The Change-Makers: stories that inspire

Emily & Ziad Almufti

We closed- now what?! We knew this property was all about the serenity, awe-inspiring views, and getting lost in the Milky Way.. we decided to build geodesic domes that bring the outside, in, with massive glass bay windows that extend above the beds.  We’d space the 4 units far apart, and leave the rest of the sprawling 80 acres undeveloped to maintain the unadulterated views and peacefulness that drew us here. Read More>>

Salwa Yordi

Beyond her media contributions, Salwa currently serves as the Director of Communications at Latinitas, Austin’s only 100% bilingual STEM education nonprofit, where she continues to make a lasting impact. Her journey in the United States began in 2001 at the age of 15, when she, along with her single mother and sister, moved to Killeen, TX. Faced with the challenge of not knowing the English language, Salwa embarked on her American journey at Ellison High School, where she supported her family by working as a cashier and cleaning attendant at a car wash. Despite the obstacles, she graduated with honors from Ellison and went on to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. Read More>>

Cody Jackson

I got started as a creative at age 9. Me and my best friends started a YouTube channel that was inspired by Smosh. We made a bunch of skit style videos, mostly comedy. Some horror. We did that channel for almost a whole year. We took it pretty seriously and actually tried to be successful with it. Our most viewed video was 5.5k where we created rig juice from “Regular Show” one of our favorite shows at the time.  Read More>>

Debbie Alexander Euers

My interest in real estate was sparked when my husband and I bought our first home in Austin. That experience opened my eyes to how vital it is to have the right support during such a significant milestone. Later, we turned that home into an investment property, which gave us firsthand experience with real estate investing and further fueled my desire to help others achieve their real estate goals. Read More>>

Robert Dao

There I really learned how to be a good one on one coach while being exposed to a very wide variety of clientele and was able to kind of refine my skills as a trainer so to speak. After several years of working in a corporate gym and building up a client base, I moved on to working for local gyms for a little bit more freedom and the ability to branch out a bit. Recently, I’ve moved on to mostly doing freelance and contract training work since I’ve built myself a nice base of clients, allowing me the flexibility to be able to spend some more time at home with family and pursuing my own interests outside of the gym! Read More>>

Brittany Heckard

I pivoted to public affairs at my first corporate girlie job and fell back in love with writing. However, my writing was mainly for political gain and not as fulfilling. Then, I went back to the Capitol where I saw my community there protesting and advocating for our rights, and it lit a fire in me. After that legislative session, I wanted to find a way to get involved with groups who deserved their voices heard at the pink dome. Read More>>

Every.word Poetry

The road to building every.Word Poetry has been anything but smooth, but it’s been deeply rewarding. We began with a vision to support the community and provide more opportunities for local poets to be witnessed, but the path forward wasn’t always clear. Before partnering with The VORTEX, we lacked a consistent venue, which made it challenging to create a stable space for our work. Read More>>

Sam Castillo

In early 2018 I quit that job and learned how to become a prep cook and eventually a line cook and sous chef so that I could have my nights free and focus more on comedy while working a job that wasn’t as mentally draining to me as an office job. About two years into comedy (actually committed) the world locked down in 2020 and I just worked constantly to pay off debt and keep myself above water, get sober and decide if I wanted to do comedy when the world opened back up. Read More>>

Javier Vargas

After high school, I took my love for creativity to the next level by studying fashion design in the stunning city of San Francisco, CA. The vibrant fashion scene and eclectic culture inspired me tremendously, pushing me to explore different facets of design and aesthetics. Although my studies were rooted in fashion, the allure of florals began to bloom in my heart. I found myself drawn to the idea of transforming spaces and occasions with the art of flowers. It was a delightful revelation that ultimately led me to discover my true calling. Read More>>

Moxie

It wasn’t until 1/7/2023 that I made my drag debut at the very first non-competitive drag signup night, Big Tits Bigger Dreams. A monthly show the first Saturday of every month hosted by Brigitte Bandit at Cheer Up Charlie’s. That night I felt more like myself than I ever had! Something changed in me for the better that night. By my 10th time in drag I was cohosting BTBD alongside Brigitte. That night gave me the confidence to try new things. Read More>>

