MADISON, Wis. — Once a face in the crowd with no place to call home, a former Madison man is now in demand for his work in the TV and film industry.

Ajani, who started his acting career as a little boy, has turned his dreams of becoming a movie star into a reality, landing roles on top television shows and hit films.

He grew up in Madison and has seen his perseverance pay off, beginning with bit roles before a breakout role on Showtime’s “The Chi.”

“Started from the bottom, and we just been building to the top,” he said, reflecting on his journey.

Ajani first appeared on “The Chi” in its inaugural season and is now set to return in a recurring role, written specifically for him, in the upcoming seventh season.

“I did the first season of it. So coming into season seven, I’m glad that everybody’s going to be able to see how everything manifested,” he shared.

Beyond “The Chi,” Ajani has showcased his range with roles in films such as “Judas and the Black Messiah” and shows like FX’s “Atlanta” and Netflix’s “Hey Victor” and “Family Reunion”. His talent has shone through despite the immense challenges he has faced.

At just 5 years old, Ajani experienced homelessness and the violent loss of his grandmother, Yolanda Janine Ballard, whose murder remains unsolved. Despite these hardships, his family pushed forward, founding YJB Talent, a now-thriving talent company named in her honor.

“We went through a whole lot during that time,” Ajani said. “We were in a hotel. The only food we really had to eat was a complimentary breakfast every day. And we still had to go to school every day.”

Ajani's determination and resilience have continued to inspire those who know him. Recently, he returned to Verona High School, where he spoke with students and reconnected with former teachers.

“It fills my heart. I’m just so proud,” his former school counselor, Lesley Morrison, said.

She said she was thrilled to see her former student’s success.

“He did it on his own, you know, to find that inner strength and that resilience to overcome so many things that could have been roadblocks in his life. And he chose to use those to grow,” Morrison said.

When he’s not on screen, Ajani is committed to giving back. He’s involved with Mentoring Positives, a Madison-based nonprofit that focuses on basketball and mentoring. The organization, founded by Will Green, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

“I’ve genuinely seen Will in the streets with the kids, and that’s why my connection with them has been so strong because I saw him making peace with the kids,” Ajani said. “I see him making sure that they came together after school to have somewhere to go so that idle time wasn’t spent doing something wrong.”

Ajani continues to embrace his optimism, encouraging younger generations to do the same.

“I think I always was a little optimistic as a kid. So I would say to the younger person, just to stay that way and realize that your situation, your circumstances, aren’t your whole life. You know what you have inside of you, the words you have, the talent you have, the greatness you have — that’s what you should focus on,” he said.

In addition to his acting career, Ajani is also working on other projects, including a children’s book and his own nonprofit, Building Bosses.