MISSION DRIVEN

Our Why

Black Americans carry a disproportionate cancer burden, including the highest mortality rates from most cancers, and slowest time to diagnosis of any other race.

Not only are Black Americans 41% more likely to die from cancer, they top the charts in heart disease, diabetes, and obesity too.Β Β 

Low health literacy is a big part of the problem.

We're bringing health literacy to the streets

Black Americans need to be empowered with effective health literacy so they can seek the healthcare access and timely intervention they need and deserve.

We aim to educate people in their local communities, with voices they know and trust.

We're eliminating road blocks and barriers to success

Healthcare disparities like lack of insurance, limited access, historical injustices, and implicit racial bias keep many People of Color from seeking essential or even basic medical care.

We're fostering prevention and self-advocacy

We must engage Communities of Color at the grass roots level, and establish collaborative partnerships that will drive health literacy and create lasting change.

Black people of all ages

THE SOLUTION

Hit the Streets

We’re gearing up to launch a series of block parties in some of America’s largest urban communities and harness the power of hip-hop music and its culture to empowerΒ people toΒ seekΒ andΒ receiveΒ the healthcare they need and deserve.

Together with community partners, the Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation is creating a model to educate and inspire Black Americans in their neighborhoods with a goal of creating measurable and lasting change.

OUR PROGRAMS

Powered by Hip-Hop

Health, Hope & Hip-Hop

LOCAL BLOCK PARTIES

Urban street parties in underserved communities that combine hip-hop culture with trusted experts to empower health literacy

Hip Hope Hooray!

PODCAST SERIES

A series for survivors featuring Grand G and special guests, who've all been touched by serious illness and perservered

Betterment Productions Logo

PRODUCTION COMPANY

A vehicle to produce and distribute hip-hop collaborations featuring legends and up-and-coming local artists

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Join the Party

GIVE

Donate Now

Help us to bring essential health literacy programs and resources to communities in need.

VOLUNTEER

Get Involved

Join a Street team in your community and make a difference in your own backyard.

FUND

Partner with Us

Fund our initiatives by providing a grant or sponsoring a program that aligns with your company’s goals.

We are grateful to our homies for supporting our mission and vision

The Golden Era of hip-hop, spanning the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, represents a transformative period in music and culture. Characterized by lyrical innovation, diverse production styles, and a strong sense of social consciousness. It was a time when hip-hop became a powerful voice for marginalized communities, addressing issues of identity, inequality, and resilience. The fusion of jazz, funk, and soul in production laid the groundwork for a sound that was both rich and revolutionary. 

As we reflect on this pivotal moment, we recognize the Golden Era not just as a timeline, but as a cultural movement that reshaped music, art, and society, influencing generations to come. Its essence lies in the celebration of authenticity, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of truth, resonating far beyond the beats and rhymes of the time.

The Golden Era of hip-hop, spanning the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, represents a transformative period in music and culture. Characterized by lyrical innovation, diverse production styles, and a strong sense of social consciousness. It was a time when hip-hop became a powerful voice for marginalized communities, addressing issues of identity, inequality, and resilience. The fusion of jazz, funk, and soul in production laid the groundwork for a sound that was both rich and revolutionary.

As we reflect on this pivotal moment, we recognize the Golden Era not just as a timeline, but as a cultural movement that reshaped music, art, and society, influencing generations to come. Its essence lies in the celebration of authenticity, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of truth, resonating far beyond the beats and rhymes of the time.
...

16 0
There is still time to enter and start a healthy habit before Nov 1 winner is announced.

Copy the link below πŸ‘‡πŸΎ or click link in bio

https://healthhopehiphop.org/step-it-up/

Share if you care

There is still time to enter and start a healthy habit before Nov 1 winner is announced.

Copy the link below πŸ‘‡πŸΎ or click link in bio

https://healthhopehiphop.org/step-it-up/

Share if you care
...

17 0
Since getting back from the incredible Health eMatters conference, I can’t stop thinking about the amazing experiences and connections I made!

With that in mind, it’s hard to believe that it was a year ago in January when I first attended the Escape to Thrive 2024 conference hosted by BagIt in Tucson, AZ. While at the conference, I had the privilege of meeting people from across the US and one fantastic Canadian πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦, Michelle MJ!

Welp, while in Toronto at the Health eMatters conference, guess who slid through? Michelle!!!! 

I enjoyed chilaxing with you and great vibes, Chel! Thanks for taking the time out of your life to chill with ya boy! πŸ«ΆπŸΎπŸ‘ŠπŸΎ

Since getting back from the incredible Health eMatters conference, I can’t stop thinking about the amazing experiences and connections I made!

