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.

Like Tyrants | Band

The members of the band are from a variety of different places and have lived in different states/cities throughout our lives. Like Tyrants actually started in California back in 2012 with Nick and eventually life happened and he ended up here in Cleveland and kind of restarted with new members to fill out the rest of the lineup. The rest of us are from or have ended up in the Cleveland area. All of our unique backgrounds and life experiences that have led us to being in this band definitely contribute to our sound and to the way that we approach the music that we create. Read more>>

Sally Olivia Kim | Founder of Crushed Tonic & Author of The Collagen Glow

My Korean roots have been the biggest driving force in the building of Crushed Tonic. Growing up in Korea, I was surrounded by seas of lotions, creams and moisturizers everywhere I went– so starting from a young age, I never second-guessed the importance of skincare. Read more>>

Marwan Shahin | Visual Artist

As an artist and activist, my upbringing in Egypt has had a profound impact on my artistic vision and values. Growing up in a country with a rich cultural history, I was exposed to a wide range of artistic traditions and styles from an early age. Moreover, my awareness of the social and political issues facing Egypt and the broader Middle East has informed my approach to art and activism. Read more>>

Leonardo Nussenzveig | Filmmaker

Well, I was born in New York but raised in Dallas, Texas. My parents are actually Brazilian immigrants. It is really sort of a classic “American Dream” scenario. They came to New York, my mom to study biology and my father medicine. They met while in school, got married, and then had me. It was definitely unique growing up in a multi-cultural household like that with career driven parents. It instilled a pretty strong work ethic where I would always strive to be creating and occupying myself with different projects. Read more>>

JR Carmichael | Pastor

I was born in South Korea, but when people ask where I am from I say Georgia. That’s where I grew up and spent most of my life. My dad who is African American met my mom who is Korean while serving in the military and being station in South Korea. They had my sister, and then me. We then moved to the California for a very short time as my dad finished his time in the military, and then relocated to Georgia where my dad’s family was and still is today. Read more>>

Danery Alfaro | Father, Husband & Creative Director

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA (Pico-Union area), where I went to elementary and middle school. After having some issues finding a home school, I ended up going to Manual Arts High School, in South Central. Going to High School was definitely an eye opener/culture shock. It’s was a weird transition, where I was going from wearing a white polo and navy blue bottoms (School uniform) to now I could wear whatever I want, all within what my parents could afford of course. Read more>>

Chris Rockwell | Artist & Organizer

I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York. I was raised in Jersey by extremely Brooklyn parents. We didn’t have much money, so when my father saw that I liked drawing and writing, he’d bring home stationary supplies that they were throwing away at his job. I always had enough paper and stuff to create, and he encouraged me from a young age. My mom stayed calling the kitchen “the gallery” because they were hanging up my drawings and before long they covered the walls floor to ceiling. Now I own and operate an art magazine. Probably not a coincidence. Read more>>

Max Craven | Dancer, Singer, and Actor.

I grew up in a small city in Canada called Saskatoon. Growing up in a small prairie city certainly instilled the importance of community in my life. I believe it’s made me very appreciative of the people in my life. Which can present challenges in a career where the people in your life are constantly changing. This career is filled with hellos and goodbyes; it’s a revolving door. Growing up in a place where the people are always the same and the sense of community is so strong makes me grateful to be in an industry that holds the same values. Read more>>

Clay Covington | Vice President, Sales, Galleher

I’m a native Californian, born and raised in Walnut Creek, attended Chico State, where I studied marketing. I began my career in the hospitality business, and I highly recommend everyone to experience working in a restaurant or kitchen at one point in their life. I’ve been a dishwasher, prep cook, line cook, manager, and more, for clubs and restaurants/bars, even served as a general manager of a family restaurant and managed a nightclub in Chicago for Walter Payton. Read more>>

DJ PRIMETRAX | Artist

I was born in Torrance, CA. I lived there for the first ten years of my life and then I moved to a town in Northern California named Cottonwood, CA – a small town off of the I-5 North Highway. When I was younger I was involved in talent shows, and performing arts projects through school and community. I was also involved in sports, as I have always lived an active lifestyle. Read more>>