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.

Margaret Chiaro | Artist & Art Instructor

I was born in York, Pennsylvania. My parents provided a loving and supportive home and taught me to value integrity, work ethic, kindness, and strength. My mother was a teacher and my father an artist, furniture designer, and real estate agent. They were both the first generation to attend college in their families and worked very hard to provide my brother and me the ability to explore different interests and encouraged us to pursue being our best self in anything we tried. Read more>>

Haley Heckethorn | Co-Director and Co-Founder of HD Theatre Contemporary Dance Company

I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. My father has worked as a bartender and bar manager throughout my life, and my mother was the director of hotel operations for the openings of Wynn and Encore before transitioning to her current role with Allegiant Airlines. Their strong work ethic and dedication have always been a source of inspiration for me.

I was a shy child, and my parents enrolled me in dance to help me come out of my shell. What started as a confidence boost quickly became my entire world. Dance became my passion, my solace, and the place where I felt most at home. By a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue it professionally. Read more>>

Idenidee | Christian Hip Hop, R&B, and Alternative Artist

I was born and raised in Lansing, MI and for as long as I can remember I’ve been surrounded by music. My parents sang. My sister sings and plays instruments. My grandma sings and has her own church choir. I have aunts and cousins who sing and play instruments. Everywhere I turned there was music all around me, so it didn’t take long for me to be bitten by the bug. I distinctly remember being 4 years old, sitting in church on Sunday, seeing a young girl sing a solo on stage and IMMEDIATELY knowing that I wanted to be a singer. Then, at 6, I began playing piano by ear, which led to Classical piano lessons from age 7-17. In middle and high school, I also played pitched and unpitched percussion in concert and marching bands, piano in jazz and church bands, and taught myself a little bit of any instrument that I wanted to try (alto sax, flute, baritone, and drums). Read more>> 

Lori Tankel | Author and Equestrian

I am a country girl from West Virginia, and I was exposed to horses at a very early age. My grandparents had a 40 acre farm outside of Pittsburgh, and there were always horses and ponies for me to ride. I was the only grandchild who never outgrew my love of horses and I have made sure that horses have always been a part of my life. I was fortunate to have grown up in a time before cell phones and social media, and being a barn brat was the norm for any horse crazy kid! I would be in the barn from sunup until sundown, and riding with my friends all over the township, not a care in the world! I had wonderful experienced mentors who were horsemen first and foremost. I learned how to properly care for my horse, not just how to ride. After my parents divorced and we moved to Florida, money was tight. Read more>>

Irfan Ahmed | Senior Director at a Fin-Tech Company and a Restauranteur

I’m the son of Pakistani refugees, and my story starts with theirs. My dad was born in 1946, just before the Partition of British India turned millions of lives upside down. In 1947, my grandmother had to leave everything behind, making a treacherous journey by foot and ship with her three children to what would become Pakistan. They started over with nothing. My grandfather passed away when my dad was still young, so he had to grow up fast and help support the family. Read more>>

Devon Thompson | Artist, Songwriter, Gibson Sponsored Guitarist

I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. This place is arguably the perfect place to be for music and entertainment. No matter what anyone says about LA, I can genuinely say it is one of the most diverse, vibrant, and beautiful cities in the world. I grew up playing music, acting, and skating/snowboarding, which led to me meeting so many different kinds of people. Growing up skateboarding and snowboarding had a huge impact on my music taste, and is a big reason why I am even still doing this. Southern California has a special place in my heart because of that reason. The music that has come out of skateboarding and snowboarding has truly inspired me. Read more>>

Sandra Velasquez | CEO/ Founder, Nopalera

I was born and raised in North Park, San Diego, before it was cool! My parents are Mexican and I have extended family in San Diego. I grew up bilingual and bicultural and that experience shaped my identity. To this day I identify as Chicana. It wasn’t until I moved to New York to pursue my music career that I realized just how Chicana I was!
I really took for granted growing up with strong Mexican and Chicano cultural influences. Mexican-Americans who grew up near the border listening to cumbia at home and Led Zeppelin at school can relate. I am so grateful for my bicultural experience. It gives me a unique perspective on the world and the complexity of identity. Read more>>

Amanda Delgadillo | Photographer

I was born in San Francisco but moved at a very young age to Charlotte, North Carolina where I lived until I was 18. Growing up, I frequently visited the Bay Area and was constantly enamored with the “California aesthetic” and sunny lifestyle. Larry Sultan’s work from the 1970s has profoundly shaped my photographic vision. His masterful use of bright, saturated colors and meticulous attention to detail in documenting his surroundings have deeply influenced how I perceive and capture the world through my lens. I studied Photography at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Living in New York for those four years deepened my longing for California, especially during the unforgiving winter months. Read more>>

Christopher Castillo | Political Consultant & Government Affairs Professional

Hello! My name is Christopher Castillo. I am a 34-year-old Political Consultant based in Los Angeles, CA. I founded Black Castle & Associates in 2020, in mid-pandemic. Our firm specializes in Political Consulting, Government Affairs, and Opposition Research. We are one of the fastest-growing political consulting firms and have represented various candidates, elected officials, and issues throughout Southern California and Mexico. Read more>>