DaShawn Usher

What a year!!! But also so much incredible work that @glaad has been doing over the decades. Receiving the Television Academy’s 2023 Governors Award for our collective work truly shows anything is possible when you work together. The prestigious honor recognizes GLAAD’s work over nearly four decades to secure fair, accurate and diverse representation of the LGBTQ community in the media and entertainment industries and to advocate for LGBTQ equality. As the iconic @rupaulofficial would say “You’re a winner baby” !!!✨🙌🏾✨#EmmyAwards @televisionacad

Met the @vp @kamalaharris and she said “I love your pearls” in which I replied “I love yours too.” 🤩!!! Needless to say, we seen each other. #Pride365 🌈 ✨🙌🏾✨

MOBI was proud to partner with REACH LA for Zen Fest 2026, a free mental health and wellness summit rooted in community, care, creativity, and connection. Held in Downtown Los Angeles at The East Angel, Zen Fest brought together community members, artists, wellness practitioners, advocates, and partners for a full day of sound baths, yoga, breathwork, panels, food, performances, and culturally grounded wellness experiences. For MOBI, this partnership reflects our continued commitment to creating spaces where Black, Brown, Latine, LGBTQ+, and allied communities can access wellness, build meaningful relationships, and feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Thank you to REACH LA, Zen Folk, the Mental Health Department, and everyone who helped make this day possible. We are grateful to be in community with you. #MOBI #ZenFest #REACHLA #BlackQueerWellness #MentalHealthAwareness

I’m honored to share that I have joined the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts and will serve as a juror for the 21st Annual @w3awards . The w3 Awards celebrates excellence in digital experiences, content, design, social, video, podcasts, AI, immersive work, mobile, and more. I’m excited to help recognize the creators, brands, agencies, and storytellers shaping what’s next across media, technology, and culture. Entries are still open, and the final entry deadline is June 12, 2026. If you are creating innovative digital work, now is the time to submit. This opportunity is especially meaningful because so much of my work has centered on the power of storytelling, visibility, digital innovation, and culture to create real impact. Grateful to AIVA and the w3 Awards for the invitation, and excited to review this year’s work. Submit your work: w3award.com #aiva #w3Awards #DigitalMedia #CreativeExcellence #Storytelling 📸: @monroe.media 🎶: “Dance Until We Die” by @damez

As we gear up for Year 9 of MOBIFest, it’s time to start meeting the incredible team helping bring this year’s experience to life. 🖤✨ MOBIFest 2026 is BACK 🔥 reimagined under this year’s theme: Just Dance 🕺🏾✨ From programming and storytelling to events, strategy, and community building, this team is helping shape an experience rooted in joy, culture, connection, and impact. Meet the team: DaShawn Usher, Founder & Executive Director, is an award-winning nonprofit executive, strategist, and culture curator advancing Black queer storytelling, HIV advocacy, and transformative community engagement.
📲 @dashawnusher Julian J. Walker, Deputy Director, is an actor, author, artist, and longtime advocate committed to amplifying Black LGBTQ voices through storytelling, entertainment, and culture.
📲 @julian.walker Anthony Curry, Director of Events, creates intentional experiences that move people through culture, strategy, and unforgettable gatherings rooted in community and purpose.
📲 @anthonyscottcurry John Barnes, Program Director, is an entrepreneur, financial wellness advocate, and community builder focused on empowerment, creativity, and helping people “HEAL — Help Everyone Alkemize Life.”
📲 @therealjohnbarnes This is only the beginning. 👏🏾 Join us June 6th for #MOBIFest2026 and come experience the energy, culture, brotherhood, and joy for yourself. #MOBI #MOBIFest2026 #JustDance #NewYorK

🪾 Rooted!!! 🪾

We are proud to share that the #BlackQueerCreativeSummit has been recognized in the 30th Annual @thewebbyawards in the Creators, Cause-Driven Partnership category. This honor celebrates Black queer creativity, bold collaboration, and the power of building intentional spaces where storytellers, executives, artists, and culture shapers can gather in community. The Black Queer Creative Summit was created to pour into Black LGBTQ creatives through connection, inspiration, access, and opportunity. To see it recognized on this level is joyful, affirming, and deeply meaningful. Now we need our community to help us take it all the way. Vote for the Webby People’s Voice Award and help us bring this one home: https://wbby.co/58900N ✨ A special thank you to the Black Queer Creative Summit Programming Committee Members and a heartfelt thank you to our incredible guest speakers, moderators, facilitators, featured talent, DJs, and judges whose time, brilliance, and generosity helped make the Summit so powerful. ✨ This recognition belongs to everyone who helped shape the Summit and to the community that continues to believe in what Black queer creativity makes possible. 🎶 Featured Music from some of the BQCS attendees: 1.“Grown” by @118timeless , 2.“What’s Better?” by @siairashawn , 3.“2U” by @wuhryn , and 4.“222” by @xayrozay 🎶 #WebbyAwards #PeoplesVoice #GLAAD #BlackQueerCreativeSummit BQCS2025

We are proud to celebrate the Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative (EMEI) being recognized in the 30th Annual @thewebbyawards in the Video & Film, Belonging & Inclusion category. Launched in 2022 by GLAAD’s Communities of Color & Media team and supported by @gileadsciences , EMEI was created to invest in and elevate Black LGBTQ creatives whose stories, artistry, and vision are helping shape a more inclusive media landscape. This nomination is a powerful acknowledgment of that mission and the creative excellence behind the EMEI Final Showcase documentary. We are deeply grateful to the incredible production team who helped bring this work to life: Executive Producers @dashawnusher and @julian.walker ; Creative Director & Producer @damonepps ; Director of Photography @rileyswilson (EMEI Cohort 1); Assistant Director @shakinahstarks ; Assistant Videographer @dreamxrsfilm ; Gaffer Kealan O-Connell; Sound Operator Adrian Arteaga; Photographer @ryanchamilton ; Photo Assistant Gregor Vigier; Production Assistant @hausofrael ; Makeup Artist @erica.lorene ; Assistant Makeup Artist @sheisrylee ; and Editor Andrew Brown. We also celebrate the Year 2 EMEI cohort, whose artistry and impact continue to move this work forward: @2amricky @iamasiahn @albanus_thierry @damez @shahfromthecity @siairashawn @suni.mf @neverendingninanotes @mylahmuse mrglamrocksoul Help us bring this home by voting for EMEI for the Webby People’s Voice Award here: https://wbby.co/57568N Recap Video: @dreamxrsfilm Photos: @ryanchamilton #WebbyAwards #PeoplesVoice #GLAAD #EMEI #BelongingAndInclusion

🌹🪷🌺 ✨ BLOOM ✨🌹🪷🌺 @betterbrothersla #TruthAwards is truly what we came for!!!

Excited to support @betterbrothersla #PTTA 2026!!! Congratulations to all the honorees, performers, and incomparable hosts✨

Mentally still here! You can be there too! Check out the @glaad #GLAADawards exclusively streaming on @hulu beginning this Saturday, March 21st. 📸: @jelijahphotos

🕺🏾 The 5th Annual #GLAADhonors in Los Angeles. 🕺🏾 📸: @zeus.views 📸: @jelijahphotos 🕺🏾: Custom @mdiggsnyc