Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Johnson.
Hi Ryan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been an entrepreneur since ever since. In 2003 I co-founded one of the first full MMA gyms in San Diego called UND1SPUTED Fitness & Training Center. Over the next several years we expanded to several locations all over the world where we had gyms and fighters representing us everywhere.
In 2015 my wife passed away, so I decided I needed to focus on myself and my kids for a few years.
Then in late 2018 I co-founded a Punk-Rock gourmet fried rice restaurant/food brand and food truck called Rice or Death. We became very popular and in-demand after a very short period of time.
In 2020 the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown and the George Floyd awakening rocked the world, so we decided to shift our focus from our entrepreneurial efforts to doing our part by re-prioritizing our mission towards serving the community. We started to form a 501c3 nonprofit called the Vision Culture Foundation. By January 2022, we became a 501c3. Our mission is to serve, empower, and uplift our community.
These days, I’m a National City/San Diego business owner and entrepreneur. Co-Director of the Vision Culture Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit with a focus on art and art therapy & mental health support and resources with a safe-space community center on the legendary Highland Avenue. Board member of the United Lowrider Coalition and member of the National City Public Art/Cultural Arts Committee. I’m a widower and single father to two amazing young adults, 20 and 18years old. My 20-year-old is a Junior at UC Berkeley where he received a full-ride scholarship and studies both Mechanical and Chemical Engineering. My youngest is a senior in High School and is currently deciding between going to UCLA or UC Berkeley in the fall.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is it ever a smooth road for anyone?? No, it definitely has not been an easy road. Of the many struggles everyone faces in life, the ones that stand out to me personally that affected my journey would be 1. – the numerous unexpected illnesses and deaths in my immediate family in a short period of time, and 2. – attempting to run a food brand and other businesses effectively in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic and lockdown.
Of course, there are many more that we all face, but those two definitely directly affected my trajectory in life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in art, art therapy and free programming called the Open Book Sessions and the Mural Club Sessions, mental health support and resources called The Parental Collective and The Link Up, public art installations and murals all over SD County and beyond, entrepreneurial support for young adults called the Hustle & Motivate Sessions, disaster relief, preparedness and community resources during times of crisis where we co-founded the SRT (Southbay Resource Team), community events and support, and we have a safe-space community center in National City where we host events, town halls, meetings, parties, markets, hip hop events, art galleries, Lowrider and custom car culture events, know your rights workshops, we are partners in an environmental justice initiative called the Homegrown Project using upcycled fashion, and we are part of the land-back initiative called the Green Corridor Project for National City and Southeast San Diego with Mundo Gardens, Sandag and CalTrans, and SO MUCH more!
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Waking up early on weekends, surfing all day, eating fish tacos, and Bon firing at night with family and chosen family.
Contact Info:
- Website: visionculturefoundation.org / riceordeath.com
- Instagram: @jboyswolfpack / @visionculturefoundation / @highlandavesupplyco / @thehomegrownprojectsd / @riceordeath
