A native of Birmingham, Dondra Goldsby is a wife and a mom of five who enjoys cooking for and hiking with her family and friends. She's been a marriage and family therapist for over 22 years and works in private practice. During her annual mammogram in October 2020, a lump was discovered. In December 2020, she was diagnosed with Invasive Carcinoma Stage II due to one positive lymph node; ER/PR +. Dondra underwent surgery in January 2021 followed by radiation. During her treatment, Forge was recommended by her doctors and one of her best friends. "I made the call and was greeted with tremendous support in various forms including a peer mentor, gas cards for medical appointments, and invitations to participate in their monthly groups and events," said Dondra. "I have presented two Coffee Conversations with Forge and am now a volunteer. I also have two peer mentees that I enjoy working with. Forge has been an instrumental part of my journey."

Teresa Ramirez was born with the love for sewing and designing but it was not until she was 23 years old that she decided to really pursue it. "I think it is beautiful to see your creations come to life and designing and sewing allows me to do just that while at the same time making money," says Teresa. She started off making alterations to children’s clothing and later developed the skills to design and make her own clothing. She enjoys learning about the different fabrics and materials one can use to create all types of clothing, from wedding gowns to casual outfits. She worked in Mexico at a technical college, Conalep, and taught others how to design, cut and manufacture their own pieces. Teresa now sews and performs alterations on all types of clothing. "Fashion is constantly evolving and I’m lucky to be able to grow with it," said Teresa.