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.

Andrew Snorton | Author, educator, and press/media advisor

Where you are from along with your upbringing can make an impact on who we are today. I’m originally from Illinois, but New Jersey (Morris and Monmounth Counties) is really where my foundation is established. I’m blessed to have parents who are actively engaged in my upbringing (along with my older sister). Read more>>

MICHAEL MCKINNEY | Medical Laborataory Technician and Owner of Mobile Drug Testing

I come from Mound Bayou, Mississippi, a town with a rich history and a strong sense of community. My upbringing has been influenced by my family, which is deeply rooted in the healthcare profession. My family includes a range of healthcare professionals, from Nurse Practitioners to Speech Pathologists. Read more>>

Sandra North | Country Singer/Songwriter

I’m born and raised in a small town of 5000 people in Sweden. I also spent a lot of time with both of my grand parents out on the countryside where neighbors barely existed and nature such as forests and lakes or rivers were all around. I was lucky to get to run free a lot and have my imagination run wild as a child. Read more>>

Xzavier Bonds | Photographer

I’m from Memphis Tennessee. It’s not known for being a friendly place. I think the city taught me how to stay dedicated how to really grind for the things that I want. My mom worked a lot so I didn’t really get to do the things other kids did, I was more of an insider, I had to find things that peaked my interest luckily for me I picked up photography and haven’t put it down since. Read more>>