202CREATES GRADUATES NEW COHORT AS PROGRAM CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

OCTFME honors the District's growing community of creative entrepreneurs

202Creates Spring 2026 Residency Cohort (L-R): First Row - Qubilah Huddleston, Moriah Tshihamba, Asia Marie West, Eboni Ellis, Sondra Nixon; Second Row - Bianca "Smiley" Brown, Jhante' Belt, Joshua Hankerson, Guayi Fernandez, Imani Hopkins; Third Row - Diamond Herring, Asia Bryant, Kaleo Rodriguez, Mona Osuchukwu.

(Washington, DC) - The award-winning DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment (OCTFME) proudly celebrates the newest graduating cohort of the 202Creates Residency Program, a signature initiative launched by Mayor Muriel Bowser to strengthen and elevate the District's creative economy. The virtual graduation took place on Thursday, July 2, 2026, featuring remarks from Jus Paul, current lead singer of The Blackbyrds, former The Voice contestant, and past 202Creates Resident, along with presentations from graduating residents. As 202Creates approaches its 10-year anniversary in August, the District recognizes the program's lasting impact on local creative entrepreneurs and its role in shaping a more vibrant, inclusive, and economically resilient creative community.

Since its inception in 2016, 202Creates has welcomed more than 1,500 creative entrepreneurs and has saved District residents an estimated $4.3 million by providing free resources, professional development, community building events, and creative workspaces. Mayor Bowser created 202Creates to ensure that artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs have access to meaningful development opportunities, reflecting her belief that creativity is both cultural expression and a powerful economic engine for the District.

The 202Creates Residency Program provides a comprehensive pathway for creative entrepreneurs to advance their ventures from ideation to execution. Residents participate in a structured entrepreneurship curriculum, hear from featured speakers and industry leaders, receive individualized one-on-one business coaching, join monthly coworking sessions, and benefit from a supportive cohort model designed to ensure no creator builds alone. The program also offers mentorship pairing, curated networking opportunities, and access to a growing alumni community of local creative entrepreneurs. Together, these elements equip DC creatives with the resources, community, and confidence needed to launch, grow, and sustain their work in a competitive creative economy.

The program culminates in a pitch session and ceremony where participants present their business ventures and creative projects, hear featured remarks from a notable DC creative entrepreneur, and receive a certificate of completion from Mayor Muriel Bowser, presented through the 202Creates Initiative and OCTFME.

"The 202Creates Residency Program is a vital part of DC's creative economy, giving our entrepreneurs the support they need to build and grow. The program continues to empower creators across the District, and we're proud to celebrate this year's graduates," said OCTFME Director LaToya Foster.

202Creates Residency Program Graduates:

• Bianca "Smiley" Brown - A multidisciplinary DC artist and educator, Brown blends abstraction, typography, ceramics, and mixed media to create concept driven work rooted in culturally responsive teaching. IG: @smileysartgallery777

• Asia F. Bryant - A DC based project manager, strategist, and multimedia artist, Bryant draws on experience spanning NASA to fashion production and founded 202 Commons to preserve and uplift Black local stories. IG: @byasiafarrell

• Guayi Fernandez - A Venezuelan Spanish American artist and illustrator, Fernandez creates bold, expressive work exploring emotion, identity, and resilience through her project Guayilandia Art. IG: @guayilandia.art

• Diamond Herring - A fiber artist and creative entrepreneur, Herring transforms crochet into elevated design and community centered wellness experiences through CinderRasta The Brand. IG: @cinderrastathebrand

• Joshua Hankerson - A DMV visual artist and creative marketing professional, Hankerson merges realism, contemporary iconography, and digital design to craft striking brand identities through Sly Artist Studio. IG: @sly.artist

• Imani Hopkins - A DC based creative entrepreneur and Howard trained MBA, Hopkins leads Creating Classics, a nonprofit supporting emerging music creators through programming and industry access. IG: @imanimuse

• Qubilah Huddleston - A DC writer, community builder, and policy professional, Huddleston leads Black Women Get to Be, a storytelling and wellness platform centering Black women's ambition, rest, and self-defined success. IG: @blackwomengettobe

• Eboni Ellis - A DC based DJ known as DJ Eb & Flow, Ellis blends diaspora rooted sounds with open format versatility across festivals, events, and brand activations, while also teaching DJing and music production to inner city youth. IG: @eboni

• Sondra Nixon - A DC creative professional and former federal contractor, Nixon brings deep expertise in regulatory documentation as she builds her independent consulting practice. IG: N/A

• Mona Osuchukwu - A DC creative, model, and storyteller, Osuchukwu blends photography, beauty, and cultural expression to amplify authenticity and artistic identity across her practice. IG: @monaosuchukwu

• Kaleo Rodriguez - A DC based photographer and marketing professional, Rodriguez documents sports, media, and brand stories while capturing authentic cultural narratives through Kaptured by Kaleo. IG: @kaptured.by.kaleo

• Moriah Tshihamba- Founder of Disanka Dianyi, Tshihamba designs sustainable, oneofone fashion pieces shaped by cultural storytelling, individuality, and wearable art. IG: @electricladyy_

• Asia Marie West - A Ward 5 native, entrepreneur, and cosmetology student, West's beauty brand integrates math, science, and creativity, supported by years of community service and public sector experience. IG: @3beautyco

• Jhante' Belt - A multidisciplinary DC creative-singer, actor, photographer, philanthropist, and real estate professional-Belt is known for directing productions and creating safe, empowering spaces for DMV artists. IG: @jusjhante

As 202Creates enters its 10th year, OCTFME remains committed to expanding opportunities for creative entrepreneurs across the District. The upcoming anniversary in August will highlight the program's evolution, alumni success stories, and Mayor Bowser's ongoing dedication to supporting DC's creative community. For more information, visit 202creates.com.

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