Inspiring Stories from South LA

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 South LA’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rebel rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool.  Check out South LA’s rising stars below.

Miguel Flores-Gayle

My creation journey back in 2012 by accident, I had just started working in the medical field after graduating and was on my journey to become a Nurse Practitioner so that eventually i could become a brain surgeon. The year was end of 2011 early 2012 i believe and the iPhone 4s had just dropped, the first iPhone to shoot in 1080p. Read more>>

Priscilla Gutierrez

I always say we are all a walking story with chapters inside of us. Before I get into who I am today and what society might call “success,” I want to share my story or at least pieces of it. I wholeheartedly believe we can’t truly know someone through a screen but through ongoing conversations. Read more>>

Tiffaney Vazquez

My photography journey began in high school, rooted in a love for art, fashion, and storytelling. Even when I was encouraged to choose a more “secure” path, I never fully let go of the idea that photography could be my future. After graduating and spending years in the medical field, life eventually led me right back to where I belonged. Read more>>

Jessica and Gigi

Gigi – I’m originally from Turkey. I moved here in 2009. I went to language school couple of years, then I studied architecture at Cal Poly Pomona. After I got laid off from my corporate job last year, that pushed me to finally focus on building something of my own. Read more>>

Billy Mitchell

“My story really starts with music. Back in the ’80s, during the Quiet Storm era, I was one of the early artists helping shape what eventually became Smooth Jazz. I didn’t think of it that way at the time. I was just about making the kind of music I loved, in a way that spoke to people. Read more>>

Jaron Joseph C. Ramos

Originally from Vallejo, California, I instantly became hooked to the world of visual arts. Growing up in a community of creativity inspired me to explore my own. My Lola was the local seamstress, where she tailored and helped design cotillion and quinceañera dresses for our friends and family. Read more>>

Cheryl Noralez

I founded Garifuna American Heritage Foundation United (GAHFU) in 2005. Although I worked with other community organizations prior to establishing GAHFU. I felt there was a need to emerge from the shadow to education the general public about the Garifuna people, our history and culture. Read more>>

Tydre

I’ve always had this drive to be something more. I grew up in a really creative household. My mom was a recreation center manager who ran her own party-promotion business, my dad went from club promoter to senior photographer for NYC, and my older sister was performing her poetry and filmmaking on big platforms/stages. So creativity was the air I breathed. Read more>>

Michael Garcia

My journey began in the late 1990s, during my high school years. I gradually shifted my focus from baseball, football and hanging out with “The Home Boys” up to no good to immersing myself in the local creative scene DJing backyard parties and warehouse events throughout Los Angeles County and the San Gabriel Valley, I.E. Read more>>