Matthew Emerzian speaking at Every Monday Matters’ first annual Party with a Purpose benefi t; RIGHT: Emerzian with event honoree Nicole McCollum
Matthew Emerzian was a music-industry executive who thought he had it all until he woke up one morning at the age of 33 and had a nervous breakdown. On his path to self-rediscovery, Emerzian learned the value of focusing on the greater good, which prompted him to coauthor the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference. The book suggests ways to change your life and other’s lives every Monday of the year, from donating blood to adopting a pet. He then founded Every Monday Matters—a company committed to teaching people they can change the world and themselves one action at a time—and recently launched an “Our Schools Matter” nonprofit campaign.
LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL: What are some of the small ways Angelenos can make a difference?
MATTHEW EMERZIAN: There are simple things people can do: picking up trash, opening doors, planting a tree—understanding we all take care of this world.
LAC: Tell us about the “Our Schools Matter” campaign.
ME: It’s for kindergarten through 12th grade, and we’re already in 500 schools in 20 states. It’s character building through service learning; we talk to students and really get them to understand their significance.
LAC: Why Monday?
ME: A lot of people think it’s a “Monday makeover” thing, but the truth is, I woke up on a Monday morning and my life changed forever.
Visit everymondaymatters.com.
