Daily Inspiration: Meet Manuel Garcia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Manuel Garcia.

Hi Manuel, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
My name is Manuel Garcia I am 33 years old. I am Puerto Rican and Dominican. I was born in NYC on March 19, 1990, as a premature baby in Saint Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. Growing up in Washington Heights Dyckman Street was not easy. My mom had 2 children at 17, and she never had the social or financial stability to pay the bills. Since my mom had already 6 kids at this point and no employment, me being the second oldest, I had to become a man at a very young age. From 12 to 16 years old, I would skip school to sell metro cards at the subway stations to support my family. It was scary. I was robbed many times and arrested for soliciting money. I had to take the risk to better my circumstances. Although I was abused by my mother, I still forgave her for all the extreme physical abuse and emotional trauma caused. At 18, I became homeless because I couldn’t take the abuse. I stayed in a shelter in Times Square, NYC, called Covinent House. Despite the bumpy road behind me, I decided to get my GED and go on to a community college called Bronx Community College. Fortunately, I graduated with my associate’s degree in psychology and went on to work in the social work field as a youth advocate at 19 years old. I went on to proceed with my education, and I went for my bachelor’s in social work at city college in Wall Street, New York. Furthermore, I worked in the field of social work for 6 years straight. In 2016 I had a psychotic episode and I quit my job and got hospitalized several times for depression and mania. It was a very difficult period in my life for sure. Mental health is important to me; that’s why I dedicated my time to that career. Having been on both sides of the spectrum, being a counselor and being counseled definitely allowed me to see the bigger picture. After being hospitalized 6 times for depression in 2016, I decided to learn how to dance freestyle hip hop. Of course, I taught myself and learned pretty fast. It wasn’t until 2022 that I realized that Los Angeles, California, was the place to make my mark. After being successfully baptized in NYC by the church of Latter-Day Saints, I moved out to Los Angeles June 20, 2022. I didn’t know where to start, I didn’t have nowhere to go and $200 to my name. I landed my first gig on justice with Judge Maeblean on the Justice Central Channel as a plaintiff. That was an awesome experience being in front of the camera. From then on, I have worked with a majority of artists in the entertainment industry and film industries and recently got signed to DMTM models incorporated. I was blessed enough to work with. Jay Rock, Trixie Mattel, Halle Bailey the Little Mermaid, Thalia, Junior H, Peso Pluma, El Makabelico, Roy Woods, Travis Scott, Chris Brown, Ciara, Ed Sheeran, Zendaya, and many, many more. I was featured in HBO Maxes Rapshit. So, I am very grateful to be where I am today. I have to say that this has been an incredible voyage, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I don’t know who else I will work with or meet, but I just want to be able to inspire others and to empower their voices because anything is possible if you just believe in yourself. Nothing is easy in life, their will always be ups and downs, it’s about how you self-regulate. Thank you for listening. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been extremely difficult reaching this point. 22 hospitalizations for depression. Near-death experiences. It hasn’t been smooth. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a dancer, a model, and an Actor. I am proud of being able to do what I am passionate about every day. What sets me apart from others is that I am just like everyone one else but with a strong story that will motivate people. I guess that makes me unique. 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the atmosphere, the environment the scenery. The people are much more relaxed and polite than in NYC, for sure. The only thing I least like is the homeless and mentally unstable epidemic. I wish they would seek the resources because California really helps its people; I can vouch for that through experience 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialmannygarcia