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.

Hannah Alpert | Owner/Designer of Hannah Allene

When people ask me how I became a jewelry designer, I jokingly say it was through osmosis and fate because I originally thought I would go into Diplomacy or Politics. Being born and raised in Dallas has greatly influenced my life’s path. My father is an internationally recognized expert in the art of traditional peoples, so I was fortunate to grow up in a home filled with art, and regular visits to the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) were a big part of my childhood. Read more>>

Doug Thomson | Retired Educator, Active Collaborator & Curriculum Designer

My childhood was a product of new and growing neighborhoods in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio in the 1950’s and 60’s. I rode my bike home for lunch, freely roamed near and far with my next-door friends, and enjoyed toys like Lincoln Logs, Erector sets, Mr. Potato Head, and Lionel model trains. Play was a mixture of discovery and dirt clods with a healthy dose of skin abrasions and band-aids. With practice and some supervision, I could make French toast, grilled cheese, tomato soup, and scrambled eggs. Read more>>

Elizabeth Dry | Founder of Promise of Peace Gardens

I am a third generation Dallas site. I was raised to hold honor of the past and to be a problem solver of the future. This has led me to my current mission with the Promise of Peace Gardens and to a place called Mineola Texas where these same values exist. Read more>>

Max Raign | Artist & Educator

I’ve been in DFW my whole life, growing up in Corinth then moving to Denton when attending UNT for undergrad. I consider myself from Denton because I’ve lived in the city for so long and grew up in such close proxy, but I’m very much from the suburbs. I think growing up in the suburbs in very defining, they’re a weird place that aren’t quiet like anywhere else, but every suburb is sort of similar. I think the places we come from and what’s around us have a huge impact on the type of people we are so I think it’s important for us to have awareness of how we exist in the world. Read more>>

Jeremiah Woodard | Photographer

I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I have 2 older brothers and amazing parents who have raised me to become the man I am today. Growing up, I’ve always idolized a lot of people, such as rappers, artists and political figures. But, the two people I idolize the most are Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche. Both of their stories are very inspirational and the things that they’ve accomplished are astronomical. Read more>>

Esma Elmerini | Hijama Practitioner

I was born and raised in the Netherlands My family is originally from Morocco, my family are all Muslims. My dad taught me about hijama wet cupping therapy, as it’s part of Islamic and prophetic medicine.
My dad didn’t believe in conventional medicine and I inherited those ideologies and therefore holistic healing became part of my life Read more>>