About the Artist
My name is Dima Gapeev. I’m a first-generation Russian American. I speak Russian and English fluently and I’m proficient in Spanish. I grew up in Baltimore, went to Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, and earned my Physics degree from UMBC. Right now, I’m an unemployed oil painter. I used to attend the W.E.B. Du Bois Abolition School in Philadelphia on weekends, but I had to stop when I could no longer afford the gas.
I’ve lived in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and I’ve seen the sharp divide between poverty and privilege. I exist in both of those worlds. But I’ve struggled for a long time, and I’m willing to keep struggling if it means I can help create something better.
What I’m trying to say is that I still believe. I still believe we can make a difference. I may not be Zohran Mamdani, but I am Dima. And I believe my story and my perspective can help guide the next generation toward a future of real economic equality.
Why I’m Doing This
I want to help unite the working class by making it easier to support local creators and organizers. Most social media platforms are owned by people who have the power to suppress important conversations. We’ve seen it with how Pro-Palestinian voices are silenced on Instagram.
The elite maintain control by shaping what we see. They slowly push us toward their products by making them more visible and easier to access. If people had the same level of access to local and independent options, I believe they would choose to support those instead.
Many people also never hear about protests or organizing efforts unless they are already deeply connected. I want to fix that. I want this platform to help community leaders share events, connect with each other, and build power. I want it to be a space that can't be co-opted by the people at the top.
I see this platform as a tool for resistance. Something people can trust. Something that helps inform, connect, and mobilize for real change.