Our Educators

Our teaching artists serve as positive role models who hail from the same neighborhoods as their students. HH4C programming imparts communication, self-love, and critical thinking skills to vulnerable youth. HH4C offers these young people cultural affirmation and community connections that encourage academic success and personal well-being and responsibility. We provide the youth a safe space to communicate about pressing issues in their communities. Our program is also particularly effective for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, connecting them to caring mentors and giving them tools to regulate their emotions in creative and healthy ways.

  • A man standing against a yellow background, wearing a black t-shirt with 'Unlearn the World' and a globe graphic, and an unbuttoned black jacket with colorful patches. He is holding the collar of his jacket with each hand.

    Marlon Richardson

    Marlon Richardson AKA Unlearn The World is the Executive Director of Hip Hop For Change.

  • A woman wearing a purple beanie and headphones, with tattoos on her arms, singing passionately.

    Megan Correa

    Megan Correa aka Lil MCis the Program Coordinator, Co-director/Co-Founder of the Women’s Empowerment Department and a