person

Raphael Jacobs

2026 CRFW Fund Emergency Grant recipient ($2,000); musician/songwriter building a project at starmilk.org; uses AI voices for vocals; roller skater.

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Raphael Jacobs

Recipient of a $2,000 Emergency Grant from the CRFW Fund, awarded April 2, 2026 — the first 2026-cycle grant on record. The award letter was sent by Louise Martorano on behalf of the fund's Co-Chairs, with the family (Jane Anne Ferguson, Dylan, Richard, Kim Shively) cc'd.

Project

Building Starmilk at `starmilk.org` — a world/songwriting project. As of April 2026, working without recording equipment and using AI voice tools to render lyrics into vocal material; planning to record properly next. Also a roller skater with plans to make roller skating music video themes.

In his own words

From his thank-you reply to the fund (April 4, 2026):

"I want to thank you all for being part of a group that has truly impacted my life so profoundly this month. I didn't have another option, and I can't tell you what a relief it is both for myself and my landlord that this grant came through on time. I don't feel ashamed walking outside my house this month, and for someone as sensitive as I am, that means everything."
"Truth and love are what it's all about, so very deeply, and it needs to be fed with all we've got to make a difference in the world. There's no halfway when it comes to being the change you want to see, you know?"

The framing — emergency grant, housing-adjacent, deeply sincere about the artistic stakes — matches Colin's stated "deep sense of love for humanity and community" that the fund was built to honor.

Source