As a recent theology graduate, my understanding of Scripture deepened and strengthened my sense of calling, becoming intentional not just inspirational. Read more>>

Brynn MacLennan

Brynn MacLennan is the co-founder and CEO of Slate, a women-run oral-care company turning flossing into preventive health. A product-designer–turned-CEO and mother of five, Brynn helped grow Slate from a Kickstarter idea into a seven-figure, venture-backed brand trusted by clinicians and loved by families. Read more>>

Alex Duffey

Growing up, I moved all across the United States from Florida to Minnesota. I bounced around a lot which never really left time for hobbies. In highscool I focused on woodworking and TV production, and going to college for Film. In 2008 after graduating from college I followed my now wife to her home in the Pacific North West. Read more>>

Erie Lynn

Hi, my name is Ericka Reynolds better known as ERIE LYNN. I am a 25 year old Neo Soul/ RNB singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington. I was lucky enough to be born and raised in the Central District area for majority of my childhood. One thing I will never forget was the sense of community I felt while growing up! Read more>>

Devin Larson

I always knew I was an artist. I just didn’t know what my medium would be. I studied Fashion Merchandising and Public Relations in college, which explains why I care deeply about composition, styling, and storytelling, and also why I can build a brand that feels cohesive instead of chaotic. After graduating, I worked in corporate retail. It was stable. It was impressive on paper. Read more>>

Edie Higby

I am no stranger to grief. I know what a bad day is. I know what it feels like when life cracks open and asks questions you didn’t prepare for. In 2022, after losing my brother, everything shifted. What happened to him made me question everything — my faith, life, meaning, fairness, time. For a long while, my mind lived in the what ifs. Read more>>

JZ Murdock

I am, in the end, a storyteller. My path has been long and nontraditional, so I’ll share the parts that most shaped how I work today. I grew up loving film, largely through watching PBS, long before my first college cinema class. At the same time, I also grew up at a drive-in theater. Read more>>

Adrian Hopkins

I became a floral designer by accident, or divine intervention. Born in Tulsa, Ok, growing up near Boston, MA, and finishing high school north of San Francisco, CA, I’ve been traveling and exploring the natural world my whole life. Read more>>

Chris Carthern

I began his creative journey in 2015 as a photographer while living in Germany, driven by a desire to capture the beauty and atmosphere of Europe. What started as a visual hobby quickly evolved into a deeper passion for storytelling. Read more>>

Dalia Sherif

I began my career in social marketing, inspired by the idea that information, when paired with access, can save lives. Early on, I supported behavioral change campaigns in partnership with USAID, focused on improving public health outcomes in underserved communities. Through culturally responsive messaging and community-centered outreach, we encouraged preventive health checks and healthier daily practices. Read more>>

Daniel Britton

I began my photography Journey a little more than 10 years ago. I decided to take the passion that was photography and pursue a full time career in it. Read more>>

Yunet Solorzano

I began photographing dogs in 2019, at a time when I didn’t yet understand how deeply this work would shape my life. Photography entered quietly, almost as a side path, something creative I returned to between the structure and responsibility of a medical career. For several years, I lived in both worlds. By day, I worked in healthcare. Read more>>

Anton du Preez

I could never decide between music and medicine. I studied both disciplines in college, and utilized both in various roles in the US Navy. Read more>>

Suyun Kim

I didn’t begin photography with a grand plan. Looking back, I think I was simply drawn to how quickly moments pass, and how easily the ordinary disappears. I studied film and directing in Korea, where I learned to pay attention to what often goes unnoticed — quiet emotions, subtle shifts, the space between events. Read more>>

Amit Amram

I got into music from a place of curiosity more than anything else. I was always drawn to how songs made me feel, not just emotionally, but physically — the energy, the space, the movement. Early on, I started experimenting on my own, recording, producing, and trying to understand what actually makes a song connect beyond just a good idea. Read more>>

QPZ

I got my first start in the music video world by started out as a camera operator hired by a agency in based in Seattle, WA during the summer/fall of 2020. I had network with someone whom was associated with the owner of the agency over some beer and food off of E Jefferson and 13th discussing the climate of Seattle’s music scene and covid. Read more>>

Charles Hall Jr

I got my start in comedy in 2019 in Seattle before moving to Spokane during the pandemic in 2020. When the world shut down, I wasn’t sure if stand-up would still be part of my life—but once comedy clubs reopened, I decided to give it another shot and haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Maurice Rankin

I grew up with an innate curiosity about how things worked — literally pulling apart radios, TVs, and computers to explore their insides long before I understood the word “engineering.” My first real introduction to computing was a Commodore 64 in a neighbor’s house, where I’d spend hours typing code just to make a ball bounce across the screen. Read more>>

Diego Perez Rangel

I have been painting since 15 years old (21 now) I have had expos in Argentina, USA, Spain, Grece and Mexico. During this jurney I have win different awards and publications in different countries. I have a personal style that falls somewhere between baroque and sarcasm, blending classic elements with contemporary ones. Read more>>

DJ iSizzle

I started DJing on the San Juan Islands, where I developed a deep love for creating the right atmosphere through music and learning how to truly read a room. What began as a passion naturally evolved into a career, and today my focus is exclusively on weddings. Read more>>

Zachary Miller

I started doing masonry at a very young age with my dad. He was a stone mason, and going to work with him was as normal as doing chores around the house. I never considered it a job, it was just what he and I did together when I wasn’t in school or playing basketball. Read more>>

Michael Brumfield

I started filming to show the world my vision, ya know?  It was all about capturing stories and sharing ’em with everyone! Read more>>

