We were lucky to catch up with Alan Matthew Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alan Matthew, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
As a Bronx (NY) resident, I see how starved it is compared to the wealthier parts of the city like Manhattan. I’m constantly motivated by the efforts of my best friend, James Lin. He works to ensure that the Bronx can experience the same opportunities as the surrounding boroughs.
His tenacity inspired me to launch a non-profit called Hrs & Hrs (pronounced Hours and Hours). It’s an initiative dedicated to challenging creatives to find space in their day to pursue their desires and use them to uplift the community. For example, if someone is great at coffee making, using their gifts could help create a haven for people to work, socialize, and create!
It takes hours and hours to become successful at something, and I’m here to encourage like-minded individuals to do it! Sure, working a 9 to 5 job consumes the majority of a person’s day, but we owe it to ourselves to make space for the things that bring us joy. And most importantly, we have the power to create that space.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a kid, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. We loved cooking together and were avid viewers of the Food Network Channel. It hosted several big-time chefs in the ’90s, but my favorite chef was Emeril Lagasse. His presence on camera was mesmerizing. And it was at that very moment in my life that this shy country boy from North Carolina wanted to have the same effect on people. While my skills in the kitchen are average, being exposed to his presence was the main catalyst for my interest in the arts.
I first began my artistic journey by joining the marching band where I played the tuba and saxophone in High School. Once I enrolled in college, I wanted to reinvent myself and break out of the introverted shell I’d worn for years. While walking around campus one day, I saw about ten audition flyers for a children’s play called, Goldilocks on Trial. Interesting name, I know! It became obvious what my next step would be, so I auditioned and landed a part! From there, I haven’t looked back. I wanted a career that would be rooted in community and artistic creation. This was the same creative experience that Emeril created for his audience! I believed that if theatre could transform me into a more confident individual, I’d be extremely eager to see how much farther I could go.
Currently, I hold a BA from Elizabeth City State University, an MFA from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and a teaching certification from the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium in Kent, OH. After college, I moved to New York City to live out my dream as an actor. Within my first two years, I found success on Travel Channel’s Mysteries at the Museum. I was hired to play the former boxer, Joe Louis (Season 14 E10). It was a crucial moment that confirmed how important resilience is and how important it was to encourage other artists to keep moving forward.
Out of the 8 years I’ve spent in New York, the past two years as a Bronx resident have allowed me to connect with my community more fully. The Bronx is beautiful and deserves all the amenities that other areas of the city do. I’m eager to continue advocating for my
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When I was a teenager, my mom was diagnosed with kidney dysfunction. At that time, she was a single mom raising two kids with very little resources. Despite her situation, she worked two jobs all while being on a dialysis machine. Dialysis is the process in which the machine filters waste from your blood and returns it to your body once it’s cleaned. Thankfully, my mom has a twin sister whose kidney was a compatible match. Due to this act of bravery, the transplant procedure was scheduled and ended successfully.
Since that transplant in 2012, my mom has earned two degrees and works for the social services department in North Carolina. Being raised by such a strong woman, my mom’s resilience helped shape my resilient nature. Despite how hard circumstances might be, I choose to keep moving forward. Not out of pride, but out of an eagerness to show up for myself and those who support me.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themillershow.net
- Other: https://hrsandhrs.com (non profit)