Rising Stars: Meet Marrita Crockett-Moulton of D.R.E.A.M Kids

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marrita Crockett-Moulton.

Hi Marrita, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Marrita Crockett-Moulton. I am the co-founder of Rita Crockett Beach Sports Academy 501c(3) (RCBSA) and the co-founder of D.R.E.A.M Kids Expo. My entire life has been rooted in athletics, education, and collegiate coaching. I look at everything through a strategy and teamwork lens, but most importantly, as a protector. So when my daughter got into modeling about four years ago and recently started acting. I knew I couldn’t just let her step into the industry blindly. Being in education, I felt a huge responsibility to learn the ropes so I could guide her on the right path.Like any protective parent, I went totally down the YouTube rabbit hole. I devoured podcasts and listened to audiobooks from former child stars, specifically looking for red flags. I wanted to know exactly how to protect her and navigate this crazy journey safely.For about two years, we followed and talked to all these different parents on Instagram. Then, at New York Fashion Week, we finally got to meet the real people behind those profiles in person. The energy was incredible. It felt like this massive, instant convention of like-minded parents, a total ‘mama tribe’ where everyone just got it. Before the trip, I had been talking on Instagram with Jimena about her clothing line, Rebelde Planet. She had selected my daughter to be one of her brand ambassadors, and we hit it off online. But when we finally met in New York, everything just clicked. We had the exact same ethics, the same passion, and that fiercely protective mama energy. She was seeing the industry’s flaws from the designer side, and I was seeing them from the parent side. A week after I got back to Florida, I called her up and said, ‘I want to do a convention. Are you in?’ Without even hesitating, she was like, ‘Absolutely, let’s do it. This is so needed, I can’t believe it hasn’t been done before’. From that single phone call, we pulled off the very first DREAM Kids Expo in just six months. We were literally DMing industry leaders on Instagram to come speak at our seminars. We partnered with Barclay Performing Arts, which is my daughter’s performing arts school, to do the workshops for the performance tracks, and we brought in incredible talent like Naima Mora, Evan Golden, King Moore and his family, Eseniia Mikheeva and her parents, designers BruceGlen and The Mighty McClures. The McClures and Naima also participated in the workshops passing on their knowledge in an intimate setting with the students. To make sure these families were truly protected and equipped, we brought in Maya Corbett from @teachkidsmoney on Instagram to talk about financial literacy, and we brought in entertainment attorneys from Chase Lawyers to break down contracts and NIL. That Name, Image, and Likeness piece is huge for us moving forward. Usually, when people think of ‘entertainment,’ athletes get left out in their own separate category. But the DREAM Kids Expo is for all kids in entertainment. We want to lean heavily into the NIL platform to help youth athletes protect their brands and navigate deals safely. Our fashion show segment was out of this world. We featured 12 amazing designers, but instead of a stiff, traditional runway, it felt like a high-energy graduation celebration walk. To make it even more unforgettable, we brought in eight young performers including King Moore debuting his song ‘AYESHA’ live, Eseniia Mikheeva, Crystal Santos, Jeremiah Williams, Ezra Gilmore, Olivia Genesis, Kleopatra Vargas and Mandy Corrente and others to perform right during the fashion show. We also had some performers at our family festival on day one at my sports facility for everyone to let their hair down after a long day. of learning. We had performers like Dj Kleopatra, Classic Kiki and the amazing Hip Hop Kidz. We even had Latin Grammy nominee DJ Kenyi Succar spinning for the entire runway. The kids got to confidently flaunt their stuff, the designers loved being part of it, and the atmosphere was just electric. Even my daughter got the confidence to sing her debut song (much surprise to me! brought tears to my eyes). We also had some amazingly