The Amplify Project didn’t begin as a fully funded idea or a polished initiative. It began as a feeling, a frustration, a spark, a calling: Why don’t young artists have real stages? Why aren’t music students given real opportunities? Why can’t young Black creatives get the spotlight they deserve?
In December 2024, that spark turned into action. Founder Chase Vaughn, a freshman at Howard University, dreamed of giving students a platform to perform, collaborate, and be seen. What started as a small “dorm concert” idea quickly grew into something much bigger, after rejection, perseverance, and partnership.
“I didn’t have any means to run a full concert,” Chase remembers. “I pitched it to the School of Business centers and got shut down pretty quick… so I partnered with Artivism, and it ultimately worked out.” Chase then met Madison Theresias, a marketing student who believed in the vision and became a foundational part of Amplify’s early success. Together they spent months building something nobody expected: a community, a movement, and a show that would change the creative landscape on campus.
On April 13th, 2025, at the historic Sankofa Café across from Howard University, the first-ever Amplify Live show debuted. Over 30 artists performed. Four live bands played for two straight hours. More than 55 community members packed the room. The energy was electric, the crowd was alive, and the event sold out. It proved exactly what Chase knew all along: young people don’t just need creative spaces—they transform them.
“Our first event was about proving that when young people are given the platform to express their voice, they can inspire change and build community,” Chase shared. And that’s exactly what happened. Amplify wasn’t just a show. It became a cultural movement.
The Amplify Project exists to elevate HBCU artists and musicians, provide real performance opportunities rooted in live instrumentation, and build community across Washington, D.C. It creates professional-level creative experiences run by students, for students, centering storytelling, collaboration, and young Black expression. Amplify is not a club, not an open mic, and not just a show, it is an ecosystem and a home for young artists to flourish.
Building on the momentum of its debut, Amplify is preparing for an even larger show on November 22nd, 2025. This event is expected to draw over 150 attendees, introduce new local artists and musicians, and expand partnerships across D.C. The goal is to create a cultural hub where young voices are amplified year-round and where students can continue to develop their craft in a supportive and professional environment.
But the truth is that these shows aren’t free to run. The debut event cost over $1,500 out of pocket. Venue rental, audio engineering, lighting, equipment, artist hospitality, marketing, media, printing, and staffing all add up quickly. For the next event to be bigger, safer, and more supportive for the artists involved, we are seeking community support.
Your donation directly helps us pay and support student performers, rent safe and professional venues, hire sound and lighting teams, create high-quality video and photography, provide hospitality for artists, fund printing and promotion, and grow future shows, pop-ups, and creative programming. Every single dollar goes directly into building sustainable spaces for young Black creativity to thrive.
We are raising $3,000 to cover the costs of the debut, support the upcoming November show, and provide stability for future programming. This amount allows Amplify to sustain its momentum and continue building opportunities for artists and the broader community.
This is more than an event. It is community. It is culture. It is a home for young artists who deserve to be heard. Your support helps us keep these shows alive, provide stages for student musicians, uplift young Black expression, expand across D.C., and build something historic.
Whether you give $5, $25, $50, or more, your contribution directly helps young artists access real opportunities. Thank you for believing in us, supporting us, and amplifying this movement.
– The Amplify Project Team
Organizer
