There’s a certain kind of light that doesn’t announce itself loudly. It doesn’t chase attention or perform for approval. It shows up quietly, shaped by place, loss, belief, and responsibility. That’s the kind of light Devin Rashad brings into the CTZNS village.
To understand Devin, you have to start with where he’s from. Not just on a map, but in spirit.
Baltimore and the Soul
“I am from Baltimore, MD,” Devin shares. “My hometown is such a culture-filled place that no matter how hard I try to ignore it, it’s embedded in me. From the accent, the food, my demeanor, and at the end of the day, just one big family.”
Baltimore isn’t a branding tool for Devin. It’s a lived experience. A city that carries both scars and brilliance, contradiction and creativity. He speaks about it with the kind of intimacy that only comes from growing up inside its rhythms. Knowing its struggles, but also believing deeply in its potential.
“This has so much potential,” he says. “Which inspires me to give back in some sort of way and to bring light to the positivity that comes from Baltimore.”
That impulse to give back isn’t accidental. It’s inherited.
Following the Footsteps of Service
“My grandfather was one of the most influential people in the city,” Devin explains. “I just try to step into his shoes and fulfill the same mission to the community.”
There’s no grandstanding in the way he says it. No claim to legacy as entitlement. Instead, there’s reverence and a quiet sense of duty. For Devin, influence isn’t about visibility. It’s about stewardship. Carrying something forward without needing to reshape it in your own image.
That same steadiness shows up in how he talks about resilience, especially in the context of personal loss.
“I’ve lost a lot, and a lot of people recently,” Devin says. “And through it all, my wife has been by my side every step of the way.”
When he speaks about her, the language softens, but the conviction sharpens.
“She keeps me encouraged, making sure my head always stays up,” he continues. “And if I ever need to put it down, her shoulder is there to lay it on.”
This partnership isn’t separate from Devin’s work in the world. It’s the reason behind it. He frames his ambition not as self-driven, but relational. Rooted in love, responsibility, and a shared future.
“Every day I work to try to make our lives better,” he says, “not just here on earth, but in God’s Kingdom as well.”
Faith, for Devin, isn’t abstract. It’s structural.
Faith, Family, and the Foundation
“My foundation is built on God alone,” he states plainly. “My passion to continue to do for God and spread the joy of Jesus through me is the ultimate goal in life.”
That grounding doesn’t come with illusions about ease. Devin is candid about the challenge of living out faith in a complicated world.
“I am not saying it is easy, because it’s not,” he admits. “But my backbone is built from God.”
Then he adds the line that feels less like a slogan and more like a declaration earned through experience:
“Which means… I’m built for this.”
That same clarity is what drew Devin to CTZNS in the first place.
Dedication to the Village and its Light
“What excites me most about working with the village,” he says, “is because I see the vision Brian has and his passion to build a community in this field and direction, but with authenticity and genuineness.”
What stands out in Devin’s words isn’t flattery; it’s alignment. He’s not interested in platforms that chase relevance without substance. CTZNS, to him, represents a rare balance; creative ambition paired with sincerity.
“I’m looking forward to creating more visionary ideas that expand CTZNS,” he says, “and bring joy that will shine through everything we touch.”
That emphasis on everything we touch matters. It signals intention. Not just to create content, but to shape culture with care.
Looking ahead, Devin’s personal vision mirrors that same ethos.
“My vision is to create and give creative minds like myself a platform where they are able to express their unique way,” he explains. “I want to bring light to the real things that need the attention of people’s eyes and ears.”
In a time marked by noise, speed, and surface-level engagement, Devin sees urgency in slowing down and creating with purpose.
“In today’s climate,” he says, “now is the time to create something new for the future.”
Not louder. Not trendier. New in the sense of true.
For the CTZNS village, Devin Rashad represents the kind of presence that strengthens the whole ecosystem, someone rooted in place, anchored in faith, and motivated by service rather than spotlight. He doesn’t just believe in light; he carries it intentionally, shaped by history, loss, love, and conviction.
This piece is an introduction, not a conclusion. The work Devin is here to do is still unfolding. But one thing is already clear:
He’s not here by accident.
He’s not guessing his way forward.
He’s built for this and the village is better for it.
