Inspiring Conversations with A Jay Pullen of People Like Me Inc

Today we’d like to introduce you to A Jay Pullen.

Hi A Jay, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I usually tell people that my career started long before I ever had a job title. I didn’t wake up one day and decide to work in community health or youth advocacy — I grew into it. I was the person people called when they needed help, guidance, or someone who could see past the surface and understand what was really going on. That instinct to serve is what shaped everything that came after.

My early professional years were spent in roles that taught me how systems work — and how they fail people. At Access Ohio, I learned the realities of case management and how critical it is to meet people where they are. At OhioHealth, I saw firsthand how families navigate crisis, trauma, and uncertainty. Later, at Guardian Care Services, I stepped into leadership and learned how to build structure, support staff, and create environments where clients feel safe and seen.

Every role added a layer to my understanding of people, community, and responsibility. But it wasn’t a straight path. I went through business challenges, partnerships that didn’t align, name changes, and moments where I had to rebuild from scratch. Those experiences weren’t setbacks — they were shaping tools. They taught me resilience, clarity, and how to trust my calling even when the road wasn’t smooth.

Eventually, I reached a point where I knew I wasn’t meant to simply work inside systems — I was meant to build one. Something rooted in lived experience, faith, and purpose. Something that reflected the communities I came from and the people I’ve spent my life serving. That’s how People Like Me Project, Inc. was born.

Today, I’m operating fully in that calling. I’m leading a nonprofit that supports youth, families, and communities through mentorship, behavioral health, advocacy, and real‑world guidance. I’m designing programs that actually meet needs — not just check boxes. I’m using everything I’ve learned across operations, community health, leadership, and ministry to create impact that lasts.

My journey isn’t polished or perfect — it’s real. It’s full of lessons, prayers, pivots, and breakthroughs. But every step brought me to where I’m meant to be: serving people, building something meaningful, and standing as proof that purpose can outlive every obstacle.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all — and honestly, that’s a big part of what makes your story meaningful. Your path has been shaped just as much by the challenges as by the successes, and those struggles are what gave you the resilience and clarity you lead with today.

The road included failed partnerships, business name changes, and moments where you had to rebuild from the ground up. There were times when you invested in people who didn’t invest back, seasons where you had to walk away from situations that no longer aligned with your purpose, and periods where you questioned whether the vision you carried was still worth fighting for.

You navigated rough transitions between jobs, balancing community work with personal growth, and learning how to lead even when you didn’t feel fully supported. You dealt with the emotional weight of serving families in crisis, the pressure of being the person everyone depended on, and the reality that building something meaningful often requires sacrifice.

But none of those struggles broke you. They refined you.

They taught you how to trust your instincts, how to build with intention, and how to stay committed to your calling even when the path wasn’t clear. Every challenge pushed you closer to the leader you are today — someone who shows up with purpose, faith, and a deep understanding of what it means to overcome.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about People Like Me Inc?
People Like Me Project, Inc. is a community‑rooted organization in Columbus dedicated to supporting youth and families through behavioral health services, mentorship, family advocacy, and prevention services. Known for its culturally responsive, relationship‑driven approach, the organization meets people where they are — in schools, libraries, neighborhoods, and homes — offering support that feels accessible, authentic, and deeply personal.

The organization specializes in helping youth build emotional regulation, leadership skills, confidence, and healthy communication. Families receive guidance, tools, and advocacy that strengthen the entire household. Through its prevention services, People Like Me focuses on reducing risk factors, promoting healthy decision‑making, and equipping youth with skills that prevent behavioral, academic, and social challenges before they escalate.

What sets People Like Me apart is its commitment to presence, trust, and real impact. Programs are built from lived experience, not theory, and are designed to uplift, empower, and transform lives.

Brand‑wise, People Like Me is most proud of being a safe space — a place where youth and families feel seen, heard, and supported without judgment. The organization stands for hope, consistency, and meaningful change, offering services that truly meet the needs of the community.

What does success mean to you?
Success is when people grow because you showed up. It’s seeing a young person regulate their emotions for the first time, a parent feel supported instead of overwhelmed, or a community finally have access to resources that feel culturally aligned and judgment‑free.

Success is consistency — being present in schools, libraries, and neighborhoods, not just in mission statements. It’s building trust with youth who don’t trust easily, and watching them open up, communicate, and thrive.

Success is impact you can feel, not just measure. It’s the quiet wins:

A student choosing a better response instead of an outburst

A family using the tools you taught them

A teen realizing they have purpose

A parent saying, “Thank you, we needed this”

Success is also alignment — staying true to your calling even when the road wasn’t smooth. It’s building a brand rooted in authenticity, lived experience, and community connection. It’s creating something that feels real, accessible, and safe.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peoplelikemeinc.org