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.

Vinnie Wya

I’m from Seattle, Washington. Northgate to be specific (yessirski). I wouldn’t be who I am without where I grew up man. I think growing up in that environment I was exposed to a lot of shit that gave me great perspective on my life from a young age. Read More>>

Jamea Hill

The streets of South-Central LA and Compton taught me grit, determination, and instilled in me a strong sense of pride and purpose. One of the biggest influences in my life was my Granny, Earnestine Green. She wasn’t just my grandmother—she was my first example of what it meant to be a powerful Black woman, a business owner, and a provider. Read More>>

Nichelle Bane

I was born in Ventura, California, and raised in San Luis Obispo from the age of three. When I first started walking, I was pigeon-toed, and my doctor recommended ballet to help correct it. At just three years old, I stepped into my first dance class—and I absolutely fell in love with it. Read More>>

Dr. Harpreet Malla

I’m from a beach town in Southern India known for seafood and cinema, and call myself “Desi” (prounounced they-see) culturally. This identity has been a stronghold for me from the beginning, and I’ve loved how this Desi base intertwines with my Southern Californian identity and many other cultural influences to make me the psychologist and human that I am today. Read More>>

Davon King

It’s hard to say where I’m “from”. most times when people ask I say Virginia because that’s where I did the most time in one place and was the most influential area throughout my life. (7th-12th grade).my mom was in the military so I bounced around quite a bit. Made in Germany, Born in Texas, Read More>>

Bruce And Chevonne Frank

Bruce and I grew up in Southern California. We met in college in 1985 in Los Angeles. We both come from a background of fashion merchandising and retail. Bruce‘s grandmother worked in the garment district in Los Angeles in the 50s and 60s Chevonness mother was a fashion designer, a seamstress and worked in retail as a buyer for a major Southern California department store in the 70s in the 80s Read More>>

Aya Morgan

I was born in Armenia.Armenia is a country renowned for its rich history,vibrant culture,deep traditions,stunning architecture and beautiful art,also with breathtaking nature which has a rich palette of captivating colors that reflect its unique heritage. Read More>>

Marchel Auguste

I’m originally from Miami, Florida. My parents were both born in Haiti and raised in New York City / Miami Florida. Having been raised in Miami, there wasn’t too much of a culture shock when it came to moving to Los Angeles. Read More>>

Park Lytle

I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Theatre in Seattle is a small but potent industry with a couple powerhouse institutions such as The 5th Avenue Theatre and Seattle Rep. I grew up heavily influenced by a handful of key productions in the mid 2010s such as Jasper in Deadland, Here Lies Love, Come and Come From Away, Seattle theatre is full of hidden gems that pushed me to explore my creativity and my search for unique spins on classic adventures. Read More>>

Corey Drumz

The Evolution of BBMUnlimited: A Journey Through the Life of Corey Drumz

To truly appreciate the story of Banks Brand Music Unlimited (BBMUnlimited), one must delve into the life of its founder, Corey L. Banks, professionally known as Corey Drumz (formerly CeStyle). His journey, marked by trials and triumphs, has shaped not only his music but also the ethos of BBMUnlimited itself. Read More>>

Edgar

I was born in East Los Angeles to a couple of Mexican immigrants from Ixtlan del Rio, Nayarit. At a pretty young age we ended up moving further inland where I was mostly raised in Redlands. As one of six siblings, we were always brought up to be very creative and handy around the house. We were raised in San Timoteo Canyon, where our upbringing was very unique. Read More>>

Steve Jun

I’m originally from San Francisco but I did most of my growing up just north in Novato in Marin. Despite SF having a very large Asian American presence, growing up in Novato was pretty much the opposite experience. I was one of the few Asian kids at my school which gave a bit of a cultural disconnect in my youth. Read More>>

Sean Sharp

I was born and raised in Chicago, and my dad used to be a carpenter, so growing up I always had access to these tools in our basement workshop. He’s always been as supportive as a parent can be of my creative endeavors, and always encouraged me to learn to pick up a tool and use it, and so this could be anything from teaching me how to cut wood on a table saw to getting me a set of sculpting tools. Read More>>

Anyee Wright

I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. When I were a kid, my parents would have these HUGE cookout parties where my family and friends were in attendance. My Uncle would set up his DJ equipment and spin records on the turn tables, and the music would blast from these giant speakers that were so much taller than I were. Read More>>

Eunice Jaymie Tan

I’m Malaysian Chinese, but my story is a bit of a global mix. I grew up living in between Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Melbourne, soaking up different cultures and experiences along the way. Attending international schools exposed me to diverse perspectives, shaping my worldview and identity. I have strong Asian core values but a Western sensibility. Read More>>