Today we’d like to introduce you to Ejay Menchavez Jr.
Ejay, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I served six years in the Army, moved to Los Angeles from New York City, then studied at the University of Southern California where I earned my bachelors in acting and my masters in business. While studying I met Philip Folsom, he took me under his wing and we’ve been working together ever since. We work with veterans with PTSD, suicide prevention programs, leadership development, and different schools. We’ve also been heading a management consulting firm, Human Kind.
Philip introduced me to Garth Massey of CommandReady, and now I’m the new program director of their youth development program. Service has always been a big part of my life, I’ve made many mistakes but making a difference has always been constant.
I’m also an artist, I started acting and dancing when I first moved to LA. I didn’t take it seriously at first, but then it changed my life entirely. Everyone I love, my community, my family, I met them all through art and performing. I still perform today, working with Go 2 Talent, Stroll Groove, and Last Call Boys. Last week, I started rehearsals with Diavolo, a dance company that also has a Veterans Outreach Program. They use the arts to not only help and heal veterans but also provide a space to express ourselves in ways we never have before.
Has it been a smooth road?
The hardest part was transitioning from soldier to civilian. Acting and dance really helped me express those emotions. I still have a hard time when I think about war and my past, but for the most part I’m moving forward. My biggest regret is hurting the people I care about, I became selfish and thought only about myself for a while. My ex-girlfriend who was there for all of it loved me as much as she could till eventually she couldn’t take it anymore. We were together for six years and I treated her poorly, only thinking of what I wanted. I know better now but I can’t help but feel sorry at times.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Human Kind, CommandReady, Artistic Entrepreneur – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I have many different roles, but I navigate them with my core value, integrity. I’m known for my vulnerability and willingness to speak about the darker parts of my life. I’m proud of the personal growth I’ve experienced, both within myself and my clients.
I work with veterans, with students of all ages, and small businesses. We talk about how vulnerability helps create authentic relationships. Then we try different ways to practice being that better version of ourselves.
As an artist I’ve performed all over, LA, NYC, Nashville, on film, for TV, and commercials. My favorite though is performing for a live audience, just last month I performed at Lightning in a Bottle with a group called CirquEast, I remember looking out into the crowd and thinking, “WOW, I don’t know the last time I’ve performed for so many”.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the culture, there’s so much here! I’ve been here for nine years and I still don’t all the different kinds of communities here. I have friends all over, Santa Monica, West LA, Long Beach, Malibu, Downtown, Koreatown, Culver City, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Tarzana, Torrance, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, I can pretty much drive fifteen minutes and there’s always someone I know.
As much as I don’t like the traffic, what I really dislike is the vanity. We care more about how we look than we care about our well-being. There’s so much physical fitness or so I thought, I mostly see people taking pictures in the gym than actually working out.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ejay.menchavez
Image Credit:
Philip Folsom and Jenna Boss
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