Joy Higgins

We use family recipes and recipes we have created/revamped/improved for our menu. THE Original was created by my mom and we’ve added recipes from my grandparents and great-grandparents, like the Nestor pie crust recipe or the linzer cookies made by Grandma Phillips. Recipes from my husband’s side of the family include items such as the Anise Biscotti, Irish Soda Bread, and Nana Achille’s Chocolate cake.  Read More>>

Michele Garcia

No it’s never a smooth road. We are always handed unexpected events throughout life. I dealt with a lot of depression and anxiety over the years. When I first started out I felt a bit discouraged at times with how big and popular the beauty industry is but I had to remind myself everyone has different talents / skills and people choose you for you. I knew that I had to push myself to be where I am today. It was tough but I overcame it. I am truly grateful for all of the support that I have gotten over the years from my family and friends. Read More>>

Stormy Caldwell

We specialize in Post-op and General Lymphatic Wellness, using Dr. Vodder’s technique in MLD therapy to help heal a wide range of clientele from various health backgrounds and surgery history. I proudly work with doctors in Austin and surrounding areas, bringing exceptional care to all patients they entrust to me. The relationships developed with both physicians and patients, are my absolute top priority. I’m fully invested in each individual I work with, and the goal for me and my growing business will always be optimal health for each client. I absolutely love what I do and can’t wait to see where this journey leads. Read More>>

Jessica Price

My sophomore year, while I was a cocktail waitress in a music bar, a local newspaper was trying to write a story about a local gone national band who regularly played at the bar but couldn’t get the interview. The band agreed to give me the interview and I wrote the story for the local newspaper, that landed on the cover of the entertainment section. The newspaper, The Daily Tribune in Phoenix, subsequently gave me a job doing a column writing about music and nightlife. When I graduated The Arizona Republic gave me a job as a columnist and feature writer as they were attempting to bring a younger audience to the newspaper. Although grateful for the opportunity, I spend portions of my day pitching glossy magazines in NYC – until an editor at Maxim, the top-selling magazine at the time, told me if I was serious about freelancing to move to NYC. So, I did. Read More>>

Brandon Dively

When it comes to being the first to do anything, I don’t think you know what struggles to expect, as you’re the one carving the path. I am incredibly grateful for the lessons we have learned and while I know the future will have its share of bumps, I’m glad we learned some of the lessons when we did. Read More>>

Simon Llewelyn Evans

The challenge is to take something so vast and mysterious and make it into a song that resonates without overwhelming. To do that, I focus on the small, intimate moments that carry deeper truths, like asking your partner to read the words on the TV screen when you can’t see them. Those moments ground the music in something real, while the spirit of the song moves it forward. Read More>>

Chris Heiler

The challenges were many and mostly out of our control which was the most frustrating part. Specifically, we couldn’t get an SBA loan. We couldn’t get financing from equipment companies. We had no investors. When we signed our lease the developer had yet to break ground on the site. It took the developer over two years to have the building ready for us! It was a stressful experience for the whole family but here we are now and we’re excited to be open and building momentum. Read More>>

Madhumita Asthana

But as life often does, it threw a curveball when I least expected it. Just as things seemed perfect, I was diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer. That moment marked the beginning of a challenging chapter that would take much of the next decade of my life, especially in the years following the birth of my daughter. Despite the immense difficulties, I never lost hope. My husband and daughter were my constant sources of strength, and my parents (whom I recently lost) and their unwavering support carried me through some of my darkest days.  Read More>>

Stephan Freeman

With the unwavering support of my wife and partner, who has stood by me through every step, I was able to leave the 9-to-5 grind and fully dedicate myself to turning this vision into reality. Today, that dream has come to life as Kings Cigar Lounge—a place where camaraderie, premium cigars, and a sophisticated ambiance come together to create unforgettable experiences. Read More>>

Yisel Covarrubias

Divorce was also really difficult for me emotionally, spiritually, and financially. My ex-husband prolonged the divorce so much in order to take all our shared assets and pass along all his debt to me; otherwise he would not sign the papers. Dragging my credit to the ground by not removing my name from his car title while refusing to make payments on it left me with no other option. I desperately needed my peace even if it literally cost me. Giving that up was not easy, but the difference in my health both physical and mental is readily apparent. That experience has taught me the importance of putting ego aside even when betrayal hurts at its worst. Read More>>

