Even if you are from the same neighborhood as someone else, you might still be coming from different places. Where you are from is a complicated question and it elicits complicated, but interesting and thought-provoking responses. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Nafim Dewan | Entrepreneur & Creative Director

My name is Nafim and I’m from Grand Prairie, Texas. My “why” comes from my family’s sacrifice when they chose to leave their country of Bangladesh in their 20s and chase a risky opportunity here in the United States. Read more>>

Bailey Sawyer | Hair Specialist/ Hair Stylist

I was born in Fort Worth but moved around the DFW metroplex growing up. Growing up, I always showed an interest in creative hobbies. I was fond of those child makeup pallets, writing, drawing, and making clothes for my dolls. As I grew up, I started leaning heavily into makeup artistry and considered making it a full-time career. Read more>>

Christian Ross | Holistic Practitioner, Herbalist, Cosmetologist & Spiritual Advisor

I am originally from Dallas, Texas. As a result of the crack epidemic I was not fortunate enough to be raised by my parents. My mother’s mother carried the responsibility of caring for me and my older sister. My grandmother was a hustler. She was an avid church goer and held many positions in different auxiliaries. She was a cook. She sold plates to everyone! Read more>>

Emma Barnhouse | Event and Marketing Coordinator at The DEC Network

My name is Emma Barnhouse. I grew up in Springfield, MO and moved to Texas for school. I graduated from Abilene Christian University with a bachelor’s in Corporate & Nonprofit Communication. I currently work with an entrepreneurial resource center called The DEC Network as an Event and Marketing Coordinator. My job is to help bring resources to entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs–anyone who faces barriers to effectively starting, growing, and scaling their businesses. While that is the mile-high view of who I am today, I recognize threads throughout my upbringing that led to my current attitudes and desires. Read more>>

Honey Brasher | Eric Garcia

I’m originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. I feel my upbringing has apart in who I am today but also, I’m very independent woman. I’ve been that way since I was 15 years old, so I was able to learn a lot, traveling meeting new people, and learning from them. Read more>>