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Dior Ashley BrownFounder, Executive DirectorDior is a woman on a mission. Known for her broad range of creative roles, including community builder, humanitarian, activist, entrepreneur, and musician, she is a seasoned, respected member of the DC creative scene and beyond, committed to empowering all people, especially Black women and girls, and leaving a legacy of positive change. Dubbed the “Hip-Hop Polymath” by the Washington Post, Dior knows how to create impact. She is founder of the DC Music Summit, a premier music conference and exchange hub, featuring industry leaders, artists, influencers, and high-profile brand sponsors who join forces to help grow the music industry in the nation’s capital.
A proud DC native, raised across the globe, Dior is a Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumna. She holds a bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Maryland. At her core, she is about breaking down barriers and sparking a movement, revealing the ways diversity lends greater understanding of what it means to be human. |
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Megga "Meggalooch" DunnFundraiser Lead VolunteerMegan’s mission is to transform the norm and inspire positive change through music, media, and creative connection. A New Jersey native, she’s proudly called DC home for 13 years after moving here to earn her degree in Public Communication from American University. She's a mezzo soprano vocalist, creative strategist, writer, photographer, activist, and a lefty. Using provocative, quirky, and engaging voice, whether sung, spoken, or written, she intends to make truthful connections to advance healthy and inclusive progress among the many. She enjoys power walks, tai chi, second-hand style, hydrating, and playing cowbell!
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VeLuOperations & Development VolunteerVelu is a woman of many trades. She is a singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, environmentalist, solution finder and natural communicator. She is the main vocalist of the Colombian-American band, DeSaguashington. She is also part of the women's musical power collective La Marvela. Velu Ochoa is part of DCMS Business Development and Operations team. She has over 12 years of project management and execution. She is an avid communicator who is always looking for better technologies and processes to elevate DC Music Summit. She is a master of many trades including communications, Ideation and Innovation for the constant improvement of organizations processes and programs. Velu is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion values in all facets of her work. she thrives in developing and maintaining strong working relationships with people from different types of organizations, cultural backgrounds and professions. She is passionate about working in a collaborative environment and always ready to take on new challenges that benefit her team. |
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Jade Tiara DixonMarketing & Communications Lead VolunteerJade Dixon is a thriving communication professional and social media strategist, who continues to excel in the digital marketing industry providing content marketing strategies and creative branding techniques for artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, membership based non-profits & associations.
She is a full-time digital marketing specialist with 4yrs or experience. On the side, she is a freelance social media strategist with full-service marketing agency B. Carter Solutions and the non-profit DC Music Summit. As a freelancer, Jade independently manages client's social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn), develops effective social media marketing strategies, goals and strategies to help monetize their brand. Jade lives by the motto: “Straight Shot, No Chaser Mentality” as she continues to provide an up-front and realistic approach to help build memorable brands. |
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Cynthia GrossProgramming and Communications Volunteer
Cynthia seeks to inspire an awakening to all we are and all we can become. With a passion for language in all of its forms and more than a decade of experience as a professional ghostwriter, she is a light seeker who understands the power of each individual’s voice to create positive, meaningful change. |
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Althea ForresterOperations Volunteer
Althea joined the DCMS Team in 2020. She is a long-time DC resident who loves to volunteer and wants use her skills to help move DC Music Summit forward. Despite claims of being an introvert she thrives leading teams, working with groups, and developing and maintaining strong working relationships with people. She enjoys working within the collaborative DCMS environment and is willing to take on whatever projects are asked of her to benefit her team. |
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Sydney F WilsonEvents + Programs Intern, Volunteer
Sydney is a Washington, D.C. native and Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumna. She is currently attending the Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University where she plans to dual major in Vocal Performance and International Relations. She enjoyed her first year working with DCMS and worked both in front and behind the camera for DCMS promotion, programming and event planning. Sydney is excited to help showcase local DMV artist talents with the DC Metropolitan area and more! |
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Caroline Marney
Media Volunteer
Caroline is a proud alumni from James Madison University, where she studied Media Arts and Design with concentrations in Journalism and Music Industry. She fell in love with video production after taking a documentary production course, and has spent the last year and a half building her freelance videography/photography business, Carefree Productions. In addition to her freelance work, Caroline has worked for DC United and Lucky Dog Films, and is excited to be a part of the DC Music Summit team, where she helps produce video and photo content for social media. Creativity and collaboration are extremely important to Caroline, and she looks forward to contributing to the DC music community, where there are so many incredibly talented artists. |
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Giselle Varre
Social Media Intern, Volunteer
Giselle is a Washington, D.C. native and Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumna. She is currently attending Montclair State University where she studies Communications & Media Arts and plans to incorporate marketing into her studies. This is her first year working with DCMS and has been working as an intern to the Marketing and Communications group. Giselle is excited to help showcase local DMV artist and to be a part of helping the DCMS become all it can be! |