Whether as a businessman, philanthropist, athlete, teacher, or the occasional music producer, Daniel Griffin is a believer at heart. It’s that belief that kept him strong while living in domestic violence shelters and foster homes. It’s the same belief that has also propelled him to self-employment and becoming the owner of Exclusive Transportation Services and the co-owner of a successful Wing Stop franchise, both of which are located in his native Los Angeles community.
“I’ve gone full circle from being a Section 8 tenant to now being a Section 8 landlord,” Griffin begins, when chronicling his story. “I went from patronizing businesses and now people patronize my businesses. I went from being a student at my high school to becoming a teacher at the very same high school. All of those things are full circle, but I understand that I can be a Section 8 tenant again [and] riding public transportation. The reality is that we are all the same. We are just in different places and different situations.”
After eleven years of teaching and coaching, Griffin pursued his dreams of being an entrepreneur, actor and motivational speaker. To date, he has been in movies, reality shows, commercials, and will even appear on the CNN special series “Black in America: HIV and AIDS.”
Griffin’s uplifting speaking engagements focus on community issues. He not only spreads positive messages, Griffin is a man determined to live by them as well. “Change your story. We are all living books. You can achieve anything. As long as you believe, you can definitely get it done. Use the negative things in your life as stepping stones to come full circle,” says Griffin –erika townsend
