ABOUT US

Who We Are

The Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation is a 501c3 committed to helping Black Americans eliminate the healthcare disparities that are taking their lives in disproportionate numbers.

Oya Gilbert

MEET OYA

Time for Change

On December 26th, 2017 Oya Gilbert was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable blood cancer that impacts Black Americans 2x more than other ethnicities.

Since his stem cell transplant in 2018, he’s lived with constant reminders of his cancer and a daily dose of chemo. He’s also turned his pain into power. 

In 2024, Oya founded the Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation to spread awareness among black and brown communities about their propensity for certain types of cancer and what they can do to improve their odds of survival

LEADERSHIP

Our Team

Oya Gilbert
Founder
Father, Hip-Hop Artist, Podcaster, Survivor, Multiple Myeloma Patient, Advocate, IMF Support Group Leader.
Executive Director
Wife, Dog and Bonus Mom, Yogi, Humanitarian, C-Suite Innovator, Change Agent, Strategist.
Angela Washington
Senior Healthcare Data Analyst
Survivor, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Healthcare Provider, Data Scientist

GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors

We’re honored to have a board of leaders and experts who understand the urgency of our mission and how best to support it.

Oya Gilbert
Oya Gilbert
Founder, Health, Hope, & Hip-Hop
Dr. Robert Winn
Dr. Robert Winn
President, The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI)
Chair of the National Cancer Policy Forum of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; a fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy; and a member of the LUNGevity Foundation, Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Senior associate dean for cancer innovation and professor of pulmonary disease and critical care medicine, VCU School of Medicine
Shamekka Marty
Shamekka Marty
Scrum Master / Lean Six Sigma certified Project Manager
Sue Mumma
Sue Mumma
New Business Development, PA Media Group
Rob Ruckman
Rob Ruckman
Director of Patient Advocacy, Pfizer
Jalai Hickey
Jalai Hickey
First Responder
Jamie Dingle
Jamie Dingle
Maintenance Director, Volvo GTO

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 back yard.

FUND

Partner with Us

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