Marisol Velez Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago, Il, Us

As an MC, Hip Hop educator, youth advocate, artivist and US Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador it has always been my life’s work to use my music and my platform to uplift ALL of our stories and songs - not just the most privileged, or those with the most access. What an honor to be a part of one of the most prestigious societies of music professionals, and to continue advocating for music education and equity.

The John Walt Foundation empowers and enables BIPOC youth across multiple artistic platforms by encouraging and emboldening their artistic vision. As the JWF Community Alchemist, I connect dots and alchemize community orgs, connections, grant opportunities and platforms for youth to share their truth through social artistry. This includes a 6 week paid creative apprenticeship and entrepreneurship program, and a stage at Lollapalooza in partnership with C3.

Using Hip Hop as a pedagogy and practice, we curate cross-cultural, Hip Hop based artistic, conflict transformation & entrepreneurship exchanges overseas. Coordinate and manage U.S. teaching artists, international embassies and partner organizations. Serve as program spokesperson, handling all media and managing program activities. Liaise with embassies & submit program deliverables, such as: schedules, venues, equipment, program demographics, budget, etc.

Worldwide

Pinqy Ring is a radical and revolutionary Puerto Rican rapper, decolonizing minds one rhyme at a time and aligning her destiny through Hip Hop. Born and bred in Chicago, she manifests her vision for a more just world as a multi-hyphenate MC, Hip Hop educator, speaker, Recording Academy member and U.S. Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador. With philanthropy as part and parcel of her platform, Pinqy prides herself in mentoring the next generation of creative change agents and provides culturally competent programming to organizations looking to engage youth and explore Hip Hop as a transformative tool. Pinqy has graced stages at TEDxChicago and the Democratic National Convention, has been featured on NPR, has a music placement with Maybelline, and penned her story as a contributing author for the Today’s Inspired Young Latina series. In 2022 Pinqy was named the Chicago Reader’s Best Hip Hop Artist, and she was selected as the 2024 Brother Mike Award winner for excellence in youth mentorship. Though she is proud of her awards and accolades, Pinqy's most prized possession is the platform she’s creating for historically excluded communities of the world. A Latina artist with a loud purpose, Pinqy Ring shines bright with the determination to share her story while encouraging others to find their truth, live in it unapologetically, and tell it authentically.

https://www.womeninmusic.org/chicagoEstablished in 2016, Women in Music Chicago is a chapter of WIM that is dedicated to fostering equality in the music industry through the support and advancement of women. As assistant vice chair of events, I oversee the planning, organizing, and execution of Women In Music events for the Chicago region, including panels, performances, talks and networking.

Collaboraction is a theatre for social change non-profit working to engage people in empathy, thought, dialogue and action on critical social issues. As their Director of Youth Programming and Lead Teaching Artist for their paid youth internship (The Light + The Luminaires), I will create culturally competent programming that engages youth and teaches them about social artistry and activism, as well as leadership, creative entrepreneurship, and professionalism. The Light/The Luminaires will be creating new works based on social justice themed platforms, and will perform them across Chicago this Summer. Catch us at an event near you!

Deliver high impact arts-based mentoring based on Hip Hop and creative writing to empower underserved youth. Sites worked have included: Clemente High School, Beethoven Elementary and Evergreen Middle School in Chicago. We aim to build a generation of music education advocates through academic success and opportunities for continued mentorship.

Attend concerts or music events and write critical, comprehensive articles about artists or show sets.

Wrote several articles looking into the Chicago music industry critically, especially taking into consideration women in Hip Hop and segregation issues.