Meet Our 2024 D.C. Rock Star Fund Awardees

Name: Eris Aubrie Busey

Age: 14

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

I applied for this grant because I wanted to give an open space for youth to express themselves but didn’t have the financial support to make it possible. I wanted to create a safe space to chat about our city and how it affects us as a whole.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

In our community, my generation does have access to safe spaces to express themselves as a whole. My project is to create a pilot program that would be pitched to local channels to televise a teen chat about the issues we feel as a whole need to be addressed and put in the open. I believe this could benefit the community because peers would realize we are alike in how we adjust to life in DC.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

🤯 – I used this emoji because the change in the community once this project is completed will be mind-blowing and impactful! 

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

The advice I would give is to simply be yourself. When you know what you want to do and where you want to be, you are your own example. When you maintain your personality and kindness, you are your own standard. Love yourself before you love your initiative!

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

My project will fit into the women’s empowerment and gender quality movements because of the open space provided. Leaders of the movements can inspire younger women going through similar struggles to step up and voice their concerns. This will build comfortable spaces that will prevent violence and drug use and will build self-esteem.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

My superpower would be to read minds. I would use this to get through to people more. People often don’t feel comfortable saying how they feel because they fear being seen as “soft.” If I could read minds, I would touch base with them on a deeper level and let them know I am here and I understand. This will also build confidence and self-esteem.

Name: MaKaila Eddings

Age: 20

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

My community inspired me to apply for this grant; the betterment of inner-city girls inspired and pushed me to apply. To receive valuable resources from the Rock Star Fund is truly an honor. I am so thankful and excited to participate and help young women become the best versions of themselves.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

My project is a mentorship and empowerment program designed to uplift and empower young inner-city at-risk girls through mentorship, arts and humanities, life skill development, and education. My program is aimed to provide a safe haven and support system for girls facing numerous social, economic & systemic challenges.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

🪷 – The lotus emoji best describes my project because the lotus flower and my project both symbolize rising from a dark place into beauty and rebirth.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

My advice would be to remember that “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything” and to appreciate the “little things” in life.

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

I see my project as an important part of the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality. By providing mentorship, support, and opportunities for personal growth, we are contributing to breaking down systemic barriers and empowering girls to reach their full potential.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

If I could have any superpower, I would want the power to heal. I would heal everyone from hate, pain, and hunger so that no one in the world will have trauma and suffering.

Name: Camila Marryshow

Age: 21

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

My experience as a former foster care youth and interest in arts and crafts has drawn me to this opportunity, but I cannot thank my uncle enough for introducing me to this grant to begin with. He sent me the link one day, and I initially couldn’t think of an idea until I read about projects from previous Rock Stars. Then, I was able to reflect on issues I faced as a Latina; while foster care is not an issue unique to the Latino community, it was what came to mind as a project idea when I thought of a social issue that personally resonated with me along with what I read from past projects. Receiving this grant pleasantly surprised me because now I have the chance to give what I thought I never would: a creative support system for minority girls in foster care.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

Create2Learn is a 10-to-12-week program where minority girls in foster care will get the chance to make arts and crafts alongside female minority mentors who either have extensive knowledge of foster care or have been in the system themselves. The purpose of having these mentors is so that during these creative sessions, girls can ask questions, talk to, or ask for advice about navigating foster care or life outside of it. I believe it will provide girls in foster care with a safe environment to express themselves through the arts and engage in respectful conversations with other girls and mentors, which may not have been possible for them during their experience as children in foster care.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

👩🏽‍👩🏽‍👧🏽 – It would be the family emoji, which I customized to have two female mentors and one girl. I chose this particular emoji because it represents what I have in mind for my project: a family that girls in foster care can turn to beyond just making arts and crafts. I believe that, at the very least, those participating in the Create2Learn Program will have mentors and friends they can talk to along with fun activities, and at best (and ultimately my hope), these girls will have a second family from this program.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

Put it down on paper, and don’t edit it until you have written everything you think of. The point is to do rather than think, and my personal first step to begin a project—not just musical, artistic, or academic—is to dump info on a piece of paper. That way, I am not too busy thinking about how my plan won’t work when I have the excuse that I haven’t even finished making my plan yet. Sometimes, if it’s a very large project like writing many songs or a long essay, I just keep writing while ignoring the thoughts in my mind of how good something will be in the end. If I have not reached the end, then I say bye-bye to those nagging thoughts that have nothing to do with what I am presently working on.

