Follow three inspiring stories of young people on a path to transform their passions into careers. Through their challenges, anxieties and triumphs, we see that the only way to find better is to go after it.
is a differently-abled Brand Strategist & Creative Director with a passion for helping companies and individuals communicate their authentic selves to the world to establish brand leadership.
His entrepreneurial background has afforded him the opportunity to work with over 150 small and mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups by aiding in helping them reach their desired degree of accomplishment.
Allah Jesus is transitioning from entrepreneurship into Corporate America with the intention of being able to make a difference and innovate within the organizations that hire him.
He currently holds a Bachelors of Science in Business from DeVry University, and certifications in Advertising Art & Design and Television Production from the Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services.
Where is he now?
Allah Jesus continues to send resumes, work on his portfolio and research different companies to target. He launched a new bReignstorm Podcast to showcase his creative expertise, determined to set himself apart from the competition. Like many other young people, he is tenaciously working to find his place in a tough job climate and is optimistic about his future.
is an avid Life-Explorer. She is a thirty something who grew up in the Carolinas. Although lacking a southern accent, she is imbued with a healthy dose of southern hospitality and geniality.
After graduating in 2004 in Graphic Design & Art, she packed up her bags and moved west. Landing in San Francisco, Lisi has been working in the design field ever since, where her passion led her to work at Frog, a world renowned global innovation company.
Lisi is passionate about using her design know-how to make the world a better place. She loves indie music, traveling to far-away places, warm patterned scarves, exploring the art of cooking, and hiking in the Sierra Mountains.
Where is she now?
Lisi is getting settled in India, excited for her next adventure and new job teaching children design to alleviate dropout rates. She followed her heart and has found happiness in meaningful work. Without the courage of her convictions to take such a risk, she would not have found such a rewarding experience.
As a small business owner for over eight years, working from home and in the Montgomery County incubator space, Shala Graham remembers the isolation of working by herself. Five years later, she was ready to move out of the incubator space, but realized that the overhead costs she would have to take on by renting her own office space would be too high. She wanted a place where creatives could share knowledge and work together to build their businesses while keeping costs low. Inspired by a fellow business owner, her ideas of simply subletting a few offices grew to a desire to develop a full-on coworking space just for creative types! She teamed up with Tiffany Jones to start Creative Colony. They plan to officially open the space in early 2014.
Tiffany Jones has worked primarily in the film and television industry for the last ten years. Her expertise lies in taking someone's vision and making it a reality through very detailed planning, execution and follow-up. Tiffany is also the Founder and Director of the Reel Water Film Festival, a non-profit event that raises awareness of local and global water issues and then donates at least half of its proceeds to water projects. Recently, Tiffany has partnered with Shala Graham to start Creative Colony, a coworking space for creative professionals in Silver Spring, MD, just outside of Washington, DC. They plan to officially open the space in early 2014.
Where are they now?
While Tiffany & Shala's trip to Azerbaijan didn't result in a business deal, they did make a lot of promising contacts. They recently signed a lease on a space in Silver Spring, Maryland and the Creative Colony offices are set to open in late March. The budding entrepreneurs are looking forward to booking tenants and finally being able to build and run their business.