Even if you are from the same neighborhood as someone else, you might still be coming from different places. Where you are from is a complicated question and it elicits complicated, but interesting and thought-provoking responses. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Savannah Reach | Owner of The Reach Method

I am from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Since I was a little girl, my favorite hobbies have been completing large puzzles and reading mystery novels. After completing my Master of Science Degree in Chemistry at the University of Alabama, I moved across the country to Southern California for graduate school in dance at the University of California, Irvine. Since the arts and sciences are typically thought to be polar opposites, I understand my educational pursuits can be both a puzzle and a mystery. My love of dance started at an early age with a regard for classical music. To this day, music and dance continue to play a large role in my life. My appreciation of chemistry started with a love of math, and later magnified through my fascination with molecules and chemical reactions. Both the arts and sciences share imagination and creativity in their foundation. Read more>>

Leslie Campos Cristobal | Problem Solving Specialist // Community Storyteller // Founder & Executive Director of Soy Hood

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, but more specifically I am from Mid City LA. My family migrated from Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico in the late 1980’s and now reside between Mid City and South Central LA. Growing up in a Oaxacan household, culture and community were incredibly important. Our main for of communication was and continues to be Zapoteco. I was raised by a single mother who cleaned houses for a living and devoted her life providing a better life for my brother and I. Her first job in the U.S. was working in factories for fashion industry in DTLA, but moved into housekeeping. Growing up in LA with a single mother who was undocumented wasn’t easy, but taught me a lot about resiliency and adaptability. There was a point in my childhood where we lost everything and experienced homelessness for a solid year. These are times I reflect on and think about as I grow. Read more>>

Sai Menon | Founder of Anoma

I hail from India but was raised in Oman. This question has always left me in a state of contemplation, as my roots are deeply embedded in India, and I experienced a predominantly Indian upbringing, yet I spent my formative years in Oman. It was during my pursuit of higher education in the United States that I began to question my true identity and sense of origin. My upbringing was marked by a strong sense of support and encouragement. I had the privilege of growing up with an older sister who is autistic, and at a very young age, I witnessed the cruelty and judgment that people can exhibit. This early exposure shaped my perspective and instilled in me a profound sense of empathy. I could perceive the stark differences in how life unfolded for my sister and me, which contributed to my awareness of the advantages I enjoyed. Read more>>