talented young red carpet hosts with their own podcasts. They got to interview our talent and dreamers (as we call the students) not only on the red carpet but invited them to go on their podcasts. And to top it all off we livestreamed the fashion show and recorded the seminars. For kid fashion shows you never see livestream for them, so we were happy we were able to make that happen. We are only getting started. We actually had to turn away some workshops and seminars this time because we ran out of hours, so we are expanding the expo into a full three-day event. That will give us the space to host a massive fashion show, a talent showcase, and maybe even an awards gala. We want to keep growing this because these families deserve a safe, comfortable space where ambitious kids can connect with peers who share their drive.But at the end of the day, the absolute most important thing we can do for ourselves and our kids is professional development and education. And that education isn’t just for the parents. It’s for the kids as well. Between our expert seminars and hands-on skill workshops, our ultimate goal is for absolutely everyone to walk out those doors full of knowledge, power, and life-changing connections.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, for our very first event and with only six months of planning it went incredibly smoothly. But you’re always going to find things to improve on game day. You’re always learning.
Our biggest upfront struggle was definitely getting financial backing and corporate sponsorships. Because the concept was so fresh and had never been done before, we didn’t have any past analytics or content to show people. We were selling a vision. But now? We have the analytics, we have the incredible attendance numbers, we have the massive viewership on Instagram, and we have so much beautiful content we don’t even know what to do with! Moving forward, sponsors are really going to see the undeniable value of what the DREAM Kids Expo has to offer. Especially since the entire platform is co-powered as a joint venture between my non-profit organization (RCBSA) and Jimena’s brand, Rebelde Planet. Together, we are bridging purpose-driven education with ethical industry leadership.
We also learned a lot about pacing and scheduling. For example, our fashion show segment went a little long, which ended up eating into the after-party. We also want to restructure things so we can give our meet-and-greets the massive spotlight they deserve. We had some truly incredible talent this year. Like the McClure Twins promoting their family’s Ultralite brand, JustJules doing her book signing, and Nicole and Faye from the RockSquad doing an amazing Q&A on what it’s really like to be a top YouTuber.
We also noticed that during the workshops after 1:00 PM, you could see people naturally starting to get tired. The kids and parents wanted to stay because they were so hungry for the information, but the fatigue was real. We want to give these families their absolute best chance at success. That’s why breaking the expo up into a three-day event next year is going to change everything. We can pace the schedule entirely differently, give the kids plenty of time to rest, and make sure everyone leaves full of knowledge without burning out.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professionally, my life is all about lifting up the next generation, whether that’s as a volleyball coach or a sports executive. I grew up with an incredible example of dedication as the daughter of Olympic volleyball legend Rita Buck-Crockett, and that inspired me to carve out my own path. I’ve been blessed to experience every side of the sports world from serving as an NCAA Division I team captain and playing professionally in Switzerland, to building up beautiful, championship-winning college programs as a head coach.
Because of this journey, I look at youth talent through the eyes of a mentor who has actually been there. I know firsthand the dedication it takes to succeed, but I also know how overwhelming it can be for a child and their family. I don’t just look at the glitz and glamour of the entertainment or sports worlds; I look at how we can nurture these kids’ passions while giving them a safe, supportive foundation to build a long-lasting, happy future.

