Today we’d like to introduce you to Xzandria Armstrong.
Hi Xzandria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Honestly, my journey has been all about growth and finding my purpose. I started off in the entertainment world — acting in theater and working on film sets. I did plays like God Don’t Like Ugly and Dearly Departed, and then started getting small roles in movies like Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, Hall Pass, and Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself. I was fortunate to train with some amazing mentors like Tasha Smith and Matthew Hammner, and those experiences really helped me find my voice as a performer.
Over time, I got to see different sides of the industry. I worked behind the scenes too — as a Production Assistant for The Rickey Smiley Show and a Casting Assistant with Tyler Perry Studios. I even appeared on TMZ Live, which was such a fun and eye-opening experience because it taught me how powerful media really is in shaping how we see the world.
In my 20s and 30s, acting and entertainment were my everything. But as I got older, I started feeling this pull toward something deeper — toward purpose and community. Now, in my 40s, I’ve become a lot more focused on making an impact. I work with the NAACP and serve as a Tri-Chair and impacted speaker with the Poor People’s Campaign. A lot of what I do now is about giving back — organizing community events, helping educate voters, and creating spaces for real conversations that lead to change.
Looking back, I realize everything I’ve done connects — whether it’s performing on stage, being behind the camera, or standing in front of a crowd speaking about justice and equality. It’s all storytelling. It’s all about using my voice to make sure people feel seen, heard, and valued. That’s what keeps me moving forward.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve been through a lot to get to where I am today. There were times when I was homeless with my children, standing in food bank lines and visiting clothing closets just to make it through the week. As a single mom, there were days I didn’t know how we were going to make it — but I kept pushing, kept praying, and kept believing that things would turn around.
Thankfully, there were nonprofit organizations that stepped in and helped us rebuild our lives. Through housing programs and community support, I was finally able to get stable housing — and we’ve now been in our home for about three years. That stability gave me space to heal, grow, and start giving back in a bigger way.
Those experiences really shaped who I am today and why I’m so passionate about my work with the NAACP and the Poor People’s Campaign. I know what it feels like to struggle, to need help, and to feel unseen. So now, I use my voice to advocate for others — for families who are fighting the same battles I once fought.
Even on the political side, it hasn’t always been easy. There have been challenges, jealousy, and people who didn’t always have the right intentions. But I’ve learned to stay focused on purpose, not politics. My journey hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been real — and that’s what drives me to keep showing up, to keep fighting for justice, and to keep creating change in my community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I do now really brings together every part of who I am — the entertainer, the advocate, the organizer, and the mom who never stopped pushing. My journey started in film and theater. I earned scholarships to study film at both Southern Union State Community College and Kennesaw State University, which opened the door for me to really learn the art of storytelling and performance.From there, I began acting in stage plays like God Don’t Like Ugly and Dearly Departed, and later appeared in films such as Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, Hall Pass, and Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself. I also worked behind the scenes as a Production Assistant on The Rickey Smiley Show and as a Casting Assistant at Tyler Perry Studios — and even appeared on TMZ Live. All those experiences taught me how powerful storytelling and media can be in shaping how we see ourselves and the world.
As time went on, my purpose started to shift. I wanted to use that same storytelling power to make an impact in my community. I now serve as a Tri-Chair and impacted speaker for the Poor People’s Campaign, and I work closely with the NAACP on initiatives around poverty, housing, education, and equality. Over the past few years, I’ve organized several major community and political Meet & Greets — bringing together voters, city council members, mayoral candidates, and even governor candidates.
My goal with every event is to create a space where people can come together across lines — to connect, learn, and build understanding. I believe real change happens through relationships and conversation.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just talk about these issues — I’ve lived them. I’ve been homeless, I’ve stood in food bank lines, and I’ve fought my way back. So when I speak or advocate, it’s not just from a political place — it’s from a deeply personal one.
What I’m most proud of is seeing the impact. Whether it’s a family getting connected to resources, a young person stepping into leadership, or a community coming together to make change — those are the moments that remind me why I do what I do. I’ve come full circle — from performing in front of the camera to now helping shine a light on the people and stories that truly matter.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Oh, I’m definitely a risk taker — just maybe not the kind who’s out here climbing Mount Everest! For me, risk looks like stepping out on faith when everything’s on the line, especially when it comes to my family, my purpose, and my community.
One of the biggest risks I ever took was reaching out directly to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp when I was struggling to get housing. At that time, I was homeless and doing everything I could to create stability for my children. Most people would’ve been too afraid to reach out like that, but I knew I had to take that chance. I wanted him to hear my story and to understand that families like mine were falling through the cracks. It was a bold move, but it paid off — I eventually received my Section 8 voucher, and that completely changed our lives.
But I have to say this — I didn’t do that on my own strength. I have a strong Christian faith, and I believe in Jesus Christ. He’s the one who has given me the courage to take those leaps when everything in me wanted to stay safe. Every risk I’ve taken, I’ve prayed on first. I’ve trusted that if God opened the door, I just had to have the faith to walk through it.
That same faith led me to take another big risk — organizing Houston County’s very first Governor Candidate Meet & Greet Forum. It brought people from all walks of life and political sides together for real conversation and community. It was something that had never been done before in our area, but I knew it was time.
So yes, I take risks — but they’re purpose-driven risks. I take them for my children, for my community, and because God has called me to use my voice. My faith gives me the strength to step out, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed — because I know that with Him, I’m never walking alone.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zan.armstrong1?igsh=MTk0YnlsaWRoMGhneA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GEwi4ikVY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/zanarmstrong?s=11
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thearmstrongcrew?si=jkEZ6R9mH8eIGWxV
