Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Beth Young | Architect & Nature Photographer

Growing up in upstate New York, I’ve always been deeply drawn to artistic endeavors, from drawing and painting as a child and then as a teenager, channeling that creativity into cartoon animation, writing, and storytelling. As an adult, I believe that childhood creativity eventually led to my current, full-time profession of architecture, but, really, it’s through my practice of nature photography that is my real creative outlet where I get to have fun, play and experiment. I think I’m drawn to photography for the same reasons I’m drawn to architecture: that the greatest creativity comes from what you are able to achieve within constraints. And I like to think that both architecture and photography strike a perfect balance of the technical with the creative; both require an understanding of light, composition and form. Now I live on the west coast, and I find so much diversity in the terrain and weather out here which inspires me greatly and draws me to California. Over the years, I’ve made many meaningful connections in the world of design and art which also inspires me tremendously and has encouraged me to build up a side business of selling my photography, teaching and writing. Read more>>

Nikki Kucharski | Nikki Needles” Acupuncturist & Sound Therapist”

I’m from Santa Clarita, California! I was homeschooled my whole life, and my mom is a chiropractor, so I grew up going to the office with her. I was raised in a way where naturopathic medicine was the norm and western medicine was not as often used. So “alternative” medicine just makes sense to me! Read more>>

Nika Meyers | Artist, Nordic Ski coach and Environmental Educator

I grew up in Bridgewater, Vermont nestled among fresh produce and hardwood forests. We grew our food in the summer, pickled and caned food in the fall, nordic skied in the winter, and maple sugared in the spring. We were part of a community that was rural and had with deep roots. My Papa owned a wood fired Italian restaurant inspired by his family and upbringing where my siblings and I worked and my Mama was a teacher. We knew deeply the place we called home. Read more>>

Jacquelynn Perkins | Artist – Painter

I am an artist who was born in Denver and grew up in Longmont in the 1980’s. A childhood with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, a love of nature and wildlife was infused within me. I shape vivid, whimsical palettes into nourishing environments. I juxtapose women with wild animals to highlight the role the feminine spirit plays in intertwining these threads, and to show we are indelibly animals of nature. Read more>>

Brian Nolan | Restaurant Developer and Operator

Grew up in Tarrytown NY – about 20 miles North of NYC. Great place to grow up and as I have reflected on that it was surely a part of me wanting to be in the mountains – not to say it was a mountainous area, but it was heavily wooded and afforded a great childhood of adventure. Read more>>

Kevin Story Mintern | Graphic Designer and Illustrator

I grew up in California’s Central Valley, particularly the Fresno and Clovis area. The Valley produces a huge percentage of the nation’s fruit and vegetable crops, and I come from a line of Farmers. My mother grew up on a ranch that grew a lot of stone fruit and grapes, and I have heard many stories about my grandmother picking in the fields when she was not much more than a toddler, after being forced to leave Oklahoma after the Dust Bowl. I myself worked for the Fresno County Department of Agriculture in the grape fields, and that is where I met my partner of 4 years now. The rolling foothills that surround the valley and a variety of fruits and vegetables make appearances in my work quite frequently. Read more>>

Kristin / Vivi Lacy / Lemus | Co-owners & founders of Convivio Café

Convivio’s two ‘socias’ have very different backgrounds. Kristin, born in the States spent time working in Guatemala, while Vivi, born in Guatemala has lived in the States for a while. Both of us have collaborated with different non profits, The ethos of Convivio Café reflects the dual culture and dual language of our business, pointing to the beautiful diversity and the richness from learning from one another in Denver. Read more>>

Valter Neto | Founder of LusitaniaSoaps

I grew up in the beautiful countryside of southern Portugal, where my family raised me in a farmhouse filled with traditions of self-sufficiency and respect for nature. Their way of life instilled in me a profound appreciation for the simplicity and purity of living off the land. These early experiences shaped my journey and ultimately inspired the creation of LusitaniaSoaps. Today, our brand embodies these values, crafting artisanal products that honor our heritage while promoting sustainability and wellness for all. Read more>>

Ted Davies | Audio Engineer and Multi-Instrumentalist

I was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. My parents, while not professional musicians, are very avid music listeners and festival attendees, and I was exposed to a myriad of live and recorded music from birth. Growing up attending music festivals such as the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, New West Fest, FoCoMX, and many others, as well as playing classical piano and saxophone from a young age, I learned very quickly that I want to pursue a career as a professional musician. During my teenage years playing the saxophone and composing music became a sanctuary through a very rocky high school experience, and it was then that I realized that if I have a purpose in life, it’s making great music with other people. Read more>>

Candler English | Songwriter, Poet, Visual Artist

I grew up just south of Atlanta in the suburbs. The most impactful creative asset to me through were the farmlands that were the backdrop of our suburban town. As boy, I would run through fields, woods, creeks, and swamps, all in the name of adventure. As a painter and a songwriter, the pastoral has always shown itself as a major inspiration in my songwriting and visual art making. Read more>>

Kalani Minihan | Photographer and Cinematographer

I don’t think I can say that I am from one place. My mom being from Hawai’i, dad from Ohio, I was born in North Carolina, and grew up in close to 40 homes across North Carolina, Virginia, Las Vegas, and here in Hawai’i; Maui and Oahu. By constantly moving at a young age, I learned almost unconsciously how to adapt quickly and be comfortable with being uncomfortable. My parents keeping my younger brother and I in the ocean started a religion to us. I decided at a young age that I wanted to spend my days on the beach in the water every day. We weren’t a wealthy family, my first camera was my 13th birthday present; a $10 digital waterproof camera from the ABC store on Front Street, Lahaina. I’ve learned to work towards my goals accordingly, and I’m grateful for the upbringing that I had. Read more>>

Austin McCormick | Artist

I grew up in the San Bernardino National Forest in Lake Arrowhead, California. I spent most of my childhood at my father’s construction sites and my mother’s dance school. Growing up in Lake Arrowhead is unique; it is a small town that blends desert and Forest with a Lake on top of a mountain. It has an epic elevation climb and views of the ocean from one side and the forest transitioning into the high desert on the other. I took all this for granted growing up until I left and moved to Los Angeles for college. After spending 16 years in the city, I felt the withdrawal and knew I needed to return to nature. It is now essential to my well-being and my work as an artist. Outside skateboarding or snowboarding, Lake Arrowhead can be very dull, which, as a youth, often leads to destructive behavior, imagination, creativity, or all of the above. The unique blend of beauty and boredom influenced my creative development and resourcefulness. Read more>>