Life, Lessons, & Legacies

Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.

Colin Bakewell

I have been playing guitar for Chalako The Band in Tucson, Arizona and we have really been sounding our best lately. We played at Tesoro Kitchen on Oracle Road, near The Tucson Mall on Saturday, the 8th of November, and everyone had a great time. I am so happy to be a part of this band right now. Read more>>

Ashley K. Butler

If you want more, give more. Read more>>

Bryan Harris

I also chop beats and rap and release music on the yearly with 2 new releases coming up so stay tuned to that dial! Always analog on the releases too, either cassette tapes, shirts and vinyl and for the Design + Build we’re working in Coronado currently, PV, north Phoenix, Arcadia Light and Rio Verde to mention a few and grateful for all the support in the Valley with word of mouth! Read more>>

Erica Diloreto

Oh yeah, plenty of times, but I just always remember why I started and I try to focus on how far I’ve come and realize that that at this moment, I am in a moment that I once prayed for and then I shift my perspective Read more>>

Neel Mehta

There was a time in 2021-2022, after two years in business and the initial recovery from the impacts of COVID-19, when we faced a significant challenge. Our customer base was still growing, but we found that many potential clients were hesitant when it came to paying our $1,000 concierge fee upfront. Read more>>

Marina Doering

One of the biggest lies our industry tells itself is that therapy has to look the same for everyone to be effective. Read more>>

Chris Deaton

DoWhatMATAs.org is the current project I am most proud of that no one sees. As ChatGPT began to take over the news I had an idea. There was a lot of talk about bias in AI bias, fake news, and the plethora of misinformation being shared on social media and how that could ultimately impact – erroneously – people’s beliefs. Read more>>

David Perez

I call it the rock bottom mentality. I’ve experienced deep suffering, pain so profound that words can’t fully capture it. In that suffering, I reached my rock bottom. There was nowhere lower to go, and in that realization, I saw that the only direction left was up. Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. Read more>>

Terri-Ann Russell

My mornings begin softly, the way a prayer rises before it’s spoken. I wake up and take time to breathe before I even open my eyes. I pause and feel the subtle glow of my soul waking with me. Read more>>

Beth Freese

Lately, my biggest source of joy has been preparing for our first baby. My husband and I are expecting in December, and this season has been such a meaningful mix of anticipation, nesting, and slowing down to savor what’s ahead. Read more>>

Agnes Chau

I’m committed to creating the Summon Your Inner Dragon!™ series of courses, books, and workshops, no matter how long it takes to create a movement. As a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu certified Women Empowered Instructor, I recognize that not everyone is ready to learn physical self-defense or walk into a martial arts school. However, everyone deserves to learn to defend themselves verbally and mentally. Read more>>

Paloma Hassell-Curiel

One moment that really shaped how I see the world was during Covid, but in a very different way from most nurses. Because I work in outpatient surgery, so much of what we do is elective and overnight, everything stopped. I went from having full, steady weeks to barely working at all. Read more>>

Nashira Dudley

I was homeless some years back. I was homeless for a year. I was down and depressed sleeping in homeless shelters and sleeping on the street. But one day I picked myself up and got a job at the Amazon warehouse. I moved back in with my mom and my step dad. I saved my money and paid for my car all cash. Read more>>

Abby Barenholtz

For me, integrity sits at the top every single time. Intelligence and energy matter, of course, but without integrity they don’t have a steady foundation. As a wedding planner, I’m invited into one of the most personal, emotional, and meaningful days of someone’s life. That level of trust is something my team and I take incredibly seriously. Read more>>

Sami Bey

The one thing I do not merely believe, but know to be true, is God. For me, faith is not blind—it is the most rational conclusion when I look at life, creation, and the human experience. Read more>>

Anita Terliizzi

Thrive55+ is a fitness app that is about aging powerfully. It is about embracing this second act of life, with all of its new challenges and changes. The misunderstanding is when people think it’s just for ‘seniors’ who are ‘old, aging, and fragile’. The Gen X and Baby Boomers are far from that. Read more>>

Kemi ‘Moon’ Balogun

When reading this question, a few different responses came to mind. All of them, while quick-witted and funny, all shared the same sentiment; what a luxury it is to assume that every person has experienced *true joy*. Read more>>

Paula Parente

There are several people whom I am learning from at this time. Lately, I have been reading autobiographical books written by well-known celebrities, such as Martin Short, John Lithgow, Robert Wagner, and Cher. Read more>>