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rocity

@rocity

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MUSIC • ART • SPORTS 📸
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This one means a little more to me. Being from Chicago, I’ve always believed in the creativity, resilience, and brilliance that exist within our communities, especially on the West Side. To be able to come back home and create opportunities for the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs is something I don’t take lightly. When God called me to start @maisonmogulconsulting, I wanted to build something that connected creativity to real opportunity. Something that allowed people to not only dream, but to learn, earn, and thrive doing what they love. Watching the students of Nash Elementary showcase their work during Chicago Fashion Week was a reminder of why I started. These students didn’t just create art. They learned about entrepreneurship, developed their own products, told their stories, and got to see their work celebrated by an entire community. And what makes this even more special is knowing that none of it happens alone. I’m so grateful for every person who believed in this vision, shared their gifts, and showed up for these students. This is what community looks like when we move with intention. I don’t just want young people to see what’s possible. I want them to experience it. And if even one student walked away believing a little more in themselves and what they can create, then we’re doing something right. Collaborators & Community Partners: @nashfinearts @starlingbyduo @thechicagofashionweek @drinkmondaycoffee @geniuslabchicago x @professorsteward @rocity @daniel.hurtt @patchpartyclubofficial @knottyloop @v.a.b @jbfromchicago Special Thanks & Support: @traderjoes @wdbmarketing @florals.byhailey Photography & Videography: @vega.presents
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More than a showcase. A celebration of what’s possible when creativity meets opportunity. From the @nashfinearts classroom to @thechicagofashionweek, our young creatives from Nash Elementary reminded us that age doesn’t define innovation, imagination, or the ability to make an impact. Made on the West Side was about more than displaying artwork. It was about giving students ownership of their ideas, introducing them to creative entrepreneurship, and creating a platform where their voices, stories, and talents could be celebrated. Every piece represented hours of learning, experimentation, collaboration, and courage. And behind every student was a community of educators, artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations who believed in what they could become. This is what investing in the next generation looks like. Not simply telling young people they can dream big, but building the spaces, experiences, and opportunities that allow them to do so. The West Side isn’t waiting for the future of creativity. It’s already creating it. Made on the West Side. Rooted in community. Powered by creativity. Built for the next generation. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped bring this vision to life. Collaborators & Community Partners: @nashfinearts @starlingbyduo @thechicagofashionweek @drinkmondaycoffee @geniuslabchicago x @professorsteward @rocity @daniel.hurtt @patchpartyclubofficial @knottyloop @v.a.b @jbfromchicago Special Thanks & Support: @traderjoes @wdbmarketing @florals.byhailey Photography & Videography: @vega.presents by @murrahj_
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To God be the Glory #lionchaser #Allgood #geniuslab #stayfitculture #chicago
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MADE ON THE WEST SIDE. MADE POSSIBLE BY COMMUNITY. What happens when we give young people the resources, opportunities, and community to believe in what they create? THIS. During @thechicagofashionweek , our young creatives from @nashfinearts generated over $600 in sales from pieces they designed and created themselves. These students learned that their creativity has value, their ideas deserve space, and entrepreneurship doesn’t have to wait until adulthood. A HUGE thank you to @hailey.rodden for her unwavering dedication to her students and making this vision possible. To @geniuslabchicago + @rocity, thank you for showing up WEEK AFTER WEEK to help us build Drip Lab, the creative education series that laid the foundation for this entire experience. From sourcing our guest instructors: including @knottyloop @daniel.hurtt @jbfromchicago @v.a.b, @patchpartyclubofficial, who consistently investing time, resources, and energy into these students, your partnership helped turn an idea into a reality. @wdbmarketing, thank you for sponsoring our flyers. @traderjoes , thank you for providing food. And to @drinkmondaycoffee for the amazingly curated drinks and @starlingbyduo most importantly for allowing the students to use such a beautiful and loving space, thank you for being incredible partners in bringing this vision to life. Thank you to @carrielannon + @thechicagofashionweek team for believing in the vision! Thank you to @murrahj_ for capturing the students moment! To every parent, volunteer, supporter, and person who purchased a piece, THANK YOU! In a world where it’s easy to feel powerless against the challenges around us, this experience reminded us that we may not be able to change everything happening in the world, but we can change what’s happening in our communities. Together, we can accomplish far more than we ever could separately. This is why we do this work. Not simply to produce events, but to build ecosystems of opportunity, connect generations, circulate resources, and show young people that creativity can be a pathway to economic mobility.
