“We all have the need to feel special, this need can bring out the best in us yet the worst in us. This need created The Velvet Rope”. This quote is one that I live by every day. It symbolizes being self-aware but conscious and empathetic to the struggles we all face as humans. As a native Washingtonian but raised in Prince George’s County, I take pride in who I am and the experiences that have shaped me. After graduating from The University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2015, I soon got into HIV prevention and education. My passion behind this work simply stemmed from the desire to be a voice and face for those in the community who felt they didn’t have one of their own. As a Health Impact Specialist for DC Health, I was able to connect with many community-based organizations in the area to provide holistic sexual health services and education, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2020, I moved to Atlanta, GA to further my career in Public Health. There I worked with a faith-based organization providing HIV prevention and educational services to an even more specific demographic of people, homeless and underpaid. Currently back in my hometown, I work as an EIS Patient Navigator for Washington Health Institute. In my spare time, I enjoy music, attending concerts, car karaoke, binge watching Law and Order SVU and traveling. As a long time member of the DMV based organization, Models INC, I enjoy modeling, dancing and coaching a new generation of fearless and fierce young men and women.
Jason Boursiquot|GOAT Honors 2026 recipient
Jason Boursiquot is a youth advocate from Hyattsville, Maryland. His podcasts covers topics from personal development, community, networking, mental health, self-care and motivation to spotlight positivity in the community. Jason Boursiquot also serves as a youth...
Kris Locus|GOAT Honors 2026 recipient
Kris Locus (they/she), CPRS is a community cultivator and advocate dedicated to amplifying the voices and leadership of young adults. As a Black, queer, nonbinary person, Kris brings an intersectional lens to their work, grounding systems change in lived experience...
Mark Sturdivant|GOAT Honors 2026 recipient
Mark Sturdivant believes that growth is a continuous evolution. A daily commitment to starting, restarting, and transforming one’s mindset. Guided by his purpose to “Empower People to Strengthen Communities,” he dedicates his life to inspiring others to unlock their...
Collette Harris | GOAT Honors 2026 recipient
Collette Harris serves as the System of Care Program Manager for NAMI Prince George’s County, where she leads the development and implementation of a strategic framework for peer-led education and support programs serving family caregivers of children with severe...
Wellness: Brown Eyed Girl Yoga
Brown Eyed Girl Yoga believe in creating a space where people can reconnect with their bodies and embrace authentic movement and expression. Rooted in the principles of metta (loving-kindness), santosha (contentment), mindfulness, and community, our studio offers an...
Entertainment: For the Record Music Trivia Game Show
For the Record Music Trivia Game Show was created for music lovers and trivia enthusiasts with a competitive spirit. We provide an energetic, amusing, and nostalgic approach to music and trivia, bringing people together for a positive social experience full of brain...
Entertainment: Coach T, Crank Boxing
Coach T is a passionate fitness coach and creator of Crank Boxing — a high-energy, music-driven workout that fuses boxing fundamentals with cardio, rhythm, and full-body conditioning. With years of experience in personal training and group fitness, Coach T brings...
entertainment: Madison Shambley, StarMakers Academy of Dance
Madison Shambley is a 10th grade honor student at Bishop McNamara High School, where she is a dedicated member of the school’s dance program and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. She is an advanced senior dancer at StarMakers Academy of Dance, where she has...
Entertainment: Anna Cobb, Starmakers Academy of Dance
Anna Cobb is a 16-year-old honor roll student and 10th grader at Archbishop Carroll High School. She is an advanced senior dancer at StarMakers Academy of Dance in Bowie, Maryland. Anna has started her training as a dancer at the age of four. Her specialization is in...
Speaker: Kamiya Washington, Youth Ambassador
Kamiya Washington is a multi-talented 13-year-old singer, model, actress, artist, cheerleader, violinist, and young entrepreneur. A creative force from an early age, she began modeling and recording music in the studio at just 5 years old. Kamiya has performed on...