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.

Antoine / Santoine Jackson | Serial Entrepreneurs

We are from Inkster, Michigan. Our city has a rich history of notable people hailing from there and we’ve always wanted to be included on that list for great reasons. Our up bringing impacted us in great ways, it taught us hard work, dedication, work ethic and more. Read more>>

Damon Bradley | Man Of God, Father, Podcaster, Creative, and a black belt

I have always been a loud mouth. After high school i was lost, I didn’t apply to any colleges cause my grades were trash. My father said i had to do more than sit around the house, so I found Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. They taught me how to work in a radio station and really the basics of being a personality. I feel in love with it. I tried radio for a bit, but some of the restriction weren’t for me. But i discovered podcasting years later and it felt like i found my tribe. Read more>>

Ronier Golightly | Motor City Popcorn

I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA and moved to Detroit as a youth where most of my family sought jobs in the auto industry. Back in Pittsburgh, my great uncle Fred owned a bar named Golightly’s which is my last name and the vision of seeing my last name on a marquee in lights never left me. I was always proud to tell people that my uncle owned a business and for some time, my mother was involved in running it as well. I always wanted to emulate what my uncle put together. As a teenager I worked at an Italian restaurant, starting off as a dishwasher and eventually working every position in the back of the house up to working on the kitchen line. Read more>>

Abigail Hohman | Metalsmith & Herbalist

I was born and raised in Michigan, in a very small rural town. My great grandfather settled there after leaving Germany, in a beautiful farmhouse that would be handed down to my grandfather and father. Growing up there, I ran wild in my grandfather’s cornfields, dug my hands deep into soil, and enjoyed the company of many animals – so my childhood was anything but a boring one. I went through a rebellious phase where I felt I had outgrown my background until a few years into my metalsmithing journey, I noticed an undercurrent of inspiration within my craft. Much of what I wanted to create felt reminiscent of my roots. Read more>>

Lindsey Leyland | Owner The Getup Vintage / clothing preservationist

I am from a teeny tiny nowhere river town about an hour north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. We had ducks and goats and it was very rural and very secluded which made me want to live in the “big city” so bad! My love of vintage and sewing skills started young because there where no malls close so i had to get creative with the fashion i wanted so badly! I got into theater and that really sealed my love of costumes and historical fashion. Living where we did taught me alot about hard work and determination. From hauling wood and tending to animals to creating things that you dream of because how the hell else are you going to get it ( pre internet life and no tv) has made me a very resourceful human. Read more>>

Jaime Krueger | Cake Artist & Baker

I’m from a really small town — Farwell, MI. My family home is actually in the neighboring town, but I attended school in Farwell and spent a lot of my time there growing up. Farwell is one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone. There were two small grocery stores and a few other “mom & pop” businesses. There wasn’t a lot of entertainment, outside of learning to entertain yourself as a kid. I spent most of my time outside, drawing, baking, cooking, and being with family. Things were simple growing up and I remember loving the holidays, music, the chance to make things with my own two hands, and listening to my parents and grandparents’ memories and stories. Read more>>

Treasure Crocker | Owner of Pawstries

I’m from Detroit, born and raised and my background and upbringing greatly impacted who I am today. My family is a dog family, even though we also had a cat and turtle, but I’ve always loved animals from a very young age. Growing up as an only child, my pets were like my siblings. Although they couldn’t talk to me, they showed me a level of love and compassion and there would be times when we’d even play fight like siblings would. From seeing how wonderful my pets were and knowing how well-loved and cared for they were, I knew that not every pet had the opportunity to experience the level of love and care that they deserved. At the age of around 7-8, I decided that I wanted to be a veterinarian so that I could help take care of animals how they deserved to be. Read more>>

Japri Anderson | Wellness Coach

I was born and mostly raised in Jackson Michigan. The youngest of four children I spent a lot of time with my parents. My beautiful grandmother Mildred Elizabeth Anderson was married to my grandfather Eddie Lee Anderson, a preacher raised my mother Laura into a giving person and always willing to help others, the children mainly growing up. Those anchor values are the same my mom instilled in me and i’m grateful for that. Seeing my parents help guide the youth in our community and giving them things they may been missing at home such as love, a mother or a father and maybe no home and absents parent while another was on drugs. Read more>>