There are so many factors that affect how our lives turn out, but one of the most interesting is how our backgrounds give us unique strengths and perspectives that affect who we are as adults. We asked rising stars from the community to tell us about their background and upbringing and how they feel it’s impacted who they are today.

Felipe Hernandez | Architectural Designer & Bldg Permit Consultant

I was born and raised in South Los Angeles. As son of Mexican immigrants, and first to be born in the US in my family, I always felt a type of responsibility to take the path less traveled by people in my community. I proudly come from a family of street fruit vendors. I spent my summers working with my mom and dad, and during the school year I’d help during weekends. I strongly feel that this combination of coming up in south LA and learning to contribute to our household created a very strong sense of work ethic and thought me many lessons that many young kids don’t typically learn at an early age such as the importance of money management, learning how to overcome failures or big mistakes you might have made, and that even if you are doing everything right sometimes obstacles arise and you have to learn to deal with them head on because somethings will always be out of your control. Read more>>

Chueh-Hui (Andrea) Huang | Film Editor

I was born and raised in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. My parents believed in an open-minded environment that encouraged me to explore various cultures through active learning and travel. From a young age, I engaged in diverse activities and acquired various skills such as calligraphy, painting, dance, figure skating, and playing musical instruments. These experiences enriched my artistic perspective and empowered me to convey my thoughts through art.
For years, I dedicated myself to the film industry, gaining valuable production experience worldwide. However, my passion for narrative storytelling led me to Los Angeles two years ago. Read more>>

Lisa Chen, LMFT | Hermosa Beach Individual and Couples Psychotherapist

I hail from Hermosa Beach, a colorful coastal town known for its laid-back atmosphere and stunning ocean views. But my journey here has been anything but smooth. Growing up in the Midwest, I was shaped by the dual forces of my immigrant heritage and my relentless pursuit of knowledge and ambition. I am a second-generation Taiwanese-American daughter of immigrant parents. Like many Asian parents, my instilled in me the value of hard work and determination. They dreamt of a better life for their children and encouraged me to excel academically and professionally. Read more>>

Ilya Shishov | Homebrewer/LevovCraft

I am originally from a country where beer has always been a part of the culture. Many believe that Russia is famous for its vodka, but in reality, it’s a misconception that every Russian prefers this drink. Young people are increasingly leaning towards low-alcohol beverages like beer or wine. As is often the case, prices for quality beer are quite high, and many varieties are simply unavailable in Russia. So, often when I bought craft beer, something seemed off compared to what I expected. This sparked my desire to learn more and try different options. Read more>>

Maranova | Indie Pop Singer/Songwriter

So, cool story actually. I was born in Cheremkhovo, Russia, and at 18 months was adopted and raised by Italian-American parents in New Jersey. The varying cultural influences I experienced growing up have greatly impacted my artistic vision and the themes I explore as an artist. I have always been fascinated by how music can evoke emotion and connect people across different backgrounds and walks of life. For me especially, there was always this part of me that wanted to explore my roots and where I’ve come from, but its easy to get caught up in life and not appreciate all it took to get to the place I arm and where I want to be. So to make sure I never forget it, I took my birth surname is my artist name, Maranova. Read more>>

Hamza Ben Addou Idrissi | Music Producer and Artist

Hey, I’m Hamza, and my journey has taken me from growing up in Morocco to living in France, Spain, and now the U.S. It’s been an incredible adventure, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Growing up in Morocco was truly amazing, as it’s a country with a unique culture and strong values. My parents encouraged me to learn piano and music theory, which marked the beginning of my musical journey. Then, I moved to France, where I not only met my closest friends but also dived into the world of electronic music. College life in France was where I started producing music, igniting my passion for artistry. Read more>>