We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John “JP” Avila. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John “JP” below.
John “JP”, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
As an entrepreneur, I’ve worked with tons of people of all demographics. I’m a bald headed Chicano with a tattooed tear drop on my face. I usually look nothing like many of the people at the networking events I’ve done. Looking different could be a super power. The secret is having confidence in what you do. Standing out is something most people want to do in those environments but want to look like everyone else and keep up with the Joneses. I often walk in with a t-shirt and shorts walk right through the middle of the room and scan the room first to see potential people I may want to work with. After one or two of those events people will know you and talk about you. That’s when the work comes in.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I became an official business owner in 2009 during the housing crash. I teamed up with a guy with a print shop and soon after started a clothing line Mary Jane SmokeWear. We helped activists with their efforts to legalize marijuana. That clothing line took off on us and it’s still relevant today. During COVID I started up a prison themed food cart called Prison Pies. We sell food we used to make in prison out of the commissary we would get in there.
I was shocked to see the reaction from people as we set up at local markets. We were featured on the news a couple times, and have had quite a few articles written about us.
One of the coolest things that’s happened recently is we met a graduate film student Brad Smith and he did a short film on our company. We were entered into a couple of international film festivals (Palm Springs short film festival, New Orleans film festival, Memphis film festival and ASU emerge) we actually won in New Orleans and ASU emerge film festival. The film is about eating in prison and the importance of food in there.
I was also a part of the Storyteller’s Project put on by AZ Republic and USA TODAY.
That was an amazing experience, telling my story to 400 plus people at the ASU center for the arts.
Another things we were involved in was the undoing time exhibit, for the ASU art museum. I was able to tell my story and actually feed the audience. This was also an amazing experience, to have my food considered art and be a part of an art show that was interactive to where you can eat the art your watching us create. This was a groundbreaking art exhibit and we were able to talk to Berkeley university, Boston university and others to follow the outline of the Undoing Time exhibit.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe knowledge on what you do is very important, not being afraid to take calculated risks is also important. I always want to test something out to see if their is a need or market for whatever I’m getting involved in. My advice to people who are just starting would be to be yourself and be confident in what you do. Take the first step and things will start to fall on place. Over planning can get you on a place where your not going to pull the trigger when the right opportunity comes. Be ready for whatever and don’t get discouraged when things don’t go your way, because in business, it rarely does.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am actively seeking people who are doing things to help ex convicts. We’ve worked with the Televerde foundation and Convicted Creations on a few things. Another goal is to franchise our carts and franchise food carts to help ex convicts to start a turn key business.
I’ve also started working with Arizona Barrio Stories on a show called War Stories, where I interview ex convicts who have gone through the system and made a positive impact on their community. I’m always looking to interview people.
Another organization I’m involved with is Tonatierra, which is an community advocate and helps in many different areas were currently helping farm workers with food and clothing drives. They also teach youth about their culture.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.prisonpies.com
- Instagram: Prisonpiesaz
- Facebook: Prison Pies
- Youtube: Prison Pies
- Yelp: Prison Pies
- Other: Arizona Barrio Stories – War Stories https://youtu.be/yZAN4UBiX3Y
Image Credits
Irma Payan, Brittany Kidd
