We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dequandre Liburd. Check out our conversation below.
Dequandre, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What battle are you avoiding?
The battle I’m avoiding is becoming as big as the program God has been unfolding in my life. It’s not fear of failure, it’s the weight of purpose. Stepping into that kind of responsibility takes surrender, not just confidence.
The things I’ve perceived that are expected of me feel groundbreaking, and when your natural capacity doesn’t seem to match that calling, it can make you want to run from the magnitude of it. I’ve had to shift my mindset many times because of how big yet seemingly unattainable these assignments are. The truth is, I haven’t always been as loud about myself and my gifts as I should be.
I used to mistake humility for shrinking. I thought staying quiet was noble, but I learned that real humility is acknowledging the greatness God placed within you and walking boldly in it. With great power comes great responsibility, and one of those responsibilities is to be anchored in the depth of who I’m becoming and to shout from that mountaintop, rooted in faith, that I am chosen for these things to come forth.
What do you do when the potential of a mogul is stirred within you, but you don’t yet see the evidence of that capacity in yourself? You dig. Deep calls to deep. And like an octopus, I’ve learned that I’m adaptable and equipped for that plunge.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Dequandre Liburd,
At the moment, I balance quite a lot in my day-to-day life. I work a full-time job delivering packages during the week, and in the evenings, I shift gears into my creative work, the many side hustles that keep my purpose alive.
I’m a filmmaker, storyteller, and entrepreneur, the founder of Q Da Vision Entertainment, a creative production company dedicated to telling purpose-driven stories that merge faith, culture, and cinematic artistry. When I’m not editing or directing, I’m managing my culture-forward apparel brand, Cruz & Clutch, which bridges my two worlds, the Virgin Islands and Houston, Texas, through design, storytelling, and community. Each piece celebrates island vibrance and urban grit, reflecting both heritage and hustle.
My filmmaking journey has taken me from Houston to Tennessee to Georgia, each move pushing me to grow, adapt, and connect. I’ve learned to build from scratch wherever I land, finding collaborators, stories, and opportunities that stretch my creativity and faith. In Georgia, I even, for my first time, shot and directed a Christmas-themed period-piece feature film almost entirely on my own, handling camera, lighting, and sound for about 85 percent of the project. That experience reminded me that limitations don’t define me, vision does.
On weekends, I stay rooted in both creativity and community. With my cousin, we host pop-ups selling authentic Crucian pates and homemade lemonade. With my best friend, I co-run Cinemunch, a comfort-cuisine pop-up raising funds for our first film, Sick Joke. The idea is simple: feed the community, fund the dream.
Through my platform Vision Dock, I share poetic, faith-driven storytelling on TikTok (@visiondock340) that ties all my worlds together: film, apparel, and purpose, highlighting the divine story and resilience of the Virgin Islands.
Some days are tougher than others, but I love this stage of building. I’ve always been a creator at heart, ever since I was a kid turning scraps into ideas. Now, every project feels like a continuation of that same spark, proof that legacy isn’t built in one lane; it’s built through consistency, calling, and creativity.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad, a hard worker and successful entrepreneur, taught me the most about what real work looks like —not just in effort, but in endurance, innovation, and legacy. Watching him build and sustain Monarch Heavy Equipment in St. Croix showed me how resilience and creativity can power a community.
Through his company, he provides heavy equipment rentals and tire services and has even expanded into steel rebar, trailer, and small-car sales, always finding new ways to serve the island’s needs. His work keeps the industrial heart of St. Croix beating, with cranes stationed at the water and power authority plants, oil refineries, and rum factories that keep our economy alive.
For me, it wasn’t just about business; it was about belonging. Monarch’s trucks and trailers have rolled down the parade road in Frederiksted every festival season, hauling bands, steel pans, and island pride. That presence symbolized more than a company; it was part of the culture itself.
Outside of work, my dad was a calypso singer and bug racer, known by the name Tumba, a lively, joyful presence at horse races, car races, and community events. Through him, I learned that work and joy can coexist, that serving your people and pursuing your passions can come from the same heart. His example taught me that legacy isn’t what you leave behind — it’s what you keep alive while you’re still here.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“Young king, YOU LIT!”
I’d say it with the same conviction I wish I had back then. I’d tell him that his light was never too much, it just needed the right rooms to shine in. That being misunderstood didn’t mean he was misplaced, it meant he was meant for more.
Every long day, every side hustle, every quiet prayer was shaping something he couldn’t yet imagine, a life filled with purpose, art, and alignment. I’d remind him that his mix of island roots and city rhythm would one day become his superpower, that his storytelling would heal others, and that his faith would carry him further than fear ever could.
And most of all, I’d tell him: you didn’t miss your moment… you are the moment.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
People shouldn’t take a risk on what’s actually risky and fresh. Somewhere along the line, the industry convinced itself that playing it safe is what sells when, in reality, the world is starving for authenticity.
In today’s society, our everyday stories are what matter the most. Since the pandemic and even before that, as social media started connecting us all, people have become more personal, more transparent, and more curious about real life. You can see it in the viral reels today: many of those personalities are just as layered and magnetic as the characters once written into classic cinema.
That’s part of what inspired my team and me to start P.O.T. (Proof of Talent) Reel Assembly, a platform created for new actors to invest in their own craft by producing high-quality reel scenes that showcase their range and originality. It’s our way of challenging the system, giving power back to the creators and performers who are bold enough to bet on themselves.
I believe independent filmmakers are beginning to understand that shift. The new wave isn’t about chasing fame, it’s about reclaiming truth. I want to be part of that wave. My dream is to build a film kingdom in the Virgin Islands, where not one sacred square mile of those emerald gems goes without a story told or a legacy amplified.
Because when we honor our own stories, we don’t just make films, we make history.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think what people might misunderstand about my legacy is that it’s not about being in everything, it’s about building something that touches everything. My life’s work is a ministry disguised as creativity. Film, fashion, food, it’s all storytelling. I’m just using different canvases to paint the same truth.
For a long time, I denied how blessed my hands really were. No matter how much I tried to separate myself from the calling, I was always left with the same truth: it has to be done. My early beginnings were haphazard, full of doubt, inconsistency, and a lack of commitment, but even then, I was brimming with ideas I didn’t yet have the capacity to bring to life. Now, after years of growth and surrender, I’m eager to finally release the stories and visuals that have been waiting inside me for so long.
I think that’s because I was trying to do everything without giving my soul the tenderness it needed. But once I started co-creating with God, everything shifted. I began walking the rocky foundation again, this time repairing it with presence, His presence. Now, every project, every design, every story I tell is another stone in that rebuilding process. My legacy isn’t just what I make; it’s who I’m becoming while making it.
Since then, I’ve learned that legacy isn’t about how loud your name echoes, it’s about how deeply your purpose resonates. Every film, design, and collaboration is an offering, a way of saying thank you to the places and people who made me. From Houston’s grind to St. Croix’s grace, I’m just doing my part to prove that what’s born in faith can thrive anywhere.
Because when your creativity is led by conviction, your legacy doesn’t end; it multiplies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cruzclutchapparel.com
- Instagram: @q_da_vision.ent @cruzclutchapparel
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dequandreliburd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qdavisionent
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@crownedqlegend
- Other: TikTok : @visiondock340
Image Credits
Fred Agho
David Springette
Taylor Hill
Mahogany Ballou
