Exploring Life & Business with LaSha’ Rockymore-Mitchell of Music, Fashion, and Arts Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaSha’ Rockymore-Mitchell.

Hi LaSha’, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
From a young age, creativity was always at the center of my life. Music, fashion, and visual arts were never separate worlds to me — they were different languages of expression that all deserved space, opportunity, and community. Growing up, I saw so many talented creatives who had incredible gifts but lacked access to professional platforms, mentorship, resources, or even the confidence to believe their talents could become something bigger. That reality stayed with me.

During my college years, I launched my first creative business called SWAGG Management, which stood for “Scholars Working to Achieve Better Goals.” It started through artist management and helping creatives navigate their talents while learning the business side of entertainment and culture. As a first-generation college graduate in my family, one of my biggest goals was bringing what I learned back home to uplift not only my family, but my community as well.

Around 2012, we started a mixtape community initiative called 423Booming that dropped every year on April 23rd for what we called 423 Day. What started as a mixtape quickly became a movement. We began hosting creative events, showcases, and experiences throughout the community that celebrated local talent across music, fashion, and the arts. Over the years, I became deeply involved in creative spaces throughout Tennessee, working with artists, performers, designers, and entrepreneurs while also learning firsthand how difficult it could be for emerging creatives to find support systems that truly understood multidisciplinary art and culture. I realized there was a major gap between raw talent and real opportunity.

The early stages definitely came with challenges. We experienced a lot of failures trying to figure out a sustainable system that worked for the crew, the creatives, and the community where everyone felt included and supported. Ticket sales were one of the hardest parts because we were learning in real time how to balance impact, accessibility, and sustainability. But after years of building, we finally hosted an event in 2020 that showed us the blueprint could really work.

After that event, I remember telling my team that I had a “million-dollar plan,” and I asked them if they would support me if I fully jumped off the porch with it. They said yes. The following year, after working my first professional job for seven years, I quit and used my final paycheck to pay for the charter and incorporation of the Music, Fashion, and Arts Foundation in 2021.

That vision eventually became the Music, Fashion, and Arts Foundation (MFA Foundation), a Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to educate through entertainment while building community, culture, and creativity. Once we saw the blueprint working, I intentionally began building leadership around each creative discipline by creating directors for music, fashion, and arts — each led by professionals within their respective fields to help strengthen the overall mission and ecosystem.

What started as a passion project grew into a movement centered around mentorship, arts education, cultural programming, networking, and professional development for creatives across music, fashion, and the arts.

Since launching in 2021, MFA has served over 5,000 creatives and community members throughout Tennessee through conferences, festivals, workshops, showcases, networking events, and collaborative opportunities. This past year alone, we served 784 creatives and community members during our 10-month creative workshop series on innovation and the arts sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission. One thing I’m especially proud of is how we intentionally bring together creatives from all four major Tennessee regions to collaborate rather than compete. After touring every major city throughout the state, we now host annual Tennessee Statewide Creative Conferences and Festivals where creatives from across Tennessee come together for a weekend of education, collaboration, networking, and celebration. We’re excited to continue that growth with TN Statewide 3.0 in 2027.

As a founder, my journey has been about more than building events — it’s been about building ecosystems and safe spaces where creatives feel seen, valued, and empowered. I’ve learned that art has the power to heal communities, create economic opportunity, and inspire future generations when people are given access and support.

We’re still growing and evolving, but the mission remains the same: to uplift creatives, create opportunities, and prove that music, fashion, and the arts are not just entertainment — they are powerful tools for education, culture, and community transformation. We’re also excited about our next chapter as MFA is now officially licensed to serve creatives in Georgia, and we look forward to recruiting, collaborating, and hosting MFA experiences within communities across the state soon.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course it hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but it has absolutely been worth it. Building something community-centered from the ground up comes with a lot of moving parts, especially when you’re trying to create opportunities that genuinely impact people’s lives. I also feel like I still have so much more to give, so every challenge has honestly become part of the growth process.

One of the biggest struggles has been logistics. A lot of people only see the final event or the creative experience, but behind the scenes there are so many layers involved — proper paperwork, insurance, funding, staffing, venue coordination, equipment, partnerships, and resources all play a major role in how big or small you’re able to show up. As we’ve grown, I’ve had to learn how to balance vision with sustainability while still protecting the integrity of the mission.

Ticket sales have also been a continued learning curve over the years. When you’re building community-focused experiences, especially in creative spaces, you want to make events accessible while also creating something financially sustainable for the organization, the team, and the creatives involved. Finding that balance hasn’t always been easy, but every event has taught us something valuable.

I think another challenge early on was simply getting people to fully understand the vision. Music, fashion, and arts are often viewed separately, so building a multidisciplinary platform that intentionally combines all three while also focusing on education, innovation, and community impact was something people had to grow to understand. Over time, though, we’ve built trust through consistency, collaboration, and results.