Nessa & Jaycob Spence & Sniffen

Jaycob and I crossed paths in the summer of 2022 at Hill Country Water Gardens, where I was leading educational seminars and he was immersed in running bogs. I was immediately impressed by his strong work ethic and eagerness to learn. Under the mentorship of industry experts like Ashley Waggoner, Calvin, Cody, and Maggie King, Jaycob quickly developed into a standout talent. Recognizing his potential, I invited him to join me on a few interior scaping projects. Our partnership quickly flourished, leading us into Wildscaping as we gained repeat clients. We soon realized our complementary skills were the perfect foundation for a business, and Ripples and Roots Wildscapes was born. Read More>>

Virginia Montgomery

I’m an Artist with an exceptionally unique and rare creative career: I’m a professional Graphic Facilitator. With over 10 years of experience in Graphic Facilitation (also know as Visual Note-taking or Graphic Recording), I partner with global non-profits and Fortune 500 companies to create live visual “mind-maps” at public conferences and private workshops that engage audiences and make ideas memorable. In 2012, I began my career as a Graphic Facilitator while working in the New York City agency world. In 2020, I brought my company to Big Bright Visuals to Austin, TX. I’m happy to be a part of Austin’s dynamic creative community. Read More>>

Becky Sagen

I couldn’t run the business I wanted when I lived in NYC, I couldn’t afford the overhead of a big enough shop space. I couldn’t run the business I wanted to in my 20’s, I wasn’t in a position to commit to it and I didn’t have the network I needed. I still struggle with finding the right people to work with me and figuring out that elusive life balance of an entrepreneur, but I’ve really lucked out with connections I’ve made and the fact that I’m in a place to be able to commit enough time and resources to build this dream job for myself. Read More>>

Amanda Campbell

I had worked on many, many full length feature & short film sets, setting myself up for success to eventually land in Hollywood! Well, after working at the Cannes Film Festival with Deadline Hollywood, I quickly learned… this was NOT the space for me. But alas, I persisted my fake dream and went on to work for a reality TV show in Dallas after graduation. This job had its perks, of course, but I missed weddings deeply. My heart was yearning for something much more than anything this reality TV show could feed me; so, I left. Read More>>

Mishayla Twyman

I posted on my Instagram story that I was at “book club” and got tons of replies from people asking if they could join the next one. With so much excitement from my friends and followers, my best friend, Leigh Sugg, and I knew we had to start planning for our next get together. We started by choosing our next book, then our location, and—naturally, the marketer in me kicked in—it was time to spread the word. So, we created an Instagram account and our first post. Word spread quickly, and at our second book club meeting we doubled our attendance from our first “official” meeting. Read More>>

Izá Avalos

After I entered into this apprenticeship and truly committed to it, It was like a chain reaction. Opportunities were coming to me that I never would have imagined. A great example of this is that Lara later introduced me to my mentor in the healing arts, and dear friend, Jai Medina of Two Spirit Shamanic Healing. Who again is someone I sought out to help me survive in a turbulent time where I felt lost and alone. Yet in doing so I once again found my purpose, and an intentional community to be apart of. If I had never taken that chance on myself and followed that voice in my head that said “This is for you”, I don’t know where I’d be. Read More>>

Seleena Hoban

I became friends with a sommelier which gave me a lot of opportunity to learn about wine. They’d bring the wine and I’d bring snacks. Enter charcuterie. It started small. Cheese plate at a gathering here. A bigger more elaborate platter brought to the potluck there. Then of course I had to create a spread on NYE 2019 for my birthday. I mean the new year. Little did we know what was about to happen. Read More>>

Eric Feuerstein

MF Beards is a Texas made natural men’s grooming company. We specialize in beard care currently but do plan to expand into the complete grooming experience. Our beard butter is our most unique product line, and has been received amazingly well! We use shea butter as a base with additional carrier oils to produce a creamy lotion like product that is great for the rough hairs of a beard. Read More>>

