Doing It Myself Isn’t Strength. It’s Survival

We started Oqupi Houston 3.5 years ago with a simple idea: create a space where creatives of color feel seen, celebrated, and connected. Since then, we’ve hosted event after event—some with over 300 people in the room—proving there’s a hunger for what we’re building.

But here’s what most people don’t see: the funding for those programs, and even the day-to-day operations, hasn’t come from grants or sponsorships. It’s come from me. My personal savings. My own pocket. A few small ticket sales here and there.

Over the years, we’ve had countless conversations with brands, institutions, and organizations—meetings that felt like they should have led to funding or sponsorship. Yet more often than not, the answer has been “no.”

It’s hard not to notice the shift. There was a time—briefly—when DEI was the buzzword and doors seemed to crack open for organizations like ours. But in today’s political climate, the funding streams have dried up. Diversity initiatives are being deprioritized. And the opportunities for Black-led creative organizations feel even fewer and farther between.

At first, I took every rejection personally. After all, I wasn’t just pitching a program or a partnership—I was pitching something I’d poured my whole heart into. I was too close to it. Each “no” felt like a reflection of me.

Eventually, I realized I needed to step back from pitching altogether. Not because I didn’t believe in what we were building, but because the rejection started to weigh too heavy on me. It hurt too much. So I told myself, “I’ll do it myself.” Over and over again.

But here’s the truth I’m learning: doing it myself isn’t strength. It’s survival. It’s what happens when the doors stay closed, and the work still needs to get done.

And while I’m proud of what we’ve built, I know this mindset isn’t healthy. It isn’t sustainable. No matter how much I care, I can’t carry this alone—not if I want Oqupi to grow into what I know it can be.

The doors may keep closing for now. But I remind myself every day: no one said building something meaningful would be easy. And maybe, just maybe, every “no” is teaching me how to build doors of our own—and invite others in.

Servanté Cook

Founder & CEO