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.

Jeffie Brewer | Artist

I grew up in a small town in East Texas, my father owned a scrap/junkyard. It was the ’70s-’80s just before technology made us all dead-eyed zombies. Being an only child and living in the country surrounded by something as visually rich as piles of metal and stacks of old cars I don’t think I had much of a choice but to be an artist. I was drawn to the clean lines of mid-century design (albeit someone else’s abandoned stuff). So many 1940-50’s cars came through only to be disassembled, crushed, and discarded. I would pop off the hood ornaments, I had a huge pile of them. Smooth clean sexy lines – I had no idea what they were for or why I wanted them. I just knew they were beautiful. Read more>>

Angela LaBounty | Award winning, top producer Realtor,

As one of the fortunate life-long residents of this thriving Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, I’m proud to call North Texas home! I’m grateful to have had an upbringing that instilled a strong sense of faith along with a solid and principled work ethic! Real Estate, architecture, and design have always been a passion for me. I’ve always loved the art of negotiations and the challenge of thinking “outside the box” to find win-win solutions. Read more>>

Heather Hahn | Business Owner, Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor (LPC-S), & Trauma Informed Yoga Therapist

I am from Fredericksburg, Texas which is nestled in the beautiful Hill Country. Growing up in a small German town where all of my family resided provided wonderful opportunities to be raised alongside my extended family. Traditions were very important to us and actively nurtured. We also spent a lot of time on our family ranch in Doss, Texas exploring nature and being able to utilize our creative brain to engage in exploration and develop our sense of curiosity. Read more>>

Jen Morgan | Author & Speaker

I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and have lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex since 2004. I am the youngest of 9 children and come from a Catholic backround built entirely on faith. My faith is what has impacted me the most in being able to tell my story of overcoming tragedy and other difficult circumstances in my life. Being from such a large family, it was difficult for my parents to give a significant amount of attention to any child and after tragically losing my oldest brother when he was only 22 years old, it became even more of a struggle. I was 8 years old and craving attention and as I continued to grow up. Read more>>

Jameson White | Guitarist of Dispositions

I am originally from San Antonio, Texas but moved to Waco, Texas when I was 12 to live with my dad. My dad was a guitar player which was my introduction to that instrument, He had developed a friendship with a few local bands in the area. When I started living with him, he started taking me out to some shows. That became my life. I loved guitar, I loved the aspect of playing live music. My dad and I were big very comparable on anything else but we completed agreed on guitar and rock music. Sadly, a few years later he passed away but he had poured every ounce of skill he could in me and wanted to see me play on a stage one day. Read more>>

Amy Jackson | Executive Director, Duncanville Community Theatre

I grew up in a small town in Missouri where there were excellent opportunities for a well-rounded and diverse life. I played in the band, marching at football games on Friday night while also cheering the team on before and after half-time, competed in speech and drama contests, was active in church activities, and and played football in an empty lot after school with my dad and other neighborhood kids . My life was the norm in our community – everyone was involved in everything. My parents – who both worked full time — encouraged (expected!) good grades, took the family to classical concerts, vacations all over the US where we hiked and fished, cooked (my mom taught me this wonderful life skill) and ate dinner together every night, and often played family games until bedtime. Read more>>

Raquel Belt | Psychologist and Humanitarian

I am from Minnesota. I grew up in the system in and out of dysfunctional and abusive homes. I had so many adults around whom I asked for help and to be heard, no one listened. Between stints of experiencing homelessness and pursuing arts and eduction I grew up in a world that shaped who I am today. I pride my self on being a space of integrity, confidentiality, and motivation. No one should have to feel like their experience is as dark and lonely as mine was, and as long as I am here…they never will. Read more>>

Milagro Walker | Pastry Chef Owner of Immakulate Konfektions

I am from a little town in North Mexico. In the state of Nuevo León. My family were migrant workers n always worked in the hot sun from sun up til sundown. Hard work has been Instilled in us since we’re able to walk. I am who I am today because of my parents and their upbringing, doing anything and everything to make sure we had everything we needed, hard work is part of my upbringing and it’s what I I still in my kids, my Mexican heritage is something I’m very proud of.. Read more>>

Graciela Martinez | DFW Realtor®

I was born in Dallas, TX and have lived in Far North Dallas pretty much my entire life. We didn’t have much money growing up but my parents always gave us what we needed and then some. With them, our only job was to go to school and pursue a higher education. I am the oldest of three so I got to be the one to do things by trial and error. When my siblings’ time came for certain things, they had me to use as a resource. Read more>>