Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Denike Martinez.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
Hola Voyage LA, thank you for inviting me to be included in your collection of human stories. It is thrilling to be included in your series highlighting varied and extraordinary Angelenos.
As I searched for the perfect way to introduce myself, I got lost in words like multipotentialite, Renaissance woman, polymath and scattered. Where was my throughline? I kept landing on “place”. Los Angeles.
I didn’t know it was possible to fall in love with a city but I did, I love Los Angeles. I am a transplant like so many other Angelenos. I grew up as a minority in a small town in SE Michigan and couldn’t have imagined my life would emerge as it has. A few years after graduating from Michigan State University I moved to Los Angeles on a whim, without much of a plan but full of excitement. Los Angeles is a city of opportunity and optimism. I have met so many wonderful and helpful people along the way that have made my life in Los Angeles a limitless adventure that is ever-evolving.
As I reach what is often called middle age or midlife, I spend more time reflecting over the last 20 years, all of which have been spent living in Los Angeles. I figuratively pinch myself in delight when I consider my first moments in this city and the early struggles, to how I feel about where I am today plus ALL the in-between.
I have never mapped out a career path but I am a committed and enthusiastic learner. Soon after I arrived in LA, I secured an executive assistant position at a landscape architecture studio which I believe set my life on the “professional” trajectory that I find myself in. From there I became a project manager at a landscape construction firm, during which time I was able to work with some fascinating and famous clients. I will always be grateful for what I learned from working at both of these companies, from the obvious (civic engagement, design, architecture, construction) to the inconspicuous (class differences, human happiness, human drive, and inequality). Everyone I’ve met along the way has made an impact on me and has affected who I have become. Today I work for an environmental artist where I work in a community of caregivers and stewards of the land. We save water, seeds and food scraps (compost) and build soil and work to leave the land in a better place than we found it.
All throughout this fortunate journey, I have come to recognize a dream unfulfilled. For as long as I can remember, the only “job” I really wanted to do was to be a working actor. It seemed far fetched and contrasting from my current avenue of work that I pushed the desire away for a time. However, as with dreams and desires unfulfilled, if not addressed, there can be a nagging feeling that grows louder and stronger when not taken care of. One night I had a dream that was so vivid that I knew I had to put myself out there and see if I could make this ambition a reality. I have opened myself up to realizing what this really means and what it will take to become successful. The more I learn, the more overwhelming and intimidating it can feel. Be that as it may, I am a committed and enthusiastic learner that will not be dissuaded by the challenge. I have been training at a few different studios and have begun to take the next steps for my dream to become a reality.
There are many things about Los Angeles that fulfill me that are not related to a career. In 2010, a few years after a serious bicycle accident and the belief that I would never ride a bike again – I started a bicycle club called the Bodacious Bike Babes. We rode all over the city with various bike clubs like the Midnight Ridazz, the FMLY Ride, and the Echo Park Bike Posse. Our mission was to find other women who wanted to ride bikes but were intimidated by the male heavy presence in the bike scene and/or simply fearful of riding on the streets of Los Angeles. We volunteered at the early CicLAvia events and created our own street party called DanceLAvia. There was even a short-lived YouTube series called Sweet Ride USA that featured the BBB’s (Bodacious Bike Babes) in a few episodes. The Bodacious Bike Babes still ride to this day, however at a much smaller scale.
In 2013, I was appointed to the Taxicab Commission for the City of Los Angeles. I’m proud of this position and in knowing that I play a part in shaping policy for this city that I love. It always strikes people by surprise when I tell them that I have been serving on this commission for almost 10 years, over two administrations and now with the possibility of working under Mayor Bass.
I love this city. I love the people, the diversity, the energy, the care, the excitement, the mystery, the creativity and the optimism. Oh, and I love the sun. I’m an adventurer who thrives on small amounts of chaos and a sprinkle of pandemonium. LA offers me the perfect synthesization of conditions that motivate me to keep learning, growing and moving toward a fulfilled life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A “smooth road” all depends on one’s perspective. I have been mastering the skill of optimism for as long as I can remember and I am truly grateful for every experience that has brought me to the confidence and comfort that I currently embrace. There certainly have been times of struggle. In regard to money; will I make rent this month? In personal pride and self-respect; it’s hard being the only woman boss in a construction field. And self-worth; another bad date? It is all a learning and growing experience. I’ve learned how to manage my finances, I pushed through the negativity and inappropriate comments to become one of the top managers in my company, and I am happy with myself which will in turn make me a better partner. I am motivated by the challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
To talk about my “work” is somewhat perplexing, to me. What exactly is “my work”? There is the work I have done while employed by different companies and organizations. There is the work that I have done voluntarily and from a place of passion. There is the work that it will take to become a working actor. So again I ask myself, what is the throughline that ties all “my work” together. People. I like people. I am curious about those around me, what makes us tick? What makes us comrades? Or enemies? How can we better understand each others’ perspectives? Throughout my life, in work and in my personal life, I have always been most curious about the people around me and what motivates our daily lives. Is it work to unlock the mystery of humanity? It is a never ending journey and I am happy to engage.
How do you think about luck?
Luck is an alluring concept. If I were lucky, perhaps I would have won the mega millions lotto last month. Rather than luck, I prefer to believe in choices, and decision making processes. If I take ownership of my decisions, it is more valuable when assessing the results of those decisions – sometimes positive and other times disappointing. But I take responsibility for those choices either way. This is a mindset that I have adopted to help me keep learning and growing from my experiences. I will, however, keep trying for that mega millions.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @dreadenike and @bodaciousbikebabes
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dreadenikemartinez
