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.

Alexandria Ikomoni | Luxury Homes Realtor & News Anchor

I was born in the Bronx, New York. My mom is Jamaican and my dad is Nigerian. I moved to Atlanta when I was 6. My background taught me to work out and never settle for anything I want in live. My family drives my passion. I do this for myself and my future family but also to make my parents proud. I love also being able to be in the real estate business with my family. Read more>>

James “JT” Thomas | Professional Graphic Designer, Photographer & Videographer

I’m from Fayetteville, NC. Growing up, my parents always told me to give whatever I wanted to do 100% or nothing at all. I always had ambitions & dreams to work for myself, be my own boss. I was also the black sheep of my family, so not many could see my vision or really even believed in me. So I turned that into motivation & a chip on my shoulder to not only push myself forward, but to also show everyone that doubted me how resilient & determined I am. Read more>>

Deamonte, Kelvin Gibson, Patrick | Influencers

The Rogue Soul Podcast founders Kelvin Patrick and Deamonte Gibson are originally from the Washington, DC area. DC is a unique city in which the culture that we have embraced is truly one of one. One can infer that we are different, by observing the simple things in our culture such as food all the way to the music which is called “GoGo.” We strive at being one of one and making our own path, in which is similar to what our city has done. We want our podcast to be different but informal. Once you listen, you will have entertainment, education about things that are looked down upon in the urban community, and enstilling life impacting gems that could help the next person. Read more>>

Ali Dhanani | Producer and Loopmaker

I’m from Vancouver, Canada and i feel like being from here, there are less producers from around here and less general opportunities so i feel like that moved me to work with people from places like south carolina and i think working with them developed my sound into what it is today. Read more>>

India Barnes | Educator & CEO

I am a native of Detroit, partially raised by my grandmother. I am a first-generation high school and college graduate. At a very young age, I had this zeal for learning and being a leader that was unusual for such a small child. My passion exuded through me in many ways. I remember as a child pretending to have a school and teaching my younger sibling to read more fluently, which he still brags about today. My mom told me my childhood teacher would report that I was a good student, but I loved to take over the class as if I was the teacher. Somedays, I wouldn’t go outside to play because I was more interested in learning. As a child, I also wasn’t always required to go to school as I lived in a dysfunctional household. Read more>>

Taurean Stephenson | Georgia Social Security Disability Advocate

Born and raised right here in Atlanta, Ga. I graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School, Georgia State University, and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. My mother was a practicing attorney and a state legislature in our city for over 20 years. I was raised and groomed to be a legal professional as well as a public servant. I have over a decade of experience as a paralegal. I genuinely enjoy working with people and fighting for the voiceless. Read more>>

Rydell Tomas Jr | Documentary and Portrait Photographer

I was born in Virginia Beach, but raised on the Southside of Atlanta. My family and I moved around a lot, so I was always “the new kid.” It forced me to be social because I wanted to have friends. My siblings and I were always different from the kids in our neighborhoods. We didn’t dress like most of the kids in our neighborhoods, we spoke differently and we had different interest. I’d say it impacted who I am today because I find it easy to make genuine connections with strangers. That goes a very long way working as a photographer. Read more>>

Dominique Graves | Oracle, Chef, Model & Author

Greetings! I’m originally from the south side of Chicago and I’d say my upbringing and the things i experienced growing up that may have been unpleasant or traumatic molded me into what i needed to be in this lifetime. I was forced to grow up early being the oldest of all my siblings and having to “mother them” in addition to trying to experience my childhood and that made things very stressful for me. I developed a “self sacrifice” within myself that became extremely unhealthy throughout my youth and adulthood, I had the worst confidence within myself, i didn’t fit in with the kids in my schools and got picked on at times because of my clothes, or my hair or the welts i had on my body from abuse at home and i began to copy the bad habits that i saw in my mom including being promiscuous, allowing others to use and abuse me in addition to many other traits i had to unlearn. Read more>>