Digital Director for the City of Philadelphia

President Barack Obama, photographed by Rashiid Marcell

I shape storiesthat move people,culture & cities.

Leonardo DiCaprio, photographed by Rashiid Marcell

Storyteller ✦ Strategist ✦ Connector

Brands & partners

  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Cadillac
  • Beats by Dre
  • Pizza Hut
  • Essence Fest
  • American Black Film Festival

Stories for people, culture, and cities.
Strategy, direction, and production.

Rashiid Marcell

I work at the intersection of

Storytelling.

Finding the story worth believing in.

Culture.

Meeting people where they already are.

Leadership.

Helping leaders say what matters, clearly.

Impact.

Work measured by what it changes.

01 — Point of View

Attention is earned. I help cities and brands earn it with stories people believe.

Rashiid Marcell on stage at a panel

I'm a storyteller, strategist, and connector. Through Marcell Creative, my studio and production arm, those ideas become film, photography, and digital experiences.

My story

02 — Impact

City of Philadelphia + Mayor of Philadelphia social channels

The work. The reach. The responsibility.

The goal has never been to create content just for the sake of creating it. It's to get people to pay attention, understand what matters, and connect with the stories being told.

55.6M

Views

1.8M

Interactions

111K+

New followers

Across the City of Philadelphia and Mayor of Philadelphia social channels, April 2025 to April 2026. Collective team performance during my tenure as Digital Director.

Explore the City case study →

03 — Selected Work

Aliyus, a YouthBuild Philadelphia student, during an interview in the welding shop

02 / YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School

More Than a Diploma

Documentary Storytelling / Creative Direction / Film / Photography

A diploma is one part of the story. Through student voices, film, and photography, we helped show the opportunities YouthBuild makes possible and the people stepping into them.

See the Story

Behind the work

  • Behind the scenes with Rashiid Marcell
  • Behind the scenes with Rashiid Marcell
  • Behind the scenes with Rashiid Marcell
  • Behind the scenes with Rashiid Marcell
  • Behind the scenes with Rashiid Marcell
  • Behind the scenes with Rashiid Marcell
  • Behind the scenes with Rashiid Marcell

Through my lens

Swipe →

Photographed by Rashiid.

Content

Swipe → · Tap to play

Stories in motion.

Portrait of a GraduateBoys’ Latin of Philadelphia · Short documentary · 3:29 · Marcell Creative
Julian King x Jack’dJulian King · Branded film · 3:40 · Marcell Creative
Philly PostcardsPhiladelphia · Aerial film · 0:26 · Marcell Creative
Vote and VibeOn camera · 0:21
HBCU Battle of the LegendsEvent film · 0:31
Joe Frazier Statue MoveShort documentary · 1:52
Dad HacksOn camera · 1:20
Wellness Day PartyEvent film · 1:25
Get Your TicketsPromo · 0:44
Holta Shoot RecapBrand recap · 1:17
UNLOQ 404Photo recap · 0:52

04 — Field Notes

How I think, in writing.

Not every idea needs a camera. Some of them just need somewhere to land.

Field Notes is where I work through what I'm learning about storytelling, leadership, culture, fatherhood, and the process of becoming who I want to be. Some thoughts are lessons. Some are questions I'm still trying to answer. All of them are mine.

At the center: Fatherhood

Before any title, I'm Dad.

More than anything else I do, being a father shapes the way I see the world. It's made me more patient, more curious, more intentional, and a little more aware of how much I still have to learn.

From the lessons I'm trying to teach my kids to the ones they keep teaching me, fatherhood is at the center of who I'm becoming. This is some of that story.

What does happiness feel like?Asking my kids · 0:41
Ru Sunday w/ DadFamily film · 2:16
Hendrix & Coach AshleyFamily film · 0:30
Dad Hacks: Wait to Have KidsOn camera · 1:31
Rashiid Marcell with his two kids
Rashiid Marcell with his kids beside a classic car

05 — Work With Me

Rashiid Marcell leading a session at the Innovation Lab

Have something important to say? Let’s figure out the story, how to tell it, and what it takes to bring it to life.

  1. 01

    Strategy & Advisory

    You know your work matters. The challenge is helping other people understand why. I help leaders and organizations clarify their message, understand their audience, and build a storytelling approach with a clear purpose.

    Ways we can work together
    Strategy sessions, communications and content reviews, campaign planning, and ongoing advisory.
    What we work toward
    A clearer message, stronger story ideas, and a plan your team can use.
    Let’s Talk Strategy
  2. 02

    Speaking & Workshops

    I speak about earning attention, building belief through story, and leading creative work that connects with people. Drawing from my experience across government, brands, and community storytelling, I bring practical lessons and real examples into the room.

    • Building Belief Through Story: Finding the human story that helps people understand why your work matters.
    • Earning Attention: Making important messages relevant to the people you need to reach.
    • Leading Creative Teams: Giving people clear direction and room to do their best work.
    Formats
    Available for talks, panels, and team workshops.
    What people leave with
    A clearer way to find their story, and practical steps they can use the next day.
    Bring Me Into the Room
  3. 03

    Digital Direction

    Your team is creating. But does the work add up to a clear story? I help organizations connect their message, content, and creative decisions so every piece has a purpose.

    Ways we can work together
    Developing recurring content series, shaping campaigns, establishing an editorial approach, and guiding an internal creative team.
    What we work toward
    Clear priorities, recognizable storytelling formats, and a team that understands what it’s making and why.
    Talk Digital Direction
  4. 04

    Production Through Marcell Creative

    From the first conversation to the final edit, I help turn an idea into something people can see, hear, and feel. Through Marcell Creative, I develop and produce films, photography, and digital content built around the story you need to tell.

    Projects include
    Documentary and brand films, interviews, event coverage, portraits, and social content.
    What we work toward
    Finished creative work shaped for its audience and where it will live.

    See the work: YouthBuild case study · Films · Photography

    Start a Project

06 — Contact

Let's tellyour story.

What brings you here?