Meet Jeion Green | CEO & President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeion Green and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeion, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my business was first thinking, “I absolutely had to.” Also, for my Film & Entertainment Production business, Jeion Green, LLC, it was a must to truly enter the industry as an independent artist and filmmaker in order to receive any funds to begin making my fairytale dreams come true. I learned during my time at Parsons, The New School, that it was imperative to create an LLC if you wanted anyone to trust you with getting funds, grants, loans, etc to fund your films. So this process started when right before I graduated.

In starting The Virgin Bar & Tea Lounge LLC, it came out of passion and not wanting to place all my eggs in one basket. I love film, television, and all forms of viewable entertainment, but I also wanted to create a business that embodied my other loves in life. The Virgin Bar and Tea lounge is a Tea lounge and free work space for LGBTQAIGNC+ BIPOC and everyday creatives during the day. By night the space transforms into a wonderful all sober, Alcohol replicant/replacements, bar with exciting entertainment, music, dance, and more. I wanted to combine all of my other artistic joys within a space that I felt would bring our community together – which is why it also acts as a community space, providing open workshops, Alcohol anonymous meetings, and short film festivals, to name a few for all to enjoy on a monthly basis. I knew that our community could benefit from something that I felt was missing being a Sober person trying to find sober places to enjoy myself without the temptation of actual alcohol. Thus, out of this mindset The Virgin Bar and Tea Lounge aka “The Virgin” was born. You can support our action to get this space up in running by going to this link – https://gofund.me/5b299546 – The business is supported as a 501c3 entity and all donations can be written off on your taxes. We appreciate your support of Black Trans Non-Binary Queer lead businesses.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ll start with what sets me apart from others –

I am a Black Trans Non Binary, Queer, and disabled Artist. These things run in my blood and motivate everything I do in my craft. Being all of these things has made me have to adapt in ways that most would believe to be a nightmare. For me, in learning to work with myself and these traits, It meant that my art would forever changing and unique. Also, I am a NERD. I invest a lot of time looking into the small details of things that others pay no mind to, or don’t want to have the time to pay attention to. This has helped me develop a keen eye for solutions to problems in our society that would make great businesses, art, and more.

How did I get to where I am today professionally. Was it easy?

I have another interview with Voyage that goes deeper into this subject – make sure to check that out. Otherwise, in sum, I would say it took a lot of hard work, determination, fearlessness, and willingness to show up for myself and others. Also, it took a lot of kindness and remembering that Karma is a …well you know and making sure that what I wanted for myself is what I gave and how I treated others around me. Was it easy? Life isn’t easy, so no, but it has been rewarding.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way are what I want the world to know about my brand/story. Most importantly, I’ve learned that patience is a virtue, giving love is easier than giving hate, that if you work from a place of fear you will never find the light waiting for you at the end of the tunnel, and that believing in and pushing yourself toward your goals means that you sometimes have to rid yourself of the negative energy around you, regardless if its friends, family, partners, etc. FOCUS on what you want and ride with the people who will work with you in all ways to continue to keep moving forward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a hard question because growing up poor the simple things in life were the most fun. With that being said my vision of the best time ever would be simply spending quality time with that person I love doing whatever the felt right for the moments we were together.

But, if I had to choose a couple things to do – I love going to the movies (go figure). I love the beach, eating different types of food and going to new and different parks that have water features.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my success to the following people:

My Mom Lisa Green – without her continued support & her showing up in every possible way in my life I would NOT be where I am today. She is one of the strongest people I know and she passed that same strength to me. THANK YOU MOM!

Gabby Meza – To my best friend of 18+ years. I owe her so much. Her simplicity in life and love for me has carried me through many trails and tribulations. Her continued support for me WHEREVER I HAVE BEEN IN THE WORLD has inspired me and allowed me to know that I am not alone. THANK YOU GABBY!

Reuben Reuel – Has shown up for me in many ways and in many forms. My best friend of now 9 years, he has helped me grow and to put my ego aside. THANK YOU REUBEN! ALSO CHECK OUT HIS MUSIC!!

Tiffany Lupien – Tiffany is an amazing grace, savior, and best friend 7 years and my first friend of LA ever. She has shown up so many times over the past years. The universe runs through her veins because we seem to always be in alignment with each other. She has motivated me time-and-time again and has never given up on me nor has she given up on herself – which is important to me in my friends. And even when we wanted to quit she would find some way to encourage us both. THANK YOU TIFFANY!!

Marsha Dawson – Marsha came out of her own pocket to help me move to Los Angeles for the first time with no question about really getting paid back (which she still will in multitudes), but she also strived for my continued success in any thing that I’ve done while I was in NYC at Parsons. THANK YOU MARSHA!!

Relish – My Ballroom chosen Father. In NYC I had no social life and it was hard to find my way. Relish made it manageable for me to find who I was and allowed me to flourish within my craft of vogue and dance. THANK YOU RELISH!!

Katie Showalter – My high school teacher who saved my life on many occasions by just being herself. She would go out of her way to make sure I was laughing – to – tears, rather than depressed in tears. She gifted me with the joy of being lost in my own happiness and weirdness. LITERALLY without her I would not be here! THANK YOU KATIE

Lola Tan – Lola has been a major support in my mental, business, and social pathways. They have given me so much incite, love, and freedom to express my life through their continued openness and knowledge. They are a very important part of my growth as I continued in my life and business ventures.

Last but not least – JACARI MATHEWS – This person knows why they are special. But, simply without them I would not be in Los Angeles, with a home, doing anything of anything. They went way out of their way to support me in a way that others wouldn’t even considered. He believed in me when others didn’t and has given me the freedom to exist in Los Angeles. THANK YOU JACARI!

Website: Https://www.JeionGreen.com

Instagram: Https://www.Instagram.com/JeionGreen

Twitter: Https://www.Twitter.com/JeionGreen

Other: Check out my book “Scenes From the Scripts” ready to order on Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Scenes-Scripts-Mx-Jeion-Green/dp/B0C1J1XGNH/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1684803084&refinements=p_27%3AMx.+Jeion+Green&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Mx.+Jeion+Green

Image Credits
All Images by Jeion Green