Jamie Tobin

I started in photography super young when I was inspired by a family photographer who took my little brother’s newborn photos. I thought her studio was the coolest job, and I just wanted to create photos after that. Realized really quickly this is exactly what I wanted to do for my full time career, and I’ve been working with clients since 2012! Read more>>

Atenas Morales

I started in the performing arts, drawn to theater and the magic that comes with it. Growing up in Mexico, creativity was never separate from my everyday life; it was always woven into it. Later I studied art management and performing arts in Barcelona, a city that taught me to see art as something alive and constantly unfolding. Read more>>

Mason Boyce

I started playing lacrosse because my big brother Hudson played, and I always wanted to be out there with him. At first, I was just chasing the ball and having fun, but the more I played, the more I fell in love with the game. I tried a few positions, but I really connected with goalie and defense. Read more>>

Hudson Boyce

I started playing lacrosse because my mom played and my little brother Mason and I were always running around with sticks in the yard. At first, it was just about having fun and trying things out. I didn’t really know what position I’d play, I just loved being part of the game and being on a team. Read more>>

Taunya Gren

I started professional life as an actress in theater, then transitioned to film and television. In my mid life I started producing and then added screenwriting and directing to my CV. Now in my older life I’m predominantly directing and writing and finding that change absolutely wonderful. Read more>>

Tony Vincente

I started Rossario George because I couldn’t find what I was looking for—luxury that felt unapologetically bold, emotionally charged, and still aligned with my values. I’ve always been obsessed with design: the way a silhouette can shift confidence, the way color can tell a story, the way details—hardware, texture, a zipper placed just right—can turn clothing into an experience. Read more>>

Boris Tonkikh

I started training when I was young because I wanted to build confidence, discipline, and a stronger mindset. Fitness quickly became more than a goal for me—it became a lifestyle and the foundation of who I am. Read more>>

Nick Thompson

I was born and raised in the South End of Seattle and I still live here. My friends and I started shooting stuff on a handycam when we were six years old. My parents, Rustin Thompson and Ann Hedreen, are both filmmakers and have taught me so much. Read more>>

Lolly Shera

I was born and raised in Washington State, where hiking, skiing, and backpacking with my family fostered an early love of the wilderness. I began drawing and painting at a young age, captivated by the effects of light on the landscape. Today, I work in the tradition of contemporary realism, creating landscapes rooted in the emotional essence of place. Read more>>

Vera Pashkevich

I was born in Belarus and grew up as a military kid in Germany. My family moved around a lot and never stayed anywhere long enough for it to feel permanent. My dad always had this little point-and-shoot camera with him, documenting everything, but I never paid much attention to it (until it was time to get the film developed, at least). Read more>>

Melody XIE

I was born in China, three months premature, and according to my mother, I was often sick as a child. Hoping to improve my health, my parents encouraged me to dance as a form of exercise. I gave my first stage performance at the age of three. When I was eleven, a professional performing arts troupe visited my elementary school. Read more>>

Caleb Gomes

I was born in DuQuoin, Illinois, to two immigrant parents. Music has always been a huge part of my life. At a young age, I was immersed in musical theater and opera, and performed with a local children’s choir. Being homeschooled, however, I was barred from joining the local school’s concert ensembles. Read more>>

Kellis Parlett

I was born in Seoul, South Korea, and spent my early childhood there before moving to Ansan City, which at the time was a newly developing area. My father worked as a builder specializing in plumbing and gas systems for apartment construction. Sadly, when I was in sixth grade, my father passed away in a sudden car accident. Read more>>

Andy Kadima

I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the village of Tshikaji, where storytelling, community, and resilience were part of everyday life. Those early influences shaped how I see the world and how I approach challenges. My journey hasn’t been linear—I’ve taken risks, faced setbacks, and learned to turn those moments into lessons rather than limits. Read more>>

Lya Badgley

I was born in Yangon, Myanmar, to Montana parents who had fallen in love with Asia after my father was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. My childhood was filled with languages, cultures, and dinner-table conversations that blended art, politics, and curiosity. Read more>>

Janet Fagan

I was raised by a working artist. My mom was a painter and she set me up for success as a creative by making sure that I had independent time to dream and permission to explore the world. Read more>>

Chef (Steve) Corso

I’m a classically trained chef from the Pacific Northwest, with formal training at the Culinary Institute of America and in Northern Italy. I’ve spent over 25 years in the food industry in roles ranging from research chef and culinary consultant to team trainer for Starbucks. My journey started on a backpacking trip in the North Cascades National Park. Read more>>

Del Kary

I’m a Director, Producer, Writer, and Actor based in Yakima, Wa. I directed my first film, titled “Video Psycho”, back in 1997. Since then, I have been involved in the production of several other films and shorts, either as a Director or Producer or Actor, including “Snuff Perversions : Bizzare Cases Of Death” (1999), “Cheater. Read more>>

Oneyung Kim

I’m a Korean-born, Seattle-based visual artist working primarily in oil on wood panels and canvas. My paintings explore the fragile space between people — how memory, emotion, and identity blur when we try to understand one another. I often build surfaces through layered textures using palette knives, oil sticks, and pigment, leaving visible traces of gesture and revision. Read more>>

Justin P. Slaughter

I’m an Award Winning American Actor and Producer known for quite a few of films. Notably “90 Feet From Home”, “Meteor”, “Egress” and the Critically Acclaimed short film “Love & Other Crimes”. Read more>>

Stella Taylor

A cliche. No joke. You want the log-line? Small town farming girl moves to the big city to chase her dreams, and finds herself torn between what’s familiar and unknown alike. But I ADORE a good cliche. I think we all do – it hits us because it’s true. I secretly think that life itself is a cliche. Live in it. Read more>>

Stacy D. Flood

I’ve always had a love for two things: storytelling and a sense of wonder, using the first to enhance the second. Read more>>