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.
Dwayne Harris | Dj, Promoter
I was born and raised in Jamaica until the age of 17 when I moved to NY, I was always in love with music and djing. So I was djing since I was 16 In Jamaica and I continue to dj once I moved to Ny. Already having a knowledge of reggae, dancehall and soca music when I moved to NY I started to listen to more hip hop R&B and pop music, I also joined the army when I was 18 I was able to travel the world and experience diffrent culture even when I was deployed I used to dj on my free time and when I wasn’t deployed I was always djing on the weekends when I left the army after 11 yrs and moved to Atlanta I continue to persue my passion for djing and I figure why not promote my own event and that’s what I did Read more>>
Martha Christine Amongin | Entrepreneur
I’m from Uganda, specifically from the Teso tribe in the Eastern region of Uganda. I was raised by both my mother and father with quite a lot of values and principles that were mainly enforced by my mother. She has always told us to work hard for whatever we want in life because it will take you further. She has also always been quite a strong believer of not just giving us whatever we want but instead showing us that we must work hard for it. That principle is one of the greatest contributors to who I am today. Read more>>
Eric Maurice Clark | Gospel Music Historian
I’m a native of Chicago but was born in Harvey, Illinois. Chicago is widely recognized as the birthplace of gospel music. There many of gospel’s key figures lived and recorded albums. I was raised in the church and always had an enormous passion for gospel music. I wanted to honor the people behind the genre. So, I was privileged to encounter many of the living pioneers. I was born in the city where my passion, gospel music, was birth. Make sense right? Read more>>
Jessica Covington | Legal Administrative Professional & Freelance Model
I was born in Tifton, a small town in South Georgia. I was raised in a community environment where family and God were most important. Year round I was always super busy playing multiple sports, traveling and in band, so I was very versatile. Looking back I appreciate all of these components because they helped instill values of integrity, acceptance and humility. These are values that I carry with me today. Read more>>
International Susan | Financial Literacy Advocate, Herbalist, Energy Guide
Hi, I am Susan. Well, honestly, it’s Cynthia Susan but since I was born and raised in Germany and Germans found it hard to pronounce, my Mom started calling me by my middle name, Susan. I was born in Stuttgart, raised in Heidelberg, went to a Christian Canadian boarding school near Switzerland, so I’m a german chic in an African body with an American passport. “Third Culture Kids” is what they call us. Multi-lingual, multicultural, and complex. Read more>>
Tajani Finnie | Freelance Graphic Designer
As a woman who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York it’s hard to imagine that one wouldn’t be constantly inspired by one of the most dynamic cities. My parents are no strangers to art, growing up we frequented museums, and often took walks in the city where they’d each share their stories and fun facts about the area. I actually remember the first time I went to the Brooklyn Museum in 2005 to see the exhibition featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat. This is when I first learned the significance of my name, my whole name, Tajani Basquiat Finnie, which was inspired after the artist. Read more>>
Karly Giang | Web Developer by day, Baker by night
I’m a proud first-born Vietnamese-American who grew up in Bayou La Batre, AL (aka the Seafood Capitol of Alabama). During my childhood, Bayou La Batre was a quiet fishing village with a population under 1,000 people. Like most of the other residents in the town, our family worked in the seafood processing company. Read more>>
KickinItWithTandA | Youtubers/Influencers & Bloggers
Hey! We’re Kickin’ It With T & A, Tiffany & Adrianna! We’re born and raised in Macon, GA, the southside to be exact. Both were born to middle class working parents who taught us hard work goes a long way. Our parents instilled in us a hard work ethic at an early age. We had hard working fathers that taught us, no matter what life throws at you, be diligent, be dedicated, and be all in towards your craft. Our mothers taught us to face challenges head on while juggling career life and family life. They also taught us to remember our core values, which are rooted in Christ. Read more>>
Jhane` Pearson | CEO RMJ Property Group
I am originally from Columbia, South Carolina. Born and raised country girl 🙂 ! The woman who I have grown to be has a lot to do with my environment growing up and my family. I was raised in a middle class environment which allowed for me to see the opportunities that were in front of me and also have appreciation for where I could have grown up. I come from a family of hustlers, literally. My dad used to sell incense blocks and work, my mom always kept 2 jobs and my grandparents decided at a young age to overcome adversity and pursue careers. I grew up learning the importance of earning , saving and also how to manage money. Read more>>
Debbie Cwalina | Founder and Executive Director
I was born in Buffalo NY then my family moved to Knoxville TN when I was 12, which is where I spent my formative years. I graduated from college, moved to South Bend IN for my first job, then transferred to Atlanta GA. Since then, I got married, started a business in marketing & advertising, raised 2 awesome daughters and have lived in Roswell for 30 years. While all of that is not extraordinary, the experience I had growing up with a sibling who is developmentally delayed is what left an indelible stain on my soul, resulting in my life’s work today! Read more>>