Bright Lights by Lacy Johnson

Maricela Gallarzo is a wife, mother, and businesswoman who emigrated from Mexico to Chicago in 1997 to pursue her American dream.  There she met and married her husband Cef. The couple and their first child moved to Minnesota in 2000. She became a US Citizen in 2002. She and Cef currently own and operate the only Planet Smoothie in Minnesota and an office cleaning business. Government policy in response to the recent riots and pa...

May's Story...

My family were among the Hmong people that fled the communist rule in Laos during the Vietnam War. After seeking refuge in the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand, we emigrated to America in 1987 to a better life. We did not know what would happen to us, and we were terrified of what the future may hold. We learned about the American Dream and pursued it passionately. While I am proud of my Hmong heritage, I am equall...

Anthony is the founder and director of the Ngao Foundation.  While they valued education, Anthony's parents had 10 children and not even enough money for food.  Anthony was able to attend high school by working as a cobbler.  At school, he joined Young Christian Students (YCS) becoming YCS President. After high school, Anthony began working with the Xaverian brothers coordinating programs for homeless children while studying to bec...

Roth is the founding partner of The Roth Law Firm, PLLC, a New York-based law firm that has built a strong reputation as a premier litigation boutique firm in the metropolitan area. He is regularly featured in all media, from print to television. He has recently appeared on television commenting on cases of national significance including the trials of John Edwards, Mike Tyson, Martha Stewart, and Casey Anthony. He also follows and...

LaSalle Gabriel is a Grammy & Stellar award-winning music producer, songwriter, & world class guitarist with 18 Top 40 songs & 7 #1 singles on his resume.

As a producer, songwriter, & arranger Gabriel holds chart positions in over 300 issues of Billboard Magazine, including 70 consecutive weeks in the Top 40 on 5 Billboard charts, simultaneously.

Gabriel was the original guitarist of Sounds of Blackness from 1990-1998, on Perspecti...

Marklyn T. Johnson is a published author, comedian, and motivational speaker. Marklyn was born and raised in central New Jersey and is a graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. He has worked in the production industry for over twenty years speaking everywhere from schools to churches and other live events. Growing up, Marklyn idolized Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Jackson, Eddie Murphy, Michael Jordan, and Tupac ...

Cindy Vavra was born and raised on a Southern Minnesota dairy farm, where she acquired a hard work ethic and learned the importance of daily functional movement. Working for over 30 years in the legal industry, she was also a partner in a large corporate farming business. Leaving both behind to pursue her passion in health and wellness, she moved to Minneapolis and immersed herself in the fitness industry, obtaining certifications ...

White led both De LaSalle and Hopkins high schools to state basketball titles. He starred at Iowa State and was taken in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets in 2012. Battling his own anxiety, White became an outspoken mental health advocate. According to White, mental health isn’t just about anxiety, depression or PTSD or OCD or addiction. "It’s about the human condition, and like there’s a huge existential cris...

Local businessman Zack Redmon is the owner of Redmon’s Popcorn, located in New Hope. The nostalgic popcorn shop is truly one-of-a-kind, welcoming, and filled with delicious, gourmet popcorn. The flavors are unique, outstanding, and unforgettable.

"It’s been a dream of mine to have a successful business and serve my community with unique and creative popcorn flavors. My dream brought me all the way to New York to be featured on the ...

Caleb Truax (born September 14, 1983) is an American professional boxer. He held the IBF super middleweight title from 2017 to 2018 and challenged once for the WBA (Regular) middleweight title in 2015. 

Truax played football at Virginia State University for one year before a knee injury ended his gridiron career. He returned home in 2003 to attend the University of Minnesota, and it was there at the age of 19 that Truax entered a l...

White led both De LaSalle and Hopkins high schools to state basketball titles. He starred at Iowa State and was taken in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets in 2012. Battling his own anxiety, White became an outspoken mental health advocate.  According to White, mental health isn’t just about anxiety, depression or PTSD or OCD or addiction.  "It’s about the human condition, and like there’s a huge existential cr...

Jonathan Mason is an experienced business owner with 10 years of experience in technology and community activism. Jonathan’s expertise focuses on project management, change management, and relationship management. He is a thoughtful and diplomatic problem solver, effective communicator, and a responsible executor.

Jonathan went to the University of Wisconsin-Stout and majored in Criminal Justice.

He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota ...

Fredrick is a VP Sales and President of UpNet CSG group, a leader in enabling businesses to effectively utilize technology.  Founded in 1996, UpNet Technologies is an experienced integration and data transformation service provider delivering innovative B2B collaboration, next generation EDI technology and comprehensive supply/demand chain solutions. UpNet’s cost predictable SaaS solutions increase technical capabilities and flexib...