What We've Been Up To

July was a big month across the Oqupi ecosystem. Our crew has been in the mix—producing, mentoring, rebranding, and creating space for underrepresented creatives to thrive. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been building together.

Cassius

Bro You Good podcast

Cassius keeps showing up for the culture with Bro You Good, a podcast creating space for real, unfiltered conversations around wellness, identity, and creative life. Designed for Black voices of all expressions, it centers lived experience over performance—and every episode feels like a healing circle you didn’t know you needed. His latest drop explores vulnerability and brotherhood, all while keeping the energy grounded and approachable. We love seeing him continue to shift the conversation around mental health in creative spaces.

Mia & Jakayla

Welcome to the Mothership screening

Filmmaker Mia and artist Jakayla premiered their latest work Welcome to the Mothership: We Gather in Their Names at Community Artists’ Collective in Houston. The visual project explores grief, faith, and the ancestral strength of Black womanhood through the stories of mothers and grandmothers. Curated by Stacey Allen, the experience invited the community to connect with memory, legacy, and future-making in one shared moment. We’re proud to see storytelling used as a tool for healing.

Branda

The Brand Row Launch

Branda just introduced The Brand Row—a bold evolution of her agency, Branda J Communications. Her team specializes in full-service brand strategy, content planning, and communications for creatives, nonprofits, and mission-led brands. With a focus on reputation, visibility, and community, The Brand Row is here to help purpose-driven organizations show up with clarity and confidence. This rebrand reflects Branda’s ongoing commitment to building thoughtful, rooted narratives that actually stick.

Vicky

Shaping Cinematic Worlds for Indie Artists

Multidisciplinary director Vicky Adé just wrapped a new music video for artist Kaude, blending her signature style with distortion, dynamic mood shifts, and bold creative direction. A Nigerian-American filmmaker with a deep background in brand strategy, Vicky continues to bridge visuals and narrative in unexpected ways. She's also working alongside other creatives as a content strategist and visual consultant—proving that her lens is always building something bigger than the frame.

Allena

Creative Strategist at Disney × ESPN × Hulu to Essence Fest

Allena served as the creative strategist and on-site production lead for the Disney/ESPN/Hulu activation at Essence Fest, utilizing her background in creative strategy for a significant cultural event. The booth featured a Rewind Room packed with nostalgic visuals, a laid-back content lounge, and branded touchpoints from Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN. Allena helped bring the vision to life, from concept to experience, making sure every detail felt rooted in Black culture and community. If you stepped into that space, chances are you felt her touch.

Janaya

Author talk at Kindred Stories

On August 10, Janaya will moderate an in-person author event at Kindred Stories with LaDarrion Williams, celebrating his latest novel Bones at the Crossroads. The evening will explore themes of legacy, self-discovery, and the magic of HBCU life. Janaya is a natural storyteller—whether she’s curating influencer campaigns, writing music, or holding space for conversations like this. Her creative work always centers voice, culture, and connection.

Dasia

Mentoring the next generation of marketers

Dasia is pouring into the next wave of storytellers through the Emerging Roots internship program, a collaboration with the Foundation for Black Heritage & Culture. The students—hailing from Houston, San Antonio, and Detroit—are gaining hands-on experience in email marketing, social content, and event planning as they prep for the upcoming Black Heritage Fest. Dasia is shaping more than skills—she’s cultivating legacy.

Servantè

Authority Magazine spotlight

Our founder and visionary, Servantè Cook, was recently featured in Authority Magazine as part of their Social Impact Heroes series. In the interview, she shares the deeper “why” behind Oqupi—how the work is rooted in community repair, cultural ownership, and building lasting systems for underrepresented creatives. From dreaming up LinkUp HTX to designing spaces where real connection can thrive, Servantè continues to lead with heart, clarity, and purpose. Her words in the piece remind us: this isn’t just creative work. It’s world-building.

So What’s Next?

We’re not slowing down. Oqupi is a living ecosystem—where creators, storytellers, strategists, and cultural builders link up to shape the future of Houston’s creative scene. Want to stay in the loop or collab on something? Join our newsletter or hit us up at oqupihouston.com.

Let’s keep building the culture, together.