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.

Karen Cunningham | Interior Decorator & Store Owner

Both of my parents were Marines, which meant I grew up with a strong discipline and ethic for work! We moved around a lot but my mother always made our house a home quickly. My dad always said it wasn’t our home until she hung up the drapes! Mom and I did all the work when we moved. She taught me how to move furniture, in particular my piano, from one side of the room to the other. We wallpapered and painted and decorated. This included learning to garden and maintaining a home, and decorating even with a budget! I do believe everyone deserves a beautiful space to live, no matter if it’s a small thing that makes us smile each day. Because of my background, I have worked hard to get where I am today and love helping my clients decorate their spaces to make them happy! Read more>>

Rebecca Bolt | Hairstylist

I am a native of Simpsonville, South Carolina and I am so excited to be back working in the community I was raised in. I graduated high school here, I go to church here, this is where my friends are, and where all of my immediate family live. It’s definitely special being able to be involved daily in this community. The large majority of my clients are people who have poured into me throughout my life and it’s pretty amazing to be able to pour back into them every day. Community involvement is important to me and being able to interact with other stylists at my salon who have a similar experience has been fun! Read more>>

Alex Alderman | Realtor

I was born on Ft. Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas. Three months later, I was sent to live with my maternal grandmother in Moultrie, Georgia. I lived in Moultrie until the age of 9, when I began to move frequently, living with family members, with my grandmother as her health declined. This included a six month stay in New Orleans, where I attended public school and Atlanta during fourth grade. In 5th grade, I moved to Port Huron, Michigan where I lived with grandmother, aunt, and two cousins. During six grade, I moved to Clover, South Carolina after my grandmother passed and mother remarried. I resides in Clover until the second semester of my junior year in High School. I moved back to Atlanta and graduated from Stephenson High School. Read more>>

Bruce Ellis | Tattooist

I’m from the Midwest, Richmond Indiana to be exact. My family moved to the south when I was probably 12, around 1984 or so. Being from the Midwest in the 1970’s you are basically born with a strong work ethic. We had and still have family that owned and worked farms. No time for laziness on a farm. My brother and I were shipped back to work our Uncle and Aunts dairy farm while on summer break from school. Lol, that wasn’t exactly the summer I’d planned. It taught me many things, for one hard work and what it achieves. Read more>>

Alison Phelps | Baker

I am from South Carolina. I grew up in a single parent household with one of the strongest women I’ll ever know. Throughout my childhood and even adulthood shes continues to inspire me with her confidence, drive, encouragement and her ability to never give up. She’s always worked hard to set goals and accomplish them. Her work ethic was instilled in me in an early age. For holidays and work events she would always invite me to help bake. She’d always let me help make the batter no matter how big of a mess I would make. We’d make peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies the most. Read more>>