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

As a woman who has been in foster care, I have noticed that when it comes to publicity and television, girls are not the first faces that fit within the “foster care” narrative. One example I have held onto is Billy Batson, a teenage boy in the movie “Shazam.” While he is a character who is a foster kid, I struggle to think of female figures in the system in both fiction and real life. As a child, the lack of representation made it harder for me to tell people what was really going on with me, especially since foster care was and still is not a well-known issue. By providing more support to girls like the kind my project will offer, they can be more comfortable and confident to tell their stories when ready to do so.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

Healing. I would love to be able to heal others physically, but the power would have one catch—that person has to believe that they can bounce back. I know it sounds a bit like a rip-off of Jesus, but I think that that part of the power would be important so that people can realize what is possible and accept it. People can pretend like they feel something special, but this power would require each person to trust in recovery and progress within themselves in order to unlock that potential of being healed. There is no way of faking it to make it with this power unless the intention is 100% real.

Name: Debkanya Mitra

Age: 21

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

I always wanted to do a project where I could help young women explore their artistic identities and build a community of DC music-makers. I am ecstatic because, with this grant, I now have the resources to make this vision a reality!

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

In my project, I will mentor young women through recording and distributing their music. It will give these women the opportunity to tap into their innate creativity and innate leadership skills. I hope the larger community will increase their appreciation of this home-grown, heartfelt music.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

🤝 – Music is connection. Mentorship is connection. Creative expression is connection.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

Dream big, set your dreams as your intentions, then think realistic.

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

My project emphasizes women’s right to self-expression, to self-lead, and to select their own direction. In many communities, it is expected that women bow down to their father and then their partner and be completely self-sacrificing to meet the needs of the household. Beyond that, society and the music industry also put certain roles and expectations on women who are artists. I want these young women to challenge these expectations by having a space to unapologetically be their artistic selves.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

Understand and speak in all languages. I would have so much fun talking to people of all different cultures. I love listening to stories. With this power, I could make a difference in my world by helping immigrants feel more welcome and wanted.

Name: Nyirah Newton

Age: 14

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

What inspired me to apply for the Rock Star Fund was multiple community members, mentors, and programs that sent me the flyer to apply. It showed me that my community sees me, sees the work I’m doing, and wants to encourage that. It means so much that I applied for my very first grant and won. It also shows that the Rock Star Fund judges recognized that I could change my community through my project.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

My project, CROWNED, aims to facilitate a second year of self-care and empowerment youth-led workshops and classes. Through hosting workshops focused on empowerment, self-esteem, confidence, mental health awareness, and fostering healthy habits for girls, the I AM CROWNED project will help “bring out the magic in you” with valuable skills and knowledge in a safe and affirming space as we build sisterhood. Additionally, by launching a line of mindfulness products and tangible tools for ongoing self-care.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

👑 – If I could describe my project with one emoji, it would be a crown because my business is named I AM CROWNED.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

The advice I would give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community change project /initiative is to start, apply for this grant as well, and be the change you wish to see.

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

My I AM CROWNED project fits the larger movement of women’s empowerment and gender equality by providing participants with the tools and knowledge necessary for personal empowerment and well-being. It starts within. Through workshops, classes, and mindfulness products, the project aims to help “bring out the magic in you,” building a sense of belonging and providing a safe space for the experiences of all girls, which makes a more inclusive and supportive environment for girls. This will have a positive impact as we move into womanhood.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

If I had a superpower, I would want to be able to read minds so I can know what everyone is thinking. This way, I can make decisions that benefit everyone.

Name: Rocheny Pricien

Age: 24

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

I was inspired by those in my community already doing so much to improve people’s circumstances. One of my mentors sent me the link to the fund, and I read about the Rock Star Fund and saw how it supports women making a difference for themselves and their communities. I wanted to get involved [in the community] more than I was and found this to be a great way to.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

My project is about providing safe spaces for my community members to learn, create, connect, and grow mentally, emotionally, physically, and artistically. All of this while getting linked to important public health resources. This is a proven community engagement event with a mental health focus that will lead to positive changes in community members. Even just having a space to commune together is lacking now, so I hope to make a difference for sure.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

🔭 – If I could describe my project with one emoji, it would be a telescope. Specifically, a telescope is used to see the world beyond our own eyes. I want this project to be a telescope to show the community and shine a light on the talents and artistic expressions of community members who aren’t often given the space, resources, or attention to put energy into expression and creativity.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

My advice would be to stick to your passion. Whatever you are passionate about and want to achieve will be more doable, and when you suffer letdowns or stop and start, you won’t back down if you have passion. My other advice would be to be among your community. Empathy and understanding are very important when it comes to supporting and helping communities.