At the end of the day, every obstacle has helped sharpen the blueprint. The setbacks taught me patience, structure, leadership, and how important it is to build systems that can grow beyond just one person. Seeing the impact on creatives and the community continues to remind me why the journey is worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Music, Fashion, and Arts Foundation?
The Music, Fashion, and Arts Foundation was created to be more than just an organization that hosts events — we’re building a creative ecosystem designed to educate, connect, and empower communities through music, fashion, and the arts. Our mission is to cultivate creativity, opportunity, and community by providing accessible arts education, cultural programming, and professional development for both emerging and established creators. We strive to uplift voices, inspire innovation, and build pathways that connect artistic passion with real-world impact.

At our core, we specialize in creating multidisciplinary creative experiences that bring people together across different artistic industries and backgrounds. Through conferences, festivals, workshops, showcases, networking opportunities, and educational programming, we create spaces where creatives can learn, collaborate, and grow both personally and professionally. What makes MFA unique is that we intentionally bridge music, fashion, and visual arts together rather than treating them as separate industries. We believe the strongest creative communities are built through collaboration, not competition.

One thing that really sets us apart is our focus on community impact and accessibility. We’ve worked hard to create environments where creatives feel seen, supported, and valued regardless of where they are in their journey. Whether someone is an aspiring artist just discovering their talent or an established creative professional looking to expand their network, we want them to feel like there is space for them within MFA.

We’re also proud of the fact that our organization was built from grassroots community work. Before MFA officially became a nonprofit in 2021, we spent years organizing creative initiatives and community events throughout Tennessee, learning directly from the people we serve. That foundation helped us build authentic relationships and a system centered around the real needs of creatives and communities.

Brand wise, I’m most proud of the culture and ecosystem we’ve built. Over the years, MFA has grown into a trusted platform that has now served over 5,000 creatives and community members across Tennessee. This past year alone, we served 784 creatives and community members through our 10-month workshop series on innovation and the arts sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission. We’re especially proud of our Tennessee Statewide Creative Conferences and Festivals, where creatives from all regions of the state come together for a weekend of education, collaboration, networking, and celebration. Seeing artists, designers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and community leaders all in one room building together is something that continues to inspire me.

Our vision is to create a thriving creative ecosystem where music, fashion, and the arts empower individuals, strengthen communities, and shape the cultural future for generations to come. We envision a world where every creator has the tools, support, and platform to turn their ideas into meaningful contributions that inspire change.

As we continue to grow, we’re excited about expanding beyond Tennessee. MFA is now officially licensed to serve creatives in Georgia as well, and we look forward to building new partnerships, hosting programming, and creating opportunities for communities there in the near future.

More than anything, I want readers to know that MFA is rooted in purpose. Everything we do is centered around creating opportunities, building connections, and proving that the arts are not just entertainment — they are powerful tools for education, economic growth, healing, innovation, and community transformation.

Terrence Mitchell, Director of Music, Sound & Tech
Venita Rhodes, Director of Fashion

A powerful reflection of that mission comes directly from one of MFA Art Director, Sharketa Penn of S. Ja FineArt:

“Hey, my name is Sharketa also known as S. Ja FineArt. I started out as a opener, then headliner and moved into my current position as Art Director. Over the course of these 2yrs as Art director, I have been able to conduct several community workshops, lead art exhibits, and meet a lot of amazing creatives throughout Tennessee. Seeing the very importance of why as a creative we need these spaces. How creatives really impact the world. The things that can be done to help build community through Music, Fashion, Arts, and how they all tie together.”

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest advice for anyone just starting out is to start with purpose and consistency before worrying about perfection. A lot of people wait until they have all the resources, connections, funding, or support lined up before they begin, but the truth is most of us build while learning in real time. Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned came through simply taking the risk, showing up, and staying committed to the vision even when things weren’t perfect.

I also think it’s important to understand that growth takes time. Social media can make success look instant, but building something meaningful — especially something community-centered — requires patience, structure, sacrifice, and resilience. There were many moments early on where things didn’t go as planned, events failed, ticket sales were slow, or resources were limited, but every challenge taught me something that helped strengthen the foundation later.

One thing I wish I knew earlier is how important systems, paperwork, and infrastructure really are. Creativity and passion are important, but organization is what helps sustain the vision long term. Understanding contracts, insurance, budgeting, partnerships, leadership structure, and operations is just as important as having talent or good ideas. Once I learned how to balance creativity with structure, things began to move differently.

I’d also tell people not to be afraid to collaborate and build community. Sometimes people approach creative industries with a competitive mindset, but collaboration can open doors that competition never will. Some of the greatest opportunities and growth for MFA came from building relationships, listening to the community, and creating spaces where people could genuinely support one another.

Most importantly, trust your vision even when other people don’t fully understand it yet. When we first started combining music, fashion, arts, education, and community impact together, a lot of people didn’t immediately see the bigger picture. But consistency builds credibility over time. If your intentions are genuine and you stay committed to the work, people eventually begin to feel the vision through the impact.

Keep learning, stay adaptable, and never lose sight of why you started in the first place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mfafest.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfafest
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mfafest
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lasha-rockymore-mitchell
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mfafest
• Other: https://tnstatewide.com/