Bertina Inspires

Dani Lonkey

39 minutes ago

5 min read

There are some small businesses that fit neatly into one category. Then there are businesses that grow and evolve alongside the person behind them, becoming a reflection of their experiences, passions, challenges, and dreams. Bertina Inspires is one of those businesses. Based in Countryside, Illinois, Bertina Inspires is an umbrella brand created by Bertina, a longtime educator, tutor, author, crafter, content creator, and community builder whose mission is beautifully simple: to help people learn, heal, grow, connect, and feel inspired. What began with a passion for tutoring has grown into something much bigger. Today, Bertina Inspires encompasses tutoring and ACT preparation, math education, creative home décor, digital products, merchandise, YouTube content, writing, and even a growing local junk journaling community. While those offerings may seem completely different at first glance, there is one common thread connecting all of them: Bertina's genuine desire to help others. And her journey to creating Bertina Inspires is just as meaningful as the business itself.

Meet Bertina Inspires: A Business Built Around Inspiration

Choosing a name that encompassed diverse passions was challenging for Bertina. She wanted a name that allowed growth, not confinement to a single product or industry. Thus, Bertina Inspires was born, symbolizing the essence of everything she creates and shares. Whether tutoring, crafting DIY projects on YouTube, sharing her story through her memoir The Cancer Dragon, designing merchandise, or fostering creative communities, her goal is to inspire others. Bertina's entrepreneurial journey spans over two decades, starting with tutoring in college. In 2017, she launched Anderson Tutoring LLC. Her YouTube channel and Etsy shop have been active for years, her merchandise line marked its first anniversary in 2026, and she published her memoir. Instead of abandoning passions, Bertina unified them under a larger vision: Bertina Inspires. Today, the brand embodies education, creativity, storytelling, community, and encouragement. Most importantly, Bertina Inspires was founded not just as a business, but to help people.

From Education to Entrepreneurship

Bertina's education background significantly influenced her path as a business owner. She graduated from Northern Illinois University in May 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, aspiring to be a teacher. However, due to economic challenges and scarce full-time teaching positions, she began as a Special Education Teaching Assistant. After four years, financial difficulties and limited job prospects prompted a career change. Despite leaving traditional education, Bertina's passion for helping students persisted. During college, she tutored peers and discovered her love for helping others understand difficult concepts, particularly in math. This passion led her to establish her own tutoring business, which eventually evolved into Bertina Inspires. Her personal struggles with math as a child informed her teaching approach. Recognizing that not every student learns the same way, she focuses on individualized methods, encouraging questions, and fostering a non-judgmental environment. Her experiences with criticism motivated her to create a supportive atmosphere, emphasizing encouragement, patience, and confidence for her students.

A Personal Journey of Resilience, Hope & Healing

Bertina Inspires is founded on a personal story of resilience, shaping both her life and business mission. Her challenging childhood and subsequent struggles taught her invaluable lessons about strength, courage, and community support. As an adult, Bertina's cancer diagnosis transformed her perspective, instilling a fierce determination to find purpose and meaning. This journey inspired her memoir, The Cancer Dragon, offering hope and solace to those facing difficulties. Her message extends beyond her book, influencing her work in tutoring, creative projects, and community building. Driven by personal experiences, Bertina connects deeply with others, fostering community and support essential for healing. Her story exemplifies resilience and encourages others to embrace challenges and grow stronger.

The Sisterhood Society of the Journaling Arts: Creating a Community

In March 2026, Bertina launched The Sisterhood Society of the Journaling Arts, a free community for junk journaling enthusiasts. This initiative stemmed from her desire for a local creative community, which she couldn't find despite being part of large Facebook groups. After previous attempts to start a crafting group didn't succeed, Bertina decided to create her own. Inspired by The Sisterhood of the Traveling Journal, she launched the community while house hunting, driven by the question: Why wait?

The group, not a business, offers a space for local creatives to connect and share their hobby. Monthly meetups occur in Naperville, Chicago Ridge, and La Grange at community-friendly venues like coffee shops and libraries, supporting local businesses. The gatherings balance creativity and connection, with members either immersed in projects or engaged in lively conversations. Feedback has been positive, with participants appreciating the welcoming atmosphere and eagerly anticipating future meetups. For Bertina, the most rewarding aspect is witnessing friendships and connections form through creativity.

Helping Others Learn, Create, Heal & Grow

The word that defines Bertina's journey is helping. She humorously claims to meet people with the "malicious intent" of inspiring and aiding them, but her purpose is genuine. Bertina enjoys watching people grow, whether as a tutor seeing a student grasp a math concept, as a creator receiving praise for her unique wreaths, or as an author offering hope through her story. Her journaling community provides a welcoming space. These moments, though varied, all bring her joy, knowing she's made a positive impact. In-person connections are crucial to her, despite using online platforms like social media, Etsy, and YouTube. She believes her strongest bonds are formed face-to-face through tutoring, crafting events, and local gatherings. Genuine relationships are her priority. Building a business around helping isn't always easy. Bertina struggles with visibility and finding customers, lacking a large marketing budget or team. She relies on consistency, networking, community involvement, and authentic relationships to build awareness. It's a challenge many small-business owners face: people can't support what they don't know exists. For Bertina, consistently sharing her work is key to her journey.

What's Next for Bertina Inspires?

Bertina Inspires has many future plans, including the dream of a Bertina Inspires center to unify her various initiatives. Though this dream requires resources, her vision is clear. She aims to expand into life coaching, using her experiences in resilience and personal growth. Bertina is also developing new products, classes, and workshops, constantly seeking ways to help others and integrate her projects. Her short-term goal is to gain more exposure and connect with more people, while her long-term goal is to grow Bertina Inspires into a full-time endeavor that supports her family financially. For Bertina, success is about creating something meaningful, encouraging, inspiring hope, building community, and making a positive impact. Bertina Inspires reflects her journey from a student to a multifaceted entrepreneur, showing that passions, businesses, and dreams can evolve. Learn. Heal. Grow. Connect. Inspire. is more than a tagline; it's the essence of her work.