Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

T.m. Hands | Graphic Novelist

I’m from Northern California. Aka NorCal, aka the Bay Area. I am a graphic novelist. Ever since I was little I loved comic books. I was diagnosed dyslectic in elementary school and had a hard time learning how to read early in life. My oldest brother Shawn was was a bit of a comic nerd. He was responsible for picking me up from preschool while our mom was still at work. My earliest memories are of him riding my mom’s bike, carrying me on the middle bar to the local comic book shop and buying me Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books. Read more>>

Elienai Escudero | Actor, writer and producer

I’m an actor from Mexico, born and raised in a little town called Pachuca. As a proud Mexican I think that we very passionate people when it comes to fight for what we want in life. We will do it for our family, friends, for ourselves and for our country. Read more>>

Amy Ahlstrom | Textile Artist

I grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, a working-class suburb of Chicago. My mom sewed and my grandmother quilted, and there were several artists on my dad’s side of the family, so it wasn’t a surprise when I started sewing and drawing concurrently at the age of five. I spent most of my time as a kid creating; drawing comics, making dioramas, sewing, writing, and reading a lot of science fiction at the library. Although Waukegan wasn’t rich in the conventional sense, it was rich in terms of racial and cultural diversity and (during the 70’s and 80’s at least) in unique, experimental public schools; a new magnet school opened in 1980 and I was fortunate to attend from 4th-6th grade. Read more>>

Moon Magic | Artist, MC, producer, educator, & professional tarot card reader

I’m originally from the Inland Empire in Southern California. I was born in Riverside and grew up in Moreno Valley. I grew up in a low-income household. My parents are now divorced and growing up there was a lot of dysfunction, alcoholism, and abuse. As a result, I didn’t receive as a child a lot of the nourishment & guidance that I needed. I have 3 brothers and grew up in a male dominated family, so I often felt alone and misunderstood. I was left to my own devices & found validation in places that ultimately left me with a damaged sense of self. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD the moment I stepped foot into a classroom, I was constantly being told I was too much and struggled socially to fit in. Read more>>

Shantesheona Jennings | Braider

I am from Los Angeles, born and raised in South Central; Crenshaw District. Growing up in the “hood” people always look at us as never amounting to anything, they only see gang banging/negative connotations! As a child/young adult when asked where I lived and I told them, a negative comment would follow. However, knew that I wasn’t what/who they saw me as. My neighborhood never defined me, I always knew I wanted to be an example of not allowing my upbringing to stop me from becoming who I wanted to be versus what society said I was, because of being in the hood. Read more>>

Pernell Langhorne Iii | Filmmaker, Cosplayer, & Creator

I’m from Surry County, Virginia. I grew up on a small farm in the country with a loving family of hardworking entrepreneurs. That upbringing impacted who I am today because it taught me the power of believing in myself, my crafts, and my compassion. Read more>>