Mission
Founded in 2010, the mission of the Hip-Hop Education Center (HHEC) is to support and amplify the efforts of individuals and communities catalyzing social change and educational equity. Through groundbreaking research, innovative curricula, collaborative programming, career and leadership development, and a living archive, we center Hip-Hop as a powerful tool for transformation.
Vision
To cultivate, elevate, and expand the field of Hip-Hop Education—making it accessible, inclusive, and impactful for all.
Initiatives
Our initiatives provide youth and adults with tools, resources, and training to foster student agency, resilience, and liberatory consciousness. We also recognize the urgent need to document history and the vital role of community archives in affirming cultural identity and belonging.
By honoring students’ voices and interests, and equipping them to shape their own futures, we are nurturing a new generation of changemakers. We measure success not only by academic growth but by participants discovering their passions and transforming them into meaningful career pathways.
Whether through visionary research, strategic convenings, entrepreneurial support, cultural preservation, or workforce development, our initiatives are designed to inspire learning, leadership, and legacy-building. By integrating the arts, scholarship, and real-world training, HHEC supports educators, artists, and youth in reimagining the future of education and creative industries.
K-12 Hip-Hop Music Guidelines & Workshops
The HHEC is proud to lead the development and national rollout of the K–12 Hip-Hop Music Education Guidelines, a groundbreaking framework designed to help educators integrate Hip-Hop culture and pedagogy into formal education.
Created in collaboration with Music Will, Save The Music Foundation, and members of the Hip-Hop Education Roundtable, the Guidelines offer culturally responsive strategies that connect Hip-Hop’s artistic elements to music, literacy, and social-emotional learning.
To support implementation, HHEC hosts a free four-part workshop series for teachers, teaching artists, and cultural workers.
Curriculum, Programming & Teacher Training
Our curated curricula and immersive programs connect Hip-Hop artists, educators, archivists, and industry professionals through international summits, community meet-ups, and think-and-do tanks. We collaborate with schools and districts to design culturally responsive Hip-Hop courses, teacher trainings, and student assemblies that foster creativity, connection, and critical thinking.
Accelerator
As an incubator for innovation, we support fellows, scholars, and grassroots organizations working at the forefront of Hip-Hop education. We provide mentorship, visibility, and economic opportunities through apprenticeships, internships, and workforce and professional development programs. By partnering with educational institutions and industry leaders, we build pathways to sustainable careers in Hip-Hop education, media, and the arts—centering economic justice and upward mobility.
Archiving & Preservation
We steward community-led archives that preserve and activate Hip-Hop’s cultural legacy. Through symposia, workshops, and hands-on training, we empower communities to document their stories and safeguard their histories. Our forthcoming open-source platform in partnership with The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture will democratize access to archiving tools and resources, expanding participation and engagement.
The Team
Board of Trustees
Current Partners
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