Makiná NYC Move Mudanza Fund

Hi, I am Makiná!

If you are someone I trust or vibe with, you may know me as Xéfira, Xéfi or Xé (pronounced seh). My pronouns are she/they.

I am an independent audiovisual artist from Puerto Rico who has worked in shows & parties since 2019 (all my info at the bottom link). Around 2023, I was faced with the dilemma of moving from my Island, the only physical space I have known as a home all my life. Working as an artist became a social, mental & physical weight my body alone could not handle, so I considered creating my own community in New York City.

Hopefully, I found people in NYC who believed in my vision & restless work who would do everything to support my talent to the fullest. Around this time, I started being vocal of physical & verbal harassment I was a victim to in my trans community in Puerto Rico, which inspired my latest mixtape on Soundcloud, a project which I believe if I had not worked on, I would have ended physically chronically ill.

I need your help supporting my move to New York City financially. I am not able to afford my move because of the opportunities I lost when I spoke on the situation I mentioned, initial rent & living costs, getting my cat to the city & taking the time I need to adjust to my support system over there while I immediately start job searching, all while trying to finish my remote study B.A. degree. Also, I have been selling merchandise, like $20 prints in local shops here in Santurce (San Juan) & CD’s at $15 each, which I am always open to talk about through private messaging on my social media & email, if you are interested.

Any thoughtful support is so warmly appreciated. I have been working so hard for the past 5 years to not go through this community outreach & focus on how to help others, but I am stuck in the place I've only known as a home where transphobic violence runs deep & my vision is not supported financially. I believe my work is a testament to hardships being a transition to create something bigger & beautiful for people that need my perspective & support. Thank you!

https://linktr.ee/xdjmakina