Lyonzo Vargas
Lyonzo Vargas grew up in the Bronx, in a culture “filled with people suffering from stress and anxiety due to poor mental, spiritual, physical and emotional diet.” Now based in Philadelphia, Vargas’s past experiences motivated him and made him a cofounder of GLBL VLLG (Global Village), an entertainment and wellness company aimed at giving young people a space to express themselves. His goal is to incorporate wellness into daily lifestyles and encourage holistic healing for marginalized communities.
Every two weeks they host the VLLG JAM, “the only concert where the audience are the headliners.” Everyone who attends can perform using the instrument of their choice; whether it’s vocals, instrumental, spoken word, dance, or any other form of expression. The events encourage connection, collaboration, and allow healing to take place by letting performers express what’s on their minds in a nonjudgmental space. The events draw over a hundred people per night and bring together individuals from all over the country.
How did you figure out what your passion is?
I believe we must use our passions to showcase our gifts. You see, music, art, entertainment are my passions but communication, building community, and connection are my gifts. I figured out my gifts when I gave up everything for them.
In 2014, I stopped pursuing music fulltime to work as a server for a full year to save up enough money to rent a space where I was able to create and execute what you now see and call GLBL VLLG. During that time, I knew I had to put my passion aside in order to receive my gifts.
I had to give up drinking on weekends, smoking with friends, procrastinating, and transition to taking ownership of my decisions. Being focused, becoming more discipline, fighting for what I believe in, engaging with people I admired, being grateful, and finally, making my peace of mind a priority! Looking back, I would say, I figured out my passion and gifts by asking myself what am I willing to sacrifice everything for? And, that is Community, Connection, and Communication.
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?
The most rewarding part of the journey has been the amazing connections I have been able to cultivate thus far. I must add that knowing what you can do when you trust your vision, ideas, and ancestors can also be rewarding.
What else would you like to accomplish?
I will help change the inner-city educational system by using arts and community to improve the curriculum in underserved schools. I will be part of bringing a Wellness festival to Philadelphia to highlight what wellness means to all people!
I will create an affirmations EP and write an affirmations book. I will push the VLLG Jam to a national platform to help artists get the exposure they need to “break”.
What advice would you give to other young people beginning their careers?
First, everything you envision takes time, you will get there just not the way you think but it’s okay. Flow! Second, be who the universe sent you here to be and not who others think you should be. Third, make every decision based on your values and morals. Fourth, don’t focus on making money instead, focus on bringing attention to your value and the money will come! Lastly, listen more than you Speak and APPLY. Remember the work isn’t in thinking about what you’re gonna do. The work is in execution. Think then Execute!
What does being a part of the African Diaspora mean to you?
To me, the African Diaspora means responsibility in understanding that I am a result of my ancestors who came before me surviving long enough for me to be here to do what I’m here to do. I carry their sacrifices everywhere I go and make sure they are honored in everything I do. The African Diaspora means culture, history, and truth. Seeing my brothers and sisters as the Kings and Queens that they are. Everyday I’m motivated by this quote – “This for the ones that died so we could be here, barely survived so we could be here, gave up their life so we could be here, now what [we’re] gona’ do now that we [are] here?”
Nominated by Rayna Weddington
