Mid-Wilshire Inspiration

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 Mid-Wilshire’s (and K-Town, WeHo, Mid-City) 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 Mid-Wilshire’s rising stars below.

Mari Davis

I started my journey with product formulation about a decade ago, I spent hours a day doing research and studying tirelessly to learn what all went into making body care products. At the time I was a full-time working mom of 3 so starting a business wasn’t in the cards for me at that exact moment. Read more>>

Francisco ‘kiingcombo’ Andres

Immigrant Journey and growth. Hi, my name is Francisco Andres. I live in Los Angeles, but I’m originally from Guatemala. I came to the U.S. when I was 10 years old with my mom and siblings, crossing through Mexico and the Arizona desert with almost nothing. We traveled at night, rested during the day, and that journey is something I’ll never forget. Read more>>

Indira Rios

Options For Youth (OFY) is a network of FREE non-profit public charter schools, serving students who have fallen behind in school, are looking to get ahead and graduate early, or simply desire a non-traditional learning environment. OFY’s founders started the program in 1987 to provide at-promise and underserved students an alternative to traditional learning methods and environments. Read more>>

Alex Arguijo

From the beginning, I was always interested in photography and capturing moments. I got my first camera around 7th grade, a Canon Rebel T6i, and immediately became obsessed with using it. I would bring it everywhere: family trips, summer camps, hanging out with friends. Read more>>

Guetcha Tondreau-Liu

I was born in Haiti and spent the first part of my life there before moving to the United States as a teenager. Growing up between cultures shaped me deeply. I experienced bullying, isolation, and a lot of moments where I had to learn how to build confidence from the inside out. Read more>>

Serj Baumtsveyger

I started my journey in beauty with a deep passion for transformation and precision. From the very beginning, I was drawn to the power of hair and makeup – not just a service, but as a way to elevate confidence and identity. I invested in advanced education, working with professional color systems and techniques, and continuously refining my craft through hands-on experience and high-level training. Read more>>

Eliana Jalali

I’ve always been drawn to creative expression. Growing up, I loved performing arts, which eventually led me to attend a performing arts magnet high school. That’s really where my love for makeup began. Before dance shows, we’d experiment with different looks, and I became obsessed with creating makeup that matched our costumes and brought the performance to life. Read more>>

Nia Lane

I began making art as a way to process what I didn’t always have language for. Growing up between Compton and the Midwest, I was constantly navigating different environments, expectations, and versions of myself. Drawing became a place where I didn’t have to simplify or translate my experiences—I could just hold them. Read more>>

Omandi Moore-Washington

I’m from Philadelphia and for as long as I remember I have loved art and drawing, I would always be drawing as a kid, and I would always be watching anime on Toonami and the internet. Read more>>

Alexis Sandler

After years of working in a fast-paced corporate job in New York City, I reached a point where I realized I needed a real mental and physical reset. I was burned out, disconnected from my body, and craving a different kind of life—one that felt more grounded, intentional, and aligned with how I actually wanted to feel every day. Read more>>

Sabatini Saint louis

I started my journey without even realizing I was on one. I didn’t have a name for it or a clear direction. I was just creating. It began with simple things: editing on my phone, exploring different apps, printing, trying things out just to see what I could make. Read more>>

Troy Upperman

I didn’t start out in photography; I actually come from a background in retail, brand and operations management. That experience shaped the way I approach my work today. I think not just about how something looks, but how it communicates, how it lives within a brand, and how it connects with an audience. Photography became something deeper for me over time. Read more>>

Tayari ‘DJ Trauma’ McIntosh

I started with a simple statement ‘ You can be a DJ too.’ changed my life. I’m DJ Trauma, born Tayari McIntosh in New York City—but my journey really comes from a mix of New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. I got my real start at Clark Atlanta University, where I began DJing parties and learning how to move a crowd. Read more>>