With that in mind, it’s hard to believe that it was a year ago in January when I first attended the Escape to Thrive 2024 conference hosted by BagIt in Tucson, AZ. While at the conference, I had the privilege of meeting people from across the US and one fantastic Canadian πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦, Michelle MJ!

Welp, while in Toronto at the Health eMatters conference, guess who slid through? Michelle!!!!

I enjoyed chilaxing with you and great vibes, Chel! Thanks for taking the time out of your life to chill with ya boy! πŸ«ΆπŸΎπŸ‘ŠπŸΎ
...

23 6
As a Myeloma advocate turning activist, attending the Health eMatters Conference in Toronto was truly a refreshing and empowering experience! Meeting fellow advocates from across borders, each bringing their unique perspectives on various health challenges, reminded me of the strength in our collective voices. Listening to Tyra Langille’s moving story of overcoming oral cancer at such a young age reinforced the importance of sharing these experiences to inspire and raise awareness for early detection and advocacy.

The powerful storytelling from Aviva Rubin reminded me of the impact we can make when we present our experiences authentically and compellingly, reaching audiences on a deeper level. Michelle Burleigh’s insights about building a coalition during one of the breakout session was invaluable, encouraging me with knowledge to foster collaboration among diverse advocacy groups.

Special shout-out to Jes Sarchett, who taught us that TikTok isn’t just for the young folksβ€”it’s a powerful tool we can all harness to amplify our advocacy efforts!

I want to show love to Michelle Oana and her incredible team for organizing this empowering event, and to Martine Elias, CEO of Myeloma Canada, for their continued support in growing this platform and making it possible for advocates like me to attend. Special thanks to the collaboration between Myeloma Canada | MyΓ©lome Canada and the International Myeloma Foundation, which made my participation possible.

This conference reaffirmed my commitment to amplifying patient voices and making real change in our healthcare systems. I could go on about every single person there that impacted me but the post would be forever like the Harry Porter novel series.🀣 So to everyone else, know that you are ❀️ from that Black hip-hop brother from the πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ 

I pray I get invited back again! πŸ™ #4real4real

As a Myeloma advocate turning activist, attending the Health eMatters Conference in Toronto was truly a refreshing and empowering experience! Meeting fellow advocates from across borders, each bringing their unique perspectives on various health challenges, reminded me of the strength in our collective voices. Listening to Tyra Langille’s moving story of overcoming oral cancer at such a young age reinforced the importance of sharing these experiences to inspire and raise awareness for early detection and advocacy.

The powerful storytelling from Aviva Rubin reminded me of the impact we can make when we present our experiences authentically and compellingly, reaching audiences on a deeper level. Michelle Burleigh’s insights about building a coalition during one of the breakout session was invaluable, encouraging me with knowledge to foster collaboration among diverse advocacy groups.

Special shout-out to Jes Sarchett, who taught us that TikTok isn’t just for the young folksβ€”it’s a powerful tool we can all harness to amplify our advocacy efforts!

I want to show love to Michelle Oana and her incredible team for organizing this empowering event, and to Martine Elias, CEO of Myeloma Canada, for their continued support in growing this platform and making it possible for advocates like me to attend. Special thanks to the collaboration between Myeloma Canada | MyΓ©lome Canada and the International Myeloma Foundation, which made my participation possible.

This conference reaffirmed my commitment to amplifying patient voices and making real change in our healthcare systems. I could go on about every single person there that impacted me but the post would be forever like the Harry Porter novel series.🀣 So to everyone else, know that you are ❀️ from that Black hip-hop brother from the πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

I pray I get invited back again! πŸ™ #4real4real
...

22 9
The last day of this Health eMatters event and it’s been an incredible experience! Meeting so many advocates from a different country but still applying pressure towards the same challenges in healthcare was inspiring! Learning from you has been a blessing! Let’s stay connected πŸ“±πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦+πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

The last day of this Health eMatters event and it’s been an incredible experience! Meeting so many advocates from a different country but still applying pressure towards the same challenges in healthcare was inspiring! Learning from you has been a blessing! Let’s stay connected πŸ“±πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦+πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ ...

23 17
πŸ”₯ We’re working to eliminate healthcare disparities, one city at a time. First up… Wilmington, DE, where our very own Oya Gilbert (aka Grand G) came up!

The Hip Hope Ball is more than just an eventβ€”it’s our opportunity to connect with the people and businesses of Wilmington, DE, understand their needs, and find ways to work together to create real, lasting change. πŸ’ͺ🏾

Save the date: February 28th, 2025 and join us for a Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation celebration that’s going to change the way we all think about health literacy. This isn’t your average fundraiserβ€”we’re tapping into the power of hip-hop music and culture to uplift Black and Brown communities and ensure they receive the quality healthcare they deserve. 🎀🎢

But this is just the beginning. The Hip Hope Ball is the kickoff to something even bigger. Next up? A Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Block Party coming to Wilmington, DE this springβ€”and trust us, it’s going to be LIT! πŸ”₯

Don’t miss out on being part of this powerful movement from day one. Join us for a fundraiser that will ignite the change to save lives. More details to come!

