Introducing Alexandria Norman’s Visionary Studios, "A Home for All Creatives"

Created and owned by Alexandria Norman, a Black woman who has faced and overcame the hardships of adversity, Visionary Studios is an environment mixed with resources, business office spaces, and inspiration all around. Some of the businesses that have and continue to operate out of Visionary Studios locations include Herbie The Esthie and The Photo Lab La.

Recycling community dollars with collaborations and networking, Visionary Studios is dedicated to bringing together men and women from inner city communities to work in unison—to learn together, create together, and manifest greatness with one another.

Let's get to know Alexandria a little more and dive deeper into her mission behind starting Visionary Studios.

Alexandria turned to designing at the young age of 17, and became a mother at 19, the entrepreneur revealed during an interview with Shout Out LA. Although Alexandria was only at the beginning of her journey into the real world, things took a turn south after she learned that her son's father was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison. It was then that Alexandria realized her life's journey was being put to the test.

The mom of one went on to work as a clothing designer for Bellen Brand and ran production out of what is now the Visionary Studio’s DTLA Arts District location. Alexandria would eventually take over surrounding units and lease the open spaces to her peers within the creative community.

Before she knew it, the subleasing of these creative spaces was not only covering her rent, but it also sparked a new passion – to help creatives find an affordable home they can conduct business in while providing opportunities to connect with like minded peers and acquire beneficial resources.

Over the course of seven years, Visionary Studios has expanded to two locations, DTLA Arts District and the Crenshaw District. Norman's locations not only provide a creative hub to more than 25 business residents who all offer something unique, but it's also one of the most uniquely resourceful creative homes for entrepreneurs to grow, and prosper their brands and businesses from within.

"Alexandria found her purpose in this business by providing affordable creative spaces for business residents within local communities to thrive in," her company's official website states. As a single mother, she entered into her entrepreneurial endeavors with one goal in mind and that is to "provide affordable creative spaces, environments, and networks for creatives and their businesses" to develop and flourish in.

The Visionary Studios founder says that because she lacked helpful resources at the start of her career, she is also making it her mission to ensure others like her don't run into the same issue.

On her business's website, Alexandria says the she one day hopes to create Visionary Studios hubs all around the U.S. that provide 24/7 accessibilty. As you may know, resources are much more limited in inner city communities, but Alexadria is looking to bridge that gap by bringing "valuable resources and fruitful collaborations amongst creatives" within these areas.

"All Visionary Studios across the board will exist to give all creative entrepreneurs time, space, and resources to evolve their businesses. In turn, this creates positively amplified networks amongst like-minded individuals with an infectious draw to such a hub as Visionary Studios," her website explains.

"Always moving with love through God," Alexandria and her team at Visionary Studios is looking to make a change within her generation and those to come by "bringing any and all ambition-filled visions, business concepts, and art to life in noteworthy career-oriented fashions."