Jackie Goff

I was working for a local non-profit that helped survivors of domestic violence and there was a lady that would come in almost every week with a huge donation of fresh Meyer lemons from the tree. The Meyer lemons were delicious. There was so many, I thought I would use my baking skills and tried several recipes. I had never ,ever had a lemon bar before but me and my beloved Mother who passed in 2019, loved lemon everything. Once I mastered the recipe and put my own spin on it, Read More>>

Valerie Gonzalez

My daughter, Herlinda-Lopez-Woods, is now the co-owner who will continue to expand our business. We’ve been shipping tamales nationwide for more than 20 years. In 2023 we added other authentic Mexican dishes to our shipping menu which already included 14 flavors of tamales. We, employee 40 people, and have the capacity in our 30,000 square foot state-inspected kitchen, to produce about 70 dozen tamales every 2 minutes. We are proud to provide an authentic Mexican culinary experience to so many people! Read More>>

Sereta Boghossian

As a makeup artist, I specialize in the wedding industry however I believe that my work is special because I am comfortable catering to anyone who sits in my chair. Sometimes, artists can get stuck in one lane and not know how to work with different skin types, different styles of makeup or more mature clients but my portfolio is very diverse. I’m able to customize looks for anyone Read More>>

Sarah Ambrus

I was working a side job in the Disability Office on campus where I met other students who needed support to thrive in college. For those with disabilities, their success often depended on the university’s ability to craft creative solutions and programming; I worked with a team of advisors to help develop accommodations for these students to access their education. This is where I first learned about the many different paths to success, and about how I wanted to be part of creating a better learning experience for everyone. Read More>>

Jillian Warman

As I said, my family wasn’t musical, but they were very supportive of my musical aspirations. My mom spent countless hours driving me to music lessons, piano and violin competitions, and rehearsals. She always believed in me and would do whatever she could to help me succeed, Like when I was 12 and told her I wanted to audition for a professional symphony, she didn’t hesitate to call the conductor and set up my audition (and I got the job!). Read More>>

Reginald Young

I work for Amazon, I’m a father, and I’m a clothing brand owner. Trying to make this clothing designer my main and only job. ART has always been apart of my life. & even doe I’m not where I’m going to be yet, I know its coming and I receive(d) love from the average human to some of your favorite celebrities even til this day. Read More>>

Natasha Pruitt

For the most part, the journey has been smooth, and I truly love what I do. Running a stationery business that glorifies God, while being a mom and an elementary teacher, fills my days with purpose and joy. I’m ready to tackle any challenges that come my way because I believe in the mission of Busy Bee Stationery & Co. Read More>>

Ellsworth Herring

Over the past 20 years, my tech career has taken me across the country and even to parts of the world, giving me a wealth of knowledge and experience. I began using those skills to assist friends and family with their tech challenges—recovering lost photos, setting up networks, and troubleshooting devices. Over time, I saw a growing need for someone who could listen, understand, and deliver personalized solutions for families and small businesses. In January 2024, I decided to take the leap and officially launch my own business. Read More>>

Katy Serra

Photography has opened the doors for me to meet so many different people, to travel to different places, and hone my experience as a wedding photographer. I have traveled all over Texas with the exception of the pan handle. I started shooting alone, and I brought my husband on board to help me as a second shooter, unfortunately in 2018 he was unable to help me after a knee injury. However my younger sister started assisting me since she was 15 years old, and I am happy to say that now that she has become my trustee second shooter for a couple of years now. She is incredible and I am so blessed to have her on my team. Read More>>

Jamie McPhaul

So, I did just that. I helped pare down their (somewhat) excessive amount of duffle bags they had taking up space in the closet, condensed the gift wrapping supplies, and made sure there was a clear path to getting their suitcases out (everything on the right side could ROLL!) I had a lot of fun transforming the challenging space into a functional storage area for my parents and loved being able to give someone else the same feeling of peace I get from being organized. Read More>>