What I Do & Specialize In:
I specialize in high-performance athletic development, sports mentorship, and youth empowerment. Right now, I pour my heart into a few different leadership roles here in South Florida. I handle business development and operations as the Vice President of the Rita Crockett Beach Sports Academy, affectionately known as ‘The Pit’—in Dania Beach, where we focus on training the whole athlete.

What I Am Known For:
In the sports world, people know me for breaking barriers and coaching with heart. As the Head Indoor and Beach Volleyball Coach at Florida Memorial University, I led our team to a Sun Conference Championship, and in 2021, I made history by leading FMU to become the very first HBCU to ever win a beach volleyball conference title. I’m incredibly proud of my player-first coaching style, which earned me the prestigious AVCA 30 Under 30 Coaches Award when I was at FIU because it showed that putting the athletes first always wins. It also helps when you make it to the Final 4.

What are you most proud of?
Without a doubt, I am most proud of building supportive communities from scratch, honoring my family’s legacy, and equipping the next generation for long-term success. Transforming collegiate programs into regional and national powerhouses. Like taking FIU Beach Volleyball to the AVCA Final Four and our historic championship runs at FMU. Will always mean the world to me because of the deep bonds I formed with those players.
I am also incredibly proud of what we are building at the Rita Crockett Beach Sports Academy. Working alongside my mother to expand her legendary legacy and develop ‘The Pit’ into a premier training ground where we can nurture young athletes holistically is a true dream come true.
But seeing that same empowering energy bring the DREAM Kids Expo to life is a whole new level of pride, and it all stems from my daughter, Natasha or Tashi as we call her. She was the spark for this entire journey. Watching her explore her passions in modeling and acting is what forced me to learn this industry, and everything I build is to ensure she and kids just like her have a safe path to follow.
We pulled off our first massive expo in just six months! Seeing the kids confidently flaunt their stuff on our runway, watching them absorb vital knowledge from our legal and financial seminars, and seeing them connect with peers who share their drive, that is what I am most proud of. I love that we created a space where professional development meets pure joy. I am proud to show my daughter, Jimena’s kids, and all these families that you can successfully bridge sports leadership, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment while keeping your heart in the right place.”

What sets you apart from others?
I am not an agent or an industry insider trying to profit off these kids. I have occupied every single seat in the arena. I have been the young student-athlete working hard for a dream, the professional player overseas feeling the pressure, the head coach mentoring a team and younger coaches, the sports business entrepreneur, and most importantly, a mother.
My journey into the entertainment world started purely out of love, because my own daughter entered modeling and acting, and I wanted to make sure I could protect and guide her properly. I have a legacy of entering spaces where history hasn’t been made yet. But my goal is always to create a blueprint so other families can follow in those footsteps.
I combine the fierce protective instincts of a mom, the structured discipline of a coach, and the resource-driven mindset of an educator. My commitment to our South Florida community and Entertainment community everywhere is unwavering. Whether I am on the sand training athletes at our sports academy or hosting D.R.E.A.M Kids events, I am on the ground every single day making sure our kids feel safe, completely supported, and fully in control of their own futures.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to never be afraid to step into an arena just because a blueprint doesn’t exist yet. If you see a gap or a need in your community, trust your instincts and build the solution yourself. When you are just starting out, remember that you don’t have to know everything on day one. Stay curious, do your homework, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Surround yourself with a team of people who share your ethics and your passion. Just like I found with Jimena. Whether we are launching an entirely new convention in six months or taking on massive projects like building your own sand multi-sport facility from the ground up. You can have the greatest vision in the world, but you need a trusted tribe to help you bring it to life. Educate yourself, protect your peace, and always keep your heart in the right place.

If there is one thing I really wish I knew when I was first starting out, it’s that when you are building something new, it is so easy to slip into a dark place and let negativity creep in, especially when it’s something you believe in with all your heart.You will work yourself to death, pouring every ounce of your energy into it until it becomes completely overwhelming. I wish I had known back then that it is completely okay to step back, take time for yourself, and take care of your own well-being. At the end of the day, if you break down, your vision won’t come to life either. Taking care of yourself isn’t a distraction, it’s a requirement to keep the dream alive.

Pricing:

• D.R.E.A.M Kids Expo 2027 prices ranges $225 to $475 (family of 2-5 rates available; 6 or more groups rates available)
• D.R.E.A.M Kids NY Gala $75/person
• RCBSA “The Pit” court rentals cost $30–$120 per hour, varying by sport setup/configuration
• Sponsorship packages available: contact us at Dreamkidsexpo@gmail.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dreamkidshub.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamkids_expo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DreamKidsExpo
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rita-crockett-beach-sports-academy-dania-beach
• Other: https://ritacrockettacademy.com/