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.

TAP | Creative, Personality

I’m a black woman born and raised in The Caribbean to a Jamaican mother and a Bahamian father. Growing up in The Caribbean and The Bahamas, more specifically, has had a profound and undoubtable impact on who I am, how I view the world and who I’m yet still becoming. I come from a long line of black women who have had to fight harsh and unfavorable circumstances while having to still carry their families and society on their backs. I don’t say this to glorify trauma, but to provide context on how the spirit of these women were forged through (unfortunately) having to be resilient, inventive and un-afraid especially in the face of literal changing surroundings and circumstances. Read more>>

Donna Jennings | AKA Dr. J. Sexuality Educator, Author, & Editor

I grew up on a centennial tobacco farm in North Carolina. Rural life provided many valuable teachings that impact who I am today and for which I am grateful. On a farm, there are no dress rehearsals, it is always the now. Farming waits for no one. Working on the farm instilled a sense of dependability. As I fed and watered the animals, I was a literal cog in the wheel of production. If I missed my work, it affected not only the animals but other workers. My brothers still moan about my broken foot in 4th grade, which caused them to do my chores plus theirs. Read more>>

Candace Lehenbauer | Tapestry Academy Microschool Owner/Director

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. I attended public school, and was on the free or reduced lunch program. I never really felt like I didn’t have money. Our family always was able to prioritize what we needed, and we stayed connected with family and church to help when times got tough. Self-reliance was a value that my parents taught me through their sacrifice. My dad worked 3 jobs sometimes just so my mom could stay home and raise our family of 6 kids. She worked odd jobs, sometimes in the middle of the night to help support our family as well. Read more>>