Kacie Desabla And Rebecca Weisenhoff

The biggest struggle has definitely been finding time to support our side business while working intensive full-time jobs. Also, the “business” side of running a business – while we were excited to teach the art classes, we are also handling the financials, resource procurement, marketing, and the other aspects that go into making our business legitimate. Financially, we funded our business entirely, and starting required seed funding that we had to provide. Beyond those struggles, there has been a strong appetite for wine and paint art classes, and local businesses have expressed continued interest in partnering with us. Our classes generally sell out and we often rebook due to their success. Read More>>

Izzy Lozada

From a young age, I was always fascinated by the world of tattoos. I frequently accompanied my parents to their tattoo appointments, eagerly observing and asking questions. My love for art has been a constant throughout my life—drawing was always my outlet, my form of expression. Upon graduating high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in art, and initially considered becoming an art teacher. However, my path took an unexpected turn, leading me to the tattoo industry, a field I never anticipated entering, but one I’m incredibly grateful for today. Read More>>

Carol Schiraldi

My journey as an artist and photographer has been anything but linear, shaped by both my technical background and my creative passions. I trained as a software engineer in college and worked in the technology space for a significant part of my career. During that time, I discovered photography as a creative outlet—a way to balance the structured logic of my professional life with the boundless creativity of artistic expression. Read More>>

Adair (Addie) Ewers

My name is Adair, but everyone calls me Addie, and I grew up in a small town in Virginia. My childhood and experiences with school were not the smoothest, but my imagination was always that light in the dark. Growing up, I spent lots of time creating in different ways; directing neighborhood plays, writing and illustrating books, selling cupcakes, and of course, being the one who did the drawings in school projects. When I was 16, my anxiety took control of my mind and I began online school in 2019. Later that year, at age 17, I started selling my art to friends and family. After some time, people suggested to start selling and posting my art to a larger audience, so I opened my Etsy. Read More>>

Jennifer Wammack

We like for customers to feel welcome and educate them about pecan varieties and let them taste honey glazed pecans, pecan brittle, chocolate caramel clusters and dark chocolate pecans just to name a few. We now sell to HEB, Bucees, and other local MOM and POP stores, we ship worldwide and our retail store is open 7 days a week. We got to where we are today by never giving up, always trying to improve, believing in ourself and with lots of hard work from our very dedicated staff. Read More>>

Divine Canines

Divine Canines was founded in 2004 by a small group of dog lovers who wanted to share their dogs’ magic with people in need. We have grown from that group into an organization with more than 175 currently active and certified dog-and-handler teams, providing free therapy dog visits for tens of thousands of Texans in need. Read More>>

Anton Marchuk

At 72, Dr. Marco was a living example of vitality and mental clarity, beloved by his community for helping countless people achieve healthier, happier lives. Shortly before their visit, Dr. Marco’s wife, an unwavering follower of his health philosophy, took second place in a local tennis competition—at 82 years old—surpassing younger competitors with her remarkable strength and stamina. This unforgettable experience with Dr. Marco and his family ignited a passion in Tamara and Anton to bring these natural wellness practices to the world, leading to the creation of Sana Herbal Sciences. Read More>>

Avelino Morales

I never graduated due to financial issues and started working in the casinos for a couple of years. My artwork was discovered by a local tattoo shop who was very impressed and offered me a job , I quit the casinos the next day. I’ve been tattooing for 15 years . I’ve discovered painting and screen printing during that period and really expanded my art. My family decided that New Jersey was too cold so we moved to Killeen Texas, where I work around great artists at Black Heart Tattoo Collective in Harker Heights Read More>>

Ryan Stock

Even when not traveling, meals were a big deal for us. Our family was always trying new restaurants and when it came time to family dinner at home, it was always a big ordeal. This really opened up my understanding of what food can be. It also gave me an understanding that a meal is so much more than just eating, it’s an emotional experience that is shared among friends and family. By the time I got into high school and old enough to get my first jobs, I quickly immersed myself into the world of restaurants and hospitality. Read More>>

Zamira Soza

Since then I started testing my interactions with spirit. Writing down all my synchronicities and starting to implement my intuition in my day to day life. My life was literally getting better and better the more I listened–not just physically, but emotionally as well. As a survivor of domestic abuse left with C-PTSD, the combined forces of therapy and spirituality have been so integral in my process of healing and improving my life. Read More>>