We recently connected with Jovan Martin and have shared our conversation below.

Jovan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

All of my life I have always had to battle stigma and bullying. Whether it be due to my height, race, or mental illness, I have always been labeled as an outcast and forced to overcome stigma. I ended up homeless as an adult and most people had given up on me, the most important thing was that I refused to give up on myself. I had a friend named Fred, who invited me to a convention called HeroesCon, and I told him that I struggled socially and I was afraid that people would make fun of my height. He told me that this convention would be a fun escape from reality, so I managed to make it out to the event and I could not believe what happened. What I realized is that I was not the only person fighting against the stigmas of society, and that I was not the only individual who needed a voice. I decided to make a shirt that read “Short Lives Matter” at HeroesCon 2017, not only as a message against stigma, but also against bullying as well. I was blown away by the amount of feedback, smiles, laughter, and joy that it brought to so many people. I began to sell them, and after getting off of the streets I began to expand the concept into many other areas of stigma. Such as mental health awareness, bullying awareness, and empowerment. I never would have guessed that one shirt with three words would lead to a movement that would impact so many people.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Sta2ure is a brand based on raising awareness and inspiring people who battle various social stigmas. It is a brand designed to motivate individuals to overcome the odds. Instead of tearing people down, we need to build each other up.

Mental health is perhaps the most misunderstood topic in America, and as we all know, bullying is something that we have to continue to address in our schools and at our jobs. What I am most proud of is that there are many people who have seen me struggle, and many people who have seen me succeed. There are people who remember when I had no place to sleep and received aid from Crisis Assistance Ministry. People have seen me have panic attacks right in the middle of a classroom, yet they have also seen me walk the aisle and receive a diploma. I think it makes a difference to see an individual legitimately living the struggle and finding a way to overcome the odds. It is not easy by any means, but I feel like that is the reason I am here, to show the world that heart and determination deserves an opportunity……regardless of what the individual may look like, what they have been through, or what they are currently struggling with……everyone deserves at least one opportunity.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I was in high school, I was bullied on a daily basis, including one infamous day in which I was thrown in a dumpster and kicked off of the football team. Due to my size, the coach told me to go home and tell my mother that I should not ever play sports. News of what happened had made its way around the school, and I became the target of everyone’s jokes. I fell into a deep dark depression.

After hearing what I have to endure every day, my mother transferred me to another school in a new state. I decided to try out for wrestling. Determined to show the world that I could be an athlete, the training was brutal. I would practice every single day, in the morning and after school. I ended up winning a State Championship and being featured on a cereal box.

To this very day, I am still wrestling and teaching martial arts.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

After being at so many conventions, I realized that so many of the creators just invest in a booth and that is it. I would walk by and see so many entrepreneurs and designers just sitting there, waiting for the sale to come to them. One day, I decided to wear my merchandise and hit the dancefloor with the customers and everyone there. I painted large signs by hand, and took them to the most unique places, a strategy that I still use on a regular basis. Personally, I enjoy being a more “boots on the ground” and old school type of entrepreneur instead of relying heavily on social media. I hand out business cards, share my story with anyone willing to listen, and I go to people instead of waiting for them to come to me at a booth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sta2ure.com
• Instagram: sta2ure
• Facebook: Jovan Martin
• Youtube: Sta2ure TV

Image Credits
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