by Channing Capacchione | WeINSPIRE Reporter

BOSTON, Ma. -- Emmai Alaquiva’s progression as an artist began with a love for music. Today, he is a two time Emmy winner and five time Emmy nominee, an organizational leader, and a media mogul.

“Hip-hop saved my life,” Alaquiva says. From his very first keyboard and drum set, a gift from his grandmother, to starring in a PBS PSA, Get a Mind of Your Own, at the age of 16, Alaquiva’s relationship with hip-hop has helped transform his life and inspire him for greatness. Today, he continues to explore his passion for hip-hop as the co-founder of Hip-Hop on L.O.C.K., a youth education program that promotes self-empowerment through hip-hop.

Growing up in a family without many creatives, Alaquiva’s journey of self-expression through art evolved into the development of his own Digital Multimedia Agency, Ya Momz House Inc.

The inspiration for the name came from Alaquiva’s upbringing and childhood creative environment because after all, “no matter how old you get, there will never be a place like your mom’s house.”

After being encouraged by Pittsburgh journalist Olga George, and staying up for three nights working with a team of talented individuals, Alaquiva’s work on Flyboys: Western Pennsylvania’s Tuskegee Airmen won him his second Emmy.

Alaquiva’s success has not been a feat solely his own. “It’s about great people,” says Alaquiva. Without the guidance of many, projects such as OpticVoices, an interactive photography exhibit from 2016 on the Black Lives Matter movement located in Pittsburgh, would not have been possible. 

“Relationships are like bank accounts,” says Alaquiva. “You have to make more deposits than withdraws, and whatever you say or do, make sure nothing bounces.” This valuable and life long lesson was taught to Alaquiva by his mentor Candi Castleberry, the Vice President of Diversity Partnerships at Twitter. “When I took on that principle, I realized you have to treat people fairly. This world is entirely too small to just take what you  need out of people. Eventually taking just what you need from people, is going to deplete your account.”

While Alaquiva has worked with a long list of famous artists and celebrities, such as Maya Angelou, Wiz Khalifa, and Questlove, his most prized work comes from celebrating the lives of people who may not be receiving mass media attention.

Learn more about Emmai Alaquiva and his inspiring journey in our special feature Sprinkle of Inspiration: Voices of Change Summer Series Podcast Edition:

Listen on Spotify.

We first caught up with Alaquiva earlier this summer when his work was featured in our story on activist Camille Redman. Nearly a month later, we spoke with Alaquiva on his most recent project, “Unspeakable,” a Black Lives Matter PSA for the Deaf. 

Largely inspired by his 8 year old daughter, Makayla, Alaquiva is using his own expertise to strengthen the voices of those who are left unheard. For two years, Alaquiva and his daughter have taken American Sign Language classes together; however, at a local Black Lives Matter protest they attended, Makayla realized there was no one doing sign language at the protest.

Makayla, who herself is an aspiring young actress and takes after her father’s love for art, has created her own Black Lives Matter signs to express her feelings on the current racial climate. “It’s a beautiful thing to be a father,” says Alaquiva. “My biggest achievement in life is being a corny dad because she fills me up. She’s a large percentage of my ‘why.’” He attributes much of his pride and success to the strong relationship he holds with his daughter.

“As fathers, we must expose our children to different environments and explore ways to

creatively express provocative emotion through the channels of art that promote

change,” says Alaquiva.

“This movement is about saving lives and it is imperative that the lives of all minorities

who are disproportionately at risk are included,” says Danielle Filip, co-producer on Unspeakable.“It is my hope that ‘Unspeakable’ brings attention to the basic human right of communication access as a thread which connects us all.”

It is estimated that 1/3 to 1/2 of those who are killed by police have disabilities. Eric Garner, Freddie Grey, Sandra Bland, Tanesha Anderson all had disabilities, as did many more.” To understand the struggles of the Black Deaf and disabled community, we present Unspeakable:

BLM and disability activist resources:

National Black Deaf Advocates’

Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities 

“How to say 'Black Lives Matter' in sign language and why it’s different for different people”

“Black Deaf Culture Through the Lens of Black Deaf History”