The most Chicago thing about me? I won’t shut up about it | My hometown

Everyone has a hometown. Even those who moved around a lot have that primal "first place" – the home base that shapes who we are, and how we look at the world.

Because they are inextricably linked to childhood, hometowns leave powerful imprints — for better or worse. In our memories, they never change or alter.  Unfortunately, Inquirer writer Sarah Todd's hometown was recently altered out of existence by the California wildfires. Her moving piece about Paradise, Calif.  prompted us to reach out to other well-known Philadelphians to tell us how they were shaped by their hometown.

Below, cartoonist Alli Katz talks about what her beloved Chicago means to her.  Click here to  read hometown stories from other notable Philadelphians, including Zahav's Michael Solomonov, the Philadelphia Orchestra's Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the 76ers' Amir Johnson and others.

Alli Katz is a cartoonist and writer living in Philadelphia.

Tell us how your hometown shaped you. Send 150 words about where you grew up and what it means to you now to opinion@philly.com Some answers may be featured on Philly.com and in the Inquirer.