Hi! Meet Rachel. If I had to pick one word to describe her it’d be extraordinary. Her work as a designer. Extraordinary. Her desire to make the world a better place by only working with socially conscious businesses. Extraordinary. Her ability to light up a room with her smile. Extraordinary. She’s someone I wouldn’t mind running into every day. That would be… well, extraordinary. Also ask her about the local food alphabet photography series she’s doing. It’s awesome. You can see some of it here on her Instagram.

What is your passion?

My life and how I live it is driven by my passion for design. I’m really focused on sustainability and socially responsible design. Also how things are designed and how user experience is effected by it. Whether i’m walking down the street or i’m eating in a restaurant, let’s say a food experience. It’s all related to design. I see it everywhere.

What frustrates you?

Hmmm… what frustrates me? Lots of things. Bad drivers in Charlotte definitely frustrate me.

What’s your greatest indulgence?

Food, craft beer and crazy craft cocktails. That’s probably a passion too. Food and drink.

If you were a wrestler what would your entrance song be?

I like some good 80’s hairband music. We’re not gonna take it by Twisted Sister or Def Leopard pour some sugar on me. This is terrible. Oh man. I’m going to hate reading this later.

If you could have a conversation with someone that is no longer living who would that be and why?

Probably my grandfather or grandmother on my dad’s side. I don’t know as much as I would like about my family history and I would love to just pick their brains. I love history and stories when I meet people and I lived so far away from them so I never really had the chance to hear about their childhoods and life. When I was younger I couldn’t have cared less but now that I’m older I look back and wish I had just listened a little more.

Savannah asked what are three physical things you love about yourself?

My smile. Maybe my hair somedays, usually second day dirty and my feet.

You can find more of Rachel’s work on her site here or follow her on Twitter at @Rachellmartin. She also just made Charlotte Agenda’s top 31 designers in Charlotte list.

Hi! Meet Brigitte. Another Twitter turned IRL friendship. I try to break down those digital barriers and meet as many people IRL as possible. I can definitely say Brigitte is without a doubt one of the more fascinating people I’ve met. I try to keep my meetings very scheduled because they can quickly get off the rails. This is one that I’d wish I had left a little more time for. She’s interesting and doing some awesome things here in Charlotte. Ask her about Share Charlotte or if she’d take the red pill or the blue pill.

What is your greatest indulgence?

I really do enjoy watching movies. I’m not a film buff but for a long time I was obsessed with foreign movies and I just loved seeing and experiencing different cultures and how people reacted to them. I like perspective so I guess my greatest indulgence is other people’s perspective.

What frustrates you?

I get frustrated when people ask me what I do. Only because there’s so much more to who we are than our jobs and who we are as a person and what defines me. Whenever I talk to someone I like to ask them different questions, things that start a conversation. Maybe we’re out and they are drinking a unique looking drink or they’re reading a magazine I’m unfamiliar with. I’ll ask them about those things. I feel like I’m very good at starting a conversation. I’d rather lead in with those type of questions.

How do you think people would describe you?

My friends say that I am very extroverted and fun to be around. I think some people would describe me as fearless. Someone that just does things on the fly. How would I describe myself? I’m just curious about everything. I really do like experiencing different things, traveling and getting outside my own box. People don’t know what I’m about when they look at me so I try really hard to flip the script.

Tell me 3 physical things you love about yourself?

This is a new one. This is good. A lot of people don’t like their hair. I love my hair. I’m not going to lie. So that’s one. I really like my eyes. I always get compliments on them whether they’re expressive or something. They definitely portray my personality. The last thing I like about myself are my hands. A long time ago I thought to myself if I didn’t have this many scars on my hands I could definitely be a hand model.

Katie Levans wanted to know about your parents.

Wow, I could go on and on. Both of my parents are my best friends. I’m an only child. This is going to sound weird. My parents are very friendly people but they are also kind of to themselves. They really rely on each other for companionship and friendship. And so I seem how they are. Very individual and independent. My dad, he is his own person and he’s very caring and respectful. So a friendly guy but he doesn’t change for other people. My mom is very similar to that. I’ve always had my parents to look up to. They always said people would love me for who I am. I don’t need to change how I am to get people to love me. Some people won’t like me and that’s ok. They’ve instilled a huge sense of confidence in me growing up.

Steven Radney said tell me about a great experience you had in a team setting.

Hmm. I’ve had so many. I’ve met so many people in my life along the way. So many people have contributed to my self-discovery. I don’t think I can think of one instance. Ok, here. It’s actually related to my job since I really enjoy the people I work with. When we were organizing the giving Tuesday campaign for Share Charlotte I was working with all women. I was still learning about the non-profit scene. What I loved is that there was so much creativity and collaboration. Nothing was off the table. It was just a matter of honing in on things that really touched us as an individuals and I think that team experience really helped me love Charlotte a little more.

You can find Brigitte on Twitter @brihjit.

Hi! Meet Kelly. I met her and her husband John last week through CLT Food Fight and continue to be amazed by the passion and drive to make a difference. It’s not just something they do. It’s a part of their culture and something I aspire to engrain in the little family I’m trying to grow on my own right now. They are truly inspirational. Kelly organizes Purses With A Purpose. Her big event is this Saturday, May 9th at the Ballantyne hotel. From what I can tell it looks like quite a few ladies line up REALLY early to get first dibs on the purses. Be there… it’s awesome.

What is your passion?

Ultimately just making a small smudge on the world and making a difference in ways that’s comfortable and meshes with our lifestyle. For John and I it really struck a chord with us when we started a family and had little people around all the time. It makes you think someone is watching every little thing I do and say. It eally makes you want to set a good example and put our best food forward. I’d say it brought out what was already inside of us. Let’s see what we can do locally and it it happens to grow and keep on going then all the better. That’s what we feel like. It’s family culture.

What frustrates you?

I’d say the complete opposite of what I said. People that can’t see the forest from the trees. I think what I realized from doing Purses with a Purpose is that it’s little and I get that but that’s ok for me. But so many people say If I can’t raise a million dollars then why raise the first dollar. When if they just kept asking and pushing and after the 20th no you get a yes it would break down a huge hole in the wall and make a doorway to all sorts of opportunities. I’m completely normal. I’m a mom, a wife, doing laundry and all that stuff and I’m able to do this. I picked purses. What’s your thing? It’s right there but they just don’t take the first step. I can do it so why can’t they.

What’s your go to escape activity for yourself?

My uniform combination is a perfect book and a waterfall. John and I just discovered through Pinterest this water here in North Carolina. I told John we need to go HERE but it ended up being on private property. Turns out the owners are really cool and they’ll let you come park and experience it all. So escape for me is a perfect waterfall in North Carolina. Pitch a lawn chair in the shallow part of the water, John and the kids in front of me, the perfect book and maybe a great drink right next to me. That’s my fuel.

How do you think people would describe you?

Giving. That I am a pleaser. I like everyone to have a good time. I’m that person that will just knock myself over and wear myself out to ensure someone has a good time. Perfectionist to a fault and that it gets in my way at times.

What was your screen name in high school?

Oh no, see I’m so vanilla and high compliance. It was just the first part of my first and less name and the year that I was born. That’s it. Sorry i’m vanilla.

McKenna asked what is your favorite hangout spot in Charlotte?

Oh god. I’m such a nerd. {laughing} Target.

What’s one thing you’d like to do in Charlotte in the next 3 months?

It looks like I need to find a new hangout spot so just getting out there and seeing more of the city.

You can find Kelly on Twitter at @PursesWAP and check out her event THIS Saturday the 9th. The information for that is here on Facebook.