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

My project fits the women’s empowerment and gender equality movements by giving them the space to express, speak, and come together. When you are free to create and be among others all supporting one another, you can’t help but be empowered. Also, with help from community resources and public health access, this project will fit very well.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

If I could have any superpower in the world, it would be to mimic those around me. This would allow me to truly understand and empathize with those around me, as well as use the collective strengths of those around me to effect swift change for my community.

Name: Alluorra Rosé

Age: 23

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

I applied to the grant because of my experience as a Black Deaf Trans Woman and because my sister sent this grant application urging me to apply. It means the world to me to receive this grant because I thought my voice would not be given the chance to be heard. This grant opened my eyes to the fact that I am worthy and powerful, and I believe that with my entire being. I now have the chance to inspire many and set the tone.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

My project spotlights accessibility and difficulties that arise when receiving services in LGBTQ transitional housing programs and everywhere else that should have been equipped to accommodate anyone and everyone. Unfortunately, the system has a mindset focused on servicing the “regular” people. This project will be presented as timeless evidence that a Black Deaf Trans Woman is more regular than you think she is.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

🦋 – I would describe my project with the butterfly emoji because it symbolizes transformation. I believe that this film will not only inspire young girls like me to trust their voices but also be the change they want to see.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

My advice will be to show off your wings. Some people may bring you down, but there will be some people rooting for you as you fly beautifully whilst alluring genuine supporters. Trust your voice, trust who you are, trust your project and the process, and stand ten toes behind you at all times, respectfully. Creativity has no limit, so don’t limit yourself to society’s expectations. Remember, creativity is a form of freedom of expression, and you’ve got this!

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

My project is not something everyone should want to see; it is more like something they need to see. I’m a woman of trans experience, a woman of disability, a woman of color, and a woman of the arts. It fits in by being the missing piece in the movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality in the community. Those who were once an outsider have now become the headliner simply for being exactly who they are.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

If I had a superpower, it would be telepathy. My experience is hardwired into my memory and my heart. I will show them every reason why I have come to be the person to advocate for accessibility for the Deaf Trans Women of Color. The world will pause while receiving everything because they will receive the unfiltered and authentic reality behind the social media world. Access for one means access for all.

Name: Jadyn Settles

Age: 18

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

I was introduced to the Rock Star Fund by a family friend who knew I had a heart for community service and a special interest in issues impacting women. I feel extremely blessed and excited to receive this grant for my QRhome Project. It will help purchase supplies and potentially fund research on creating a QRhome app for participants.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

I launched the QRhome Project in 2021 when I began noticing that I didn’t have cash whenever I wanted to give money to someone on the street who needed help. Like most people, I no longer walk around with dollars and change. My twin brother noted that someone should provide QR codes to those who struggle on the street so that people can scan and donate digitally. We thought this was a pretty good idea, which is how the QRHome Project (QRhome.org) was born. By creating an avenue for direct digital donations, QRhome addresses the immediate needs of the housing and food insecure and contributes to broader efforts to create a more equitable and compassionate society.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

❤️ – My project can be described with a heart emoji. Caring for those who are unhoused or food insecure requires compassion.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

I would say that if you have something that you are passionate about, see if you can use that passion to positively impact your community.

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

While the QRhome project may not specifically focus on women, its impact on this demographic is undeniable. Women are disproportionately affected by poverty and homelessness, often facing unique challenges such as limited access to resources and support networks. By providing a digital avenue for direct donations, QRhome empowers women needing urgent assistance with greater ease and efficiency.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

My superpower would be teleportation. It would be great if I could travel to the future to learn about solutions and cures that have been discovered and bring them

back to today so people don’t have to suffer right now.

Name: Destiny Wilson

Age: 19

What inspired you to apply for the Rock Star Fund, and what does it mean to you to have received this grant?

I saw a friend apply for the Rock Star Fund, and it helped her a lot. To receive this grant means that I can really help others and reach more people. I am thankful to receive this grant.

Tell us about your project and how you believe it will make a difference in our community.

BlisX DC is an organization that inspires and encourages youth to be creative. It is a creative, safe space, and it gives youth the opportunity to try new things that aren’t available in their neighborhoods.

If you could describe your project in one emoji, what would it be…and why?

🌊 – We’re bringing a wave of fashion to DC.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in pursuing their own community-change project or initiative?

Don’t worry about what others will say or think about what you’re doing. Not everybody can see the bigger picture. And baby steps still get us somewhere!

How do you see your project fitting into the larger movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality?

I see BlisX inspiring young girls to chase their dreams. A lot of men are in the fashion industry, and I want to see more leaders that aren’t men. I want people to see that women ARE great leaders.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it to make a difference in the world?

If I could have any superpower, I would have super speed and would make clothes for people in need. Everybody deserves to look and feel good.