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.

VICTORIA UDEH

I am the youngest in a family of award-winning athletes who lived, breathed, and would die for their respective sport. (And that’s not to say there weren’t any creatives among them, I mean I even had a sibling who spent their 20’s touring with a band.) But with no physical prowess, I found my calling in the arts, mostly singing in school choirs or acting in school plays. I still believe my best work was my rendition of “Livin’ On A Prayer” to close out my seventh grade talent show. Read More>>

Phillip Cornejo

I grew up in California, the Inland Empire, Ontario to be specific. I was brought up by a single mother who gave me and my siblings the best she could with what she had.

We didn’t grow up with a lot, but we had pride in what we did have and we were taught that no job is too small and no work is beneath you. That stuck with me. I started my floor cleaning business with that same mindset: lead with integrity, work hard, and treat every space with care, whether it’s a small office or a major commercial job. Read More>>

Reema Bhagchandani

Born in Mumbai, India, into a family of doctors and engineers who were secretly obsessed with television and films, I grew up straddling science and storytelling. Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of racing home from school just in time to catch The Oprah Winfrey Show—a ritual that shaped my earliest ideas about the power of voice and visibility. Read More>>

Bella Castillon

I was born and raised in Guadalajara, México–though I have always lived on the outside of town, therefore, not much to do which means not much theater– I grew up in a family of five–my mom, my dad and my two siblings– fortunately enough all movie lovers! We would spend most of our weekends in the movie theater and my dad always made sure to have the latest movies and shows on DVDs for us to watch at home.  Read More>>

Victor Wei

I was born in Alhambra, CA, and then moved to Arcadia, CA in the 3rd grade. I was fortunate to be raised in the San Gabriel Valley to get an appreciation of what it is like to grow up in a melting-pot of ethnicities. I think that allows me to better understand that there are so many differences in cultures, and that it is vitally important to try to learn from people about their own individual experiences. These connections being developed are so important for community, personal development, and for being able to make individuals feel comfortable with the care they are receiving.  Read More>>

Sarah Konté

I was born in Paris, France, and I studied philosophy and linguistics. I’ve always been interested in how the mechanics of language work, and how we can play with them in order to produce our own language — a language that moves between absurdity, dreams, and conceptual expression. This language can take different forms: from a musical score using words instead of notes, to lines that call out to your inner, hidden sound. Read More>>

Andrezza Jasper

I’m from Curitiba, in the south of Brazil. I grew up in a family where education was always highly valued, and I was raised with strong principles like responsibility, dedication, doing your best in everything you do, and treating others with love and empathy. My mom, Marisa, has a creative and passionate soul, while my dad, Indalércio, is a symbol of hard work and integrity. I was also lucky to have siblings who always believed in me and supported everything I set out to do. Read More>>

Ademir Monteiro

I was born and raised in a city called Brockton, about 25 miles away from Boston. Both of my parents are from Cape Verde and moved here during the 80’s – 90’s. I can’t imagine how’d I’d be if I grew up any different. If it wasn’t for the drama club at South Middle School, I never would’ve discovered a love for the arts and for music. Brockton is actually filled with so much talent it’s insane, but a lot of people in Massachusetts look down on the city and the arts aren’t really supported due to a tightening budget. I discovered rap thanks to my brothers. Read More>>

Cindy Chavez

I was born in Los Angeles and raised in El Monte, California. I’m a proud first-generation Mexican-American. My parents both immigrated from Mexico at a young age and met as teenagers at Belmont High School in Los Angeles. My dad was a natural go-getter, a runner with big dreams. Despite limited English, he earned his real estate broker’s license and went on to build his own real estate company. Watching him succeed through sheer determination left a lasting impact on me and my siblings. Read More>>

Alex Hyman

Growing up in Los Angeles, surrounded by so many different cultures and cuisines, my interest in food sparked from a young age. At 15, I was fortunate to land an internship at Kali, a Michelin-starred restaurant, where I learned the precision, discipline, and care that goes into high-level hospitality. Read More>>

Ana Figueroa

My name is Ana, and I’m an immigrant from Honduras. I started this business in my early 30s with nothing but a vacuum, a van, and a deep desire to provide for my family. Cleaning wasn’t just work for me, it was healing. I saw how much peace it brought to people. A clean home can ease stress, lift moods, and make someone feel like life is under control again. That meant something to me. Read More>>