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.

Patricia Plum | Social Worker, Therapist, Non Profit Co-founder

I was raised in Arizona, where my family and the church instilled in me the values of generosity and giving. Despite this positive upbringing, I made some negative choices that led to my incarceration at the age of 19. This experience significantly altered the course of my life. Read more>>

Smooth & Storm | Artist | Singer | Song Writer

We were born and raised in the vibrant and culturally rich environment of Trinidad & Tobago. Growing up on a tropical Caribbean island deeply influenced who we are today. The diverse musical landscape of Trinidad & Tobago exposed us to a variety of genres, including reggae, dancehall, soca, pop, hip-hop, R&B, neo-soul, jazz, and techno. Read more>>