incubator that centralizes and connects the work of Hip-Hop

The Hip-Hop Education Center (HHEC) is an innovation hub and incubator that centralizes and connects the work of Hip-Hop artists, teachers, students, scholars, archivists, curators, activists, and social entrepreneurs from across the globe to empower the community and preserve, create, and honor Hip-Hop’s legacy.
Mission The Hip-Hop Education Center empowers individuals and communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as underserved and marginalized youth—by driving social change and equity through research, curated curricula, collaborative programming, career and leadership development, and the preservation of Hip-Hop’s living history.
Vision To cultivate and elevate the field of Hip-Hop Education and make it accessible to all.

Initiatives

Our Initiatives

Through our six core initiatives—Research + Policy, Think and Do, Accelerator, Preservation, Women in Hip-Hop, and Career and Workforce Development—we cultivate innovative solutions that drive equity in education. Whether through groundbreaking research, strategic convenings, entrepreneurial support, cultural preservation, gender equity advocacy, or career pathways, each initiative fosters learning, leadership, and legacy-building. By integrating arts, scholarship, and workforce training, HHEC provides educators, artists, and youth with the tools to shape the future of education and creative industries.

Research + Policy

We lead transnational RESEARCH to document the evolution and impact of Hip-Hop Education, amplifying its effectiveness in engaging students, educators, and researchers across diverse schools and communities. Our work also informs policymakers and stakeholders with evidence-based practices and innovative models, driving POLICY and education reform.
Find out more

Think + Do

We engage in THINK + DO meet ups through international programming to foster coalition building with emerging and seasoned Hip-Hop artists, educators, curators, archivists, and industry professionals while advocating for the systemic change essential to their growth and sustained success.
Find out more

Accelerator Career + Workforce Development

We serve as an ACCELERATOR by incubating the work of our fellows and scholars as part of our strategy to scale the field and bring attention to high-performing organizations, curriculum models, and leaders.

We foster CAREER + WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT for economic empowerment and upward mobility by creating internships, apprenticeships, and job opportunities. Through industry partnerships, mentorship, and hands-on training, we equip youth, educators, and creatives with the skills and networks needed to thrive in education, media, and the arts. Our programs ensure that participants gain real-world experience, career readiness, and pathways to sustainable employment.
Find out more

FRESH, BOLD & SO DEF Women in Hip-Hop + Preservation

We cultivate FRESH, BOLD & SO DEF (FBSD) WOMEN IN HIP-HOP by exploring and documenting women’s roles and leadership positions in different sectors within Hip-Hop culture and the community, while challenging the negative media factors and power struggle that hinder awareness and the growth of these women.

We create community-driven archives to PRESERVE and consolidate cultural assets, transforming them into valuable educational resources. Additionally, we provide open-source archiving tools to empower broader access and engagement.
Find out more

History

LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL

The Hip-Hop Education Center (HHEC) addresses the systemic lack of culturally responsive education, the underrepresentation of Black and Brown educators, and the need for equitable access to creative career pathways. Traditional education often fails to engage marginalized youth, leading to disengagement, limited opportunities, and cultural erasure. The Hip-Hop-based education framework is a student-centered wholistic approach using Hip-Hop history, culture and music as a hook, bridge, and/or discipline to learning and teaching. For over 30 years visionary leader, Founder and Executive Director Martha Diaz has pioneered the field, culminating in the creation of the HHEC; a nexus to centralize and connect the work of Hip-Hop artists, teachers, students, scholars, archivists, curators, and social entrepreneurs from across the globe.

Meet Our Partners
Photo by Budgeron Bach

Our Community

Meet The Team

We have an incredible community of individuals dedicated to building the Hip-Hop Education Center.