What do the walls of your home say about you? This is a question Jasmine Ballard asked herself as she explored her family history and her identity as a Black woman. Jasmine knows the importance of having a cultural home– a base to pass along traditions, legacies, and context for future generations. Cultural homes can help us better understand ourselves and build our cultural confidence. Jasmine Ballard is the founder and Chief Storytelling Officer of Melanotion, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage through storytelling, workshops, and design.Her passion lies in helping people discover and embrace their cultural roots, in order to document and create spaces that reflect their identity and history. Jasmine started this journey by unpacking her own family history and asking deep questions about identity that were never talked about growing up. With a background in cultural storytelling, event curation, and legacy preservation, Ballard’s work seeks to empower communities, foster connection, and build cultural confidence. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx