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.

Jaiel | Artist/Singer-Songwriter

I am from well – I tell people all the time that I’m mostly from Aurora Colorado and I say mostly because my dad was military and so I grew up kind of moving around a little bit but we did settle here in Aurora when I was in the third grade. Prior to that, I was born in Colorado Springs, and then I lived in Germany for 6 years and then we moved to Virginia for a year and half and then moved to Denver and then moved to Aurora. Read more>>

Alisa Woofter | Social Entrepreneur

Hailing from Imperial, Nebraska, a small town nestled just 30 minutes from Holyoke, Colorado, on the eastern plains, my upbringing was far removed from the realms of international travel and involvement in Latin America. However, I’m from a lineage of female entrepreneurs who operated dry goods stores across Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, I was instilled with a spirit of independence and adventure from an early age. These remarkable women, who ran their own businesses and traversed the globe, imparted in me a curiosity for the world beyond our small town borders. Read more>>

Jennifer Peterson | Real Estate Developer, Quilter, and Founder of Estelle Center for Creative Arts

I grew up in Southeastern New Mexico in a little town in the desert with one high school where everybody knew everybody else. I lived down the street from all my grandparents and I was particularly close to my dad’s mother, Estelle. She was an artist who worked in mutliple medias- mainly oils, acrylics, watercolor, and ceramics. To get away from the hot summer days, I spent hours in her adobe studio playing with paints and clay. Estelle opened my eyes and my heart to the power of artistry and creativity. I learned that art is play and feeds the soul. I have always held space for creativity in my life and desire to create places and events for others to enter into artistry and creativity. Read more>>

Melissa An | Design Engineer & Uncharted Outdoorswomen Guide

I’m a Colorado native born in Colorado Springs and currently residing in Golden, CO. I was raised in an Asian household, participating in household activities and enjoying the outdoors through foraging. In my opinion, this has made me an open minded and slightly well rounded individual. This allows me to explore any and all opportunities to live life to the fullest. I’m an Engineer with a Civil specialty who has a passion for fashion and especially the outdoors. My life revolves around my career and being a guide for Uncharted Outdoorswomen. Read more>>