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some of my favorite moments from the drip lab: made on the west side event last friday! one of my goals as a teacher is to give my students hands-on learning experiences and opportunities to feel what it’s like to be a working artist! this event gave students the chance to be part of the official program for @thechicagofashionweek and sell their own designs. our class raised $658.85 for class funds, and students will work together to decide whether they want to purchase materials for another project, put the money toward a field trip, or even have a class party! students had full autonomy over what they created and how they priced their work. eilo ended up selling all three pieces in his hat collection for over $400 — AS A 6TH GRADER!!! this event wouldn’t have been possible without my amazing collaborators @maisonmogulconsulting @emanifigaro and @rocity, who have been leading this work alongside me for 3 years now! together, we’re creating more opportunities for students to connect with designers and artists who look like them and come from their neighborhoods! #representationmatters ❤️ huuuuge thank you to @geniuslabchicago @professorsteward for helping out in the classroom during all of our drip lab sessions! you really know how to connect with the students and inspire them to turn their dreams into reality!! thank you to all of the guest artists who came, shared their experiences, and mentored our students project runway style!! and thank you to @drinkmondaycoffee and @starlingbyduo for welcoming us into your space and allowing this event to really come to life! i’m so inspired and grateful to be able to live my life as an artist while teaching my students that they can be anything they work toward achieving. giving them the space to create, take ownership of their work, and see what’s possible for themselves is what it’s all about. ✨🍎 #chicagoproud
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The people behind DRIP Lab. Before Made on the West Side becomes a youth fashion market, it starts in the classroom, with ideas, materials and people willing to share what they know. Thank you to @patchpartyclubofficial, @jbfromchicago , @rocity , @v.a.b , @professorsteward , @knottyloop and @daniel.hurtt for sharing your time, talent and experience with @nashfinearts students. From crochet and custom patches to apparel, storytelling and entrepreneurship, you helped students imagine what they could create, and where their creativity could take them. And we’re giving @hailey.rodden her flowers. Thank you for welcoming this work into your classroom, encouraging your students and helping turn a community connection into ongoing opportunities. From sneaker workshops to career panels, classroom engagements and now a youth fashion market, we’re grateful to build alongside you. Through @maisonmogulconsulting, @rocity + @geniuslabchicago , DRIP Lab connects fashion, business and creativity in the classroom. This work grows because teachers, creatives and community partners keep showing up. Swipe to meet the people behind the program, then come celebrate what the students created at Made on the West Side. Made on the West Side: Youth Fashion Market Date: Friday, October 9, 2026 Time: 6–9 PM Location: @starlingbyduo , Chicago Featuring a youth fashion market, youth artist panel and mocktails by @drinkmondaycoffee . RSVP via the link in bio or the @thechicagofashionweek page.
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The True Cost of a Custom Hat: Time, Story & Value What’s the most expensive part of a custom hat? For @rocity , a west side native,designer and creative behind this piece, it’s his time. Ike takes@hailey.rodden art students of @nashfinearts through Drip Lab by @geniuslabchicago inside his process of creating a custom hat, from developing the concept and design to manufacturing, sourcing, marketing and ultimately bringing the finished piece to life. Because the price of creative work isn’t simply the cost of fabric, stitching or materials. You’re paying for the mind, time and story behind the object. Ike compares that idea to brands like Apple and Microsoft. Their value isn’t determined by adding up the physical materials inside a product. Value is also created through ideas, innovation, design, intellectual property and the story people connect to. Ike brings those same principles into his own creative practice. For this hat, his inspiration draws from African American heritage, translating culture, history and meaning into a wearable piece. That’s also why this conversation matters for our young people. Through Made on the West Side, we want students to see that creativity isn’t only about making something beautiful. It’s learning to understand the entire value of what you create: What did my materials cost? How much time did I invest? Where did my inspiration come from? What makes my design different? What story does it carry? What is my creativity worth? The young person learning to sew, paint, customize or design today could be developing the intellectual property behind tomorrow’s company. That’s the bridge between art + entrepreneurship. MADE ON THE WEST SIDE: YOUTH FASHION MARKET Date: October 9 | Time: 6–9 PM Location: Duo Starling RSVP: @thechicagofashionweek or link in bio! Come see what happens when young creatives are given the tools, space and knowledge to understand the value of their ideas. Materials have a cost. Time has a cost. Story creates value.
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Last week, our students learned from the founder of @patchpartyclubofficial , a Westchester-based creative business born from seeing a gap in the market: patches that authentically reflected Black culture, diverse skin tones, hairstyles and identity. Students heard how a creative idea grew into an international brand, learned about manufacturing and the business behind the art, and got an inside look at the custom patch-making process. And now, we’ve officially reached our final week of student programming! We’re incredibly grateful to every instructor, creative and community partner who has poured their time, knowledge and experience into our students over these past few weeks. Tomorrow, we’ll begin highlighting everyone who contributed to making this program possible, so stay tuned. Now it’s time for the students to show us what they’ve created. Join us for Made on the West Side: Youth Fashion Market during @thechicagofashionweek , where our young creatives will showcase their work, ideas and stories. Date: October 9 | Time: 6–9 PM Location: @starlingbyduo 🎟️ RSVP via the link in bio Come celebrate Chicago’s next generation of creatives.
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We are so honored to be able to partner with such an amazing organization, such as @maisonmogulconsulting and @emanifigaro and her team. I have spent most of my adult life pouring into the dreams of young people particularly in Black and Brown communities. I give God all the glory for having full circle moments like this where I can still share my gifts and talents with young people from all over the City of chicago and throughout the world. Thank you to all of the community partners especially Nash Fine Arts Academy in the Austin community on Chicago’s Westside. Thanks to @v.a.b @daniel.hurtt @patchpartyclubofficial @hailey.rodden @rocity @jbfromchicag @djrich100 @nashfinearts @professorsteward @drinkmondaycoffee @geniuslabchicago @starlingbyduo and all the other supporters and sponsors. I hope you are able to come out Friday, October 9 at 6 PM and see the amazing creative works of the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders. And if you can’t make it in person that’s fine, you can always make it in donations. 😆 😆 😆. LBVS I am grateful to be able to share this moment with you. Please feel free to share with others. You already know what it is ✌🏿
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if i look tired… it’s bc all this happened in the last 7 days… #blessedtobestressed ❤️
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⚫️ Pack Event… Air Jordan’s 14, 15, 16, & 17 @jbfromchicago @rocity and myself discussed them. To me, the 15’s go the hardest. @slick_mack and I discussed them also. To ME: It’s 15, 16, 14, 17.
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Forum fits ✌🏾 @plcdetroit @blackfootwearforum
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