Through our work we have had the good fortune of seeing firsthand how success comes in every shape, size, color, faith, and orientation. More importantly we’ve learned that success is often the result of people embracing their unique backgrounds and so we’ve asked the community to tell us about their background and how it has impacted where they are today.

Nadia Fortini | Director & Writer

I was born in Poland and spent most of my life there. I used to want to escape and wish I was born in the US. Of course, when the immigrant life gets hard sometimes I still do. But the truth is my nationality and past shaped who I am. The culture I ran away from now shows up in my art constantly. Read more>>

Sun Alarcon | Model & Merchandise Buyer

I grew up in Walnut, California. This is a small quiet suburban neighborhood located near West Covina and Pomona. I grew up around a large extended family who all lived within a mile radius. To this day, not a month goes by without being invited to a gathering to see over 50 relatives in one room. Read more>>

Victoria Kraus | Nonprofit Staff, Food Professional

I was born and raised in low-income, working-class communities that were predominantly Latino in the East LA and San Gabriel Valley areas before internet and mobile phones were ubiquitous, and when households still watched network television at the same time in their time zones. Domestic and international phone calls were placed on land lines at home and conversations were generally brief. Read more>>

RETRO E | ARTIST/SONGWRITER/STYLIST

As a child growing up I struggled a lot with being included in anything because of my childhood. My Birth mom struggled with drug use, so my 7 year old brother at the time had to take care of me and my other 3 siblings. We were poor. No clothes, no shoes, no food. Read more>>

Luz Kobayashi | Visual Artist

My hometown is a sleepy little Southern Californian suburb about an hour out from Los Angeles. Its main draw is the several college campuses at its center and the “east coast” style homes littered throughout its neighborhoods. Growing up there was nice, for the most part. Read more>>

Patrick Babbitt | Comedian, Writer, Actor

I grew up in a very small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It was basically a farming community that was transitioning to a commuter town. The closest movie theater involved a long car ride. We had to find ways to entertain ourselves. Plus my parents did not let us watch a lot of TV. Read more>>

Kēhau Gabriel | Kumu Hula of Hālau Hula Ke ʻAlohi O ʻIlikai: Academy of Polynesian Arts

My family immigrated to the United Stated from the Philippines and settled in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Those who are from Hawaii know that hula and music are just part of everyday life. Due to this, like most of my cousins, i was enrolled in hula hālau when I was five years old and never looked back. Hula has always been a part of my life. Read more>>