#HipHopeBall #HealthHopeHipHop #HealthcareForAll #HealthEquity #WilmingtonDE #CommunityEmpowerment #SaveTheDate

πŸ”₯ We’re working to eliminate healthcare disparities, one city at a time. First up… Wilmington, DE, where our very own Oya Gilbert (aka Grand G) came up!

The Hip Hope Ball is more than just an eventβ€”it’s our opportunity to connect with the people and businesses of Wilmington, DE, understand their needs, and find ways to work together to create real, lasting change. πŸ’ͺ🏾

Save the date: February 28th, 2025 and join us for a Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation celebration that’s going to change the way we all think about health literacy. This isn’t your average fundraiserβ€”we’re tapping into the power of hip-hop music and culture to uplift Black and Brown communities and ensure they receive the quality healthcare they deserve. 🎀🎢

But this is just the beginning. The Hip Hope Ball is the kickoff to something even bigger. Next up? A Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Block Party coming to Wilmington, DE this springβ€”and trust us, it’s going to be LIT! πŸ”₯

Don’t miss out on being part of this powerful movement from day one. Join us for a fundraiser that will ignite the change to save lives. More details to come!

#HipHopeBall #HealthHopeHipHop #HealthcareForAll #HealthEquity #WilmingtonDE #CommunityEmpowerment #SaveTheDate
...

7 0
jnj’s healthevoices24 + healthhopehiphopfoundation=πŸ”₯πŸ’ͺ🏾

jnj’s healthevoices24 + healthhopehiphopfoundation=πŸ”₯πŸ’ͺ🏾 ...

11 1
Homie: Was the #healthevoices24 conference dope?

Me: Nah

Homie: Really?!

Me: Nah….it was the dopest!!!πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

Let’s gooooo!!

Homie: Was the #healthevoices24 conference dope?

Me: Nah

Homie: Really?!

Me: Nah….it was the dopest!!!πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

Let’s gooooo!!
...

15 8
🌟 Just got back from an amazing experience at the HealtheVoices24 Conference, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson! 🌟

Connecting with passionate advocates and thought leaders in the health community was nothing short of inspiring. πŸ’¬βœ¨ The breakout sessions were engaging and forward-thinking, packed with real talk on navigating the complexities of health advocacy. Big ups to J&J for keeping it 100 and remembering we’re patients first, not just advocates. The vibe was on point, and they even had an on-site medic to keep us all good! πŸ™ŒπŸ½πŸ’‰

Now, let’s get into Open Mic Nightβ€”it was straight-up OFF THE CHAIN! 🎀πŸ”₯ Advocates showed off their amazing talents, reminding us that we’re so much more than our diseases. The energy was electric, and the drag MC was the hostess with the mostess! πŸ‘‘πŸ’– We had comedians cracking us up, singers bringing down the house, and even a wild scientific demo on how the brain works with the male private part(skeet skeet) β€”definitely a night to remember! πŸ˜‚πŸ§ 

Plus, we had the honor of having the CEO in the building! This dude’s been leading for 35 years and is the only CEO not born in America! His presence really added to the significance of the event. πŸ™πŸ½βœ¨

Huge shoutout to Johnson & Johnson for hosting such a transformative experience and for their commitment to elevating voices in health advocacy. πŸŽ‰πŸ‘ Can’t wait to put everything I’ve learned into action and keep pushing for change! #HealtheVoices24 #HealthAdvocacy #Grateful #JohnsonAndJohnson

🌈πŸ’ͺ🏽 Let’s keep the convo going! What were your favorite moments? Drop them below! πŸ‘‡πŸ½πŸ’¬

🌟 Just got back from an amazing experience at the HealtheVoices24 Conference, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson! 🌟

Connecting with passionate advocates and thought leaders in the health community was nothing short of inspiring. πŸ’¬βœ¨ The breakout sessions were engaging and forward-thinking, packed with real talk on navigating the complexities of health advocacy. Big ups to J&J for keeping it 100 and remembering we’re patients first, not just advocates. The vibe was on point, and they even had an on-site medic to keep us all good! πŸ™ŒπŸ½πŸ’‰

Now, let’s get into Open Mic Nightβ€”it was straight-up OFF THE CHAIN! 🎀πŸ”₯ Advocates showed off their amazing talents, reminding us that we’re so much more than our diseases. The energy was electric, and the drag MC was the hostess with the mostess! πŸ‘‘πŸ’– We had comedians cracking us up, singers bringing down the house, and even a wild scientific demo on how the brain works with the male private part(skeet skeet) β€”definitely a night to remember! πŸ˜‚πŸ§ 

Plus, we had the honor of having the CEO in the building! This dude’s been leading for 35 years and is the only CEO not born in America! His presence really added to the significance of the event. πŸ™πŸ½βœ¨

Huge shoutout to Johnson & Johnson for hosting such a transformative experience and for their commitment to elevating voices in health advocacy. πŸŽ‰πŸ‘ Can’t wait to put everything I’ve learned into action and keep pushing for change! #HealtheVoices24 #HealthAdvocacy #Grateful #JohnsonAndJohnson

🌈πŸ’ͺ🏽 Let’s keep the convo going! What were your favorite moments? Drop them below! πŸ‘‡πŸ½πŸ’¬
...

15 2
πŸŽ‰ I had the pleasure to attend the International Myeloma Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Support Group Summit, and I can’t express how well-executed and enjoyable the event was! 🌟 

From the inspiring welcome by Robin Tuohy to the enlightening keynote lecture on the latest advancements in myeloma treatment by Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, every moment was filled with learning and connection. The engaging Q&A sessions with experts like Dr. Joseph Mikhael and Teresa Miceli RN BSN OCN provided valuable insights into navigating the myeloma journey. 

One of the highlights was the Leader Panel Discussion, where veteran leaders Thomas Goode, Malcolm Katz, and Sally Weber shared their best practices for success alongside new leaders Terry Glassman and Adrienne & Chad Moore. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from their experiences and gain fresh perspectives.

Sylvia Dsouza, MPA, IMF VP of Development, emphasized the importance of engaging and partnering with the IMF to ensure that we can continue to build and strengthen our community. Her vision for the future is inspiring, and I left feeling motivated to get involved and support our collective mission.

I also appreciated the sessions on advocacy led by Emma Hatcher, MPH and Michael A. Riotto, which highlighted the crucial role of patient engagement and advocacy in our communities. The deep dives into personalized clinical trial support and the innovative AI tool, Myelo, which is set to revolutionize patient care, were truly eye-opening.

Beyond the educational aspects, the atmosphere was vibrant and supportive, with opportunities to network and share experiences with fellow myeloma warriors. It was truly a celebration of our community and a powerful reminder of the importance of support in our journeys. 

I’m excited to take what I learned back to my own support group and continue advocating for myeloma patients everywhere! πŸ’™ 

#IMF25thAnniversary #MyelomaSupport #Community #Empowerment #PatientAdvocacy

πŸŽ‰ I had the pleasure to attend the International Myeloma Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Support Group Summit, and I can’t express how well-executed and enjoyable the event was! 🌟

From the inspiring welcome by Robin Tuohy to the enlightening keynote lecture on the latest advancements in myeloma treatment by Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, every moment was filled with learning and connection. The engaging Q&A sessions with experts like Dr. Joseph Mikhael and Teresa Miceli RN BSN OCN provided valuable insights into navigating the myeloma journey.

One of the highlights was the Leader Panel Discussion, where veteran leaders Thomas Goode, Malcolm Katz, and Sally Weber shared their best practices for success alongside new leaders Terry Glassman and Adrienne & Chad Moore. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from their experiences and gain fresh perspectives.

Sylvia Dsouza, MPA, IMF VP of Development, emphasized the importance of engaging and partnering with the IMF to ensure that we can continue to build and strengthen our community. Her vision for the future is inspiring, and I left feeling motivated to get involved and support our collective mission.

I also appreciated the sessions on advocacy led by Emma Hatcher, MPH and Michael A. Riotto, which highlighted the crucial role of patient engagement and advocacy in our communities. The deep dives into personalized clinical trial support and the innovative AI tool, Myelo, which is set to revolutionize patient care, were truly eye-opening.

Beyond the educational aspects, the atmosphere was vibrant and supportive, with opportunities to network and share experiences with fellow myeloma warriors. It was truly a celebration of our community and a powerful reminder of the importance of support in our journeys.

I’m excited to take what I learned back to my own support group and continue advocating for myeloma patients everywhere! πŸ’™

#IMF25thAnniversary #MyelomaSupport #Community #Empowerment #PatientAdvocacy
...

5 1
HealtheVoices24  Open 🎀 it’s a wrap!

@jnj

HealtheVoices24 Open 🎀 it’s a wrap!

@jnj
...

13 2
She killed it!!!🫰🏽🫰🏽🫰🏽πŸ”₯

#HealtheVoices24

@jnj

She killed it!!!🫰🏽🫰🏽🫰🏽πŸ”₯

#HealtheVoices24

@jnj
...

9 1