We’ve highlighted responses from some of the brightest and most talented artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs in the community below.

Hannah Sward

My poet father. He is my hero. From the age of 18, when he went off to the Korean War where he discovered and began writing poetry as the ships Librarian, he kept on writing until last year when he passed months after his 88th birthday. The life of the poet is not, as anyone can imagine, an easy one. My father has inspired me to never give up. To write no matter what. Despite the hardships, the lack of money, security, rejections my father kept writing. At 88 he had published over 30 books. He wrote because he loved to write. He couldn’t not write. Read more>>

Paola Gutiérrez

My hero definitely is my grandfather my beloved Papito José, He’s my biggest inspiration, born in the 19th hundreds, with two world wars and a Mexican revolution in his live, first generation of “braceros” coming into this country in 1943 to Anaheim, California specifically. A man with strong will, honest, wise and hard working persona. He raised 7 children, and from all 25 grand children I was the fortunate to be raised by him., to learn from him, to do the right things, he taught me to cook, to clean, to sembrar y cosechar the crops and all kinds of vegetables, he was always encouraging me to study and have a career to support myself to not depend on anyone. He is my inspiration in so many levels; I remember how both we were learning to read by reading the Bible at the same time, he was 70 and I was 5 years old and yes at that age he took full responsibility of me when my mother decided that she wasn’t ready for motherhood.. Read more>>

Mike Nova

President Volodimir Zelenskiy. The Ukrainian President was supportive towards me in that he expressed respect and approval of the anti-Soviet propaganda productions I started to distribute in Ukraine through Ukrainian Television and social media. It feels great to be fighting the good fight with a president that is respected by many other presidents or prime ministers across the world. President Zelenskiy inspired me to continue to build a media production company in the United States which is my home. Read more>>

Johany Torres-Maya

My parents are my heroes, I know it sounds cliche. However, the life-changing events they’ve gone through and how they persevered, make me so proud. My dad was in a tragic accident when I was 8 years old. The accident left him blind in one eye, he suffered memory loss, loss of smell and partial taste, and could no longer work, or drive. Through all of his adversities, he still managed to live his life to the fullest. He taught me how to cook Puerto Rican food, managed to take me to museums, zoos, the beach, and even how to get around the city by foot or public transportation. By the time I was old enough to drive, I didn’t need a GPS I knew the city so well. Read more>>

Evan Zwerneman

My Dad is my hero. My Dad started and currently owns/operates a construction company in Houston, TX. Growing up my Dad taught me the value of a dollar and taught me that I had to work if I wanted to buy anything in life. He told me from the beginning of my business, “Evan, have a stopping point in your growth”. At the time, I kind of brushed it off and thought, “why would I turn down business?”. Now years into running my own business I am realizing what he meant by that. You have to be comfortable with what you have at some point in your career. Read more>>

Faith Clark

My hero is my mom. Cheesy, i know. But it is true. Its always been her and I my whole life. She is a single mom and has worked so hard for everything she has. She had me young, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing a college education and moving to an entire new city just to get away from a toxic small town. During that time she did everything one could in order to keep a roof over my head, food in my belly, and clothes on my back. Working late nights and bringing me to school with her when needed, nothing stopped her. Read more>>