Inspiring East LA Stories

The heart of our mission at VoyageLA is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of East LA’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble-rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool.  Check out East LA’s rising stars below.

Jorge Jaén

That memory led me back to the things that actually made me happy. No, it didn’t look like med school. It looked more like my <i>Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed </i>DVD I had as a kid, and how I would rewatch the behind-the-scenes feature over and over again. Happiness was being a part of the people who decided to come together to create something that felt as alive as a talking dog. Read more>>

Patrick Hasson

Noah Purifoy, Leonard Knight, Bobby Furst, Ricardo Breceda, Shari Elf, Randy Polumbo, and so many more. We’ll be having the official Grand Opening of Rainbowland early next year. It is my hope that Rainbowland will become part of the artistic landscape of the Mojave Desert and bring inspiration to those seeking something magic like I found many years ago. Read more>>

Leandy Wu

I have always been drawing since I can remember. Even learning numerals through imagery I related them with! Like the number 5 looks like a nose and brow haha. Growing up in New Zealand, I was outside playing a lot. Always active. Read more>>

Carmen McDonald

I never thought I would be a lawyer, or an Executive Director, but in many ways my story has always pointed me in this direction, which begins with my parents. My parents’ journey is the biggest influence on where I am today. My parents are Cuban refugees. Read more>>

Mary Moran

I didn’t get started in cooking because I wanted to impress anyone or chase trends. I got started because food was where comfort lived. Before culinary school, I was a nanny for multiple families, and one of my favorite moments each day was bringing everyone together at the end of a long, hard day. Read more>>

Rachel Busic

Hello! My name is Rachel. I’m a coach, astrologer, teacher, and founder of Quarter Moon Coaching. I’ve always been obsessed with transformation and self-discovery. I got my BA in Psychology at UCLA (Go Bruins!) and got my coaching start in the health and fitness space. Read more>>

Carlos Benavides

I am a C2-T1 tetraplegic with, spinal cord injury. I chair the Patient Family Advisory Council at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey Ca. I am the President of the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities. An artist, and CEO for Pushrim Foundation, where we donate wheelchairs and art supplies and other durable medical equiptment to people who do not qualify. Read more>>

Kat M.

As adults, we too took on roles at the resort. I worked with the horses of Main Street, and Pedro started as a custodian. Many role changes later we eventually landed at the same location as face painters, which is how we met. During one of the big Cast Member holiday parties; our team took a group photo and we happened to stand right beside each other. I definitely noticed Pedro awkwardly looming over me. That was the moment that started our journey. Read more>>

Shawn Mandoli

It all begins with skateboarding. I grew up skateboarding and when I was a teenager I ended up at a church with a skate ramp in it. As a result I came to faith in Christ at the age of 17. I continued with skateboarding and turned pro when I was 18. I traveled the world and did the pro-skater thing for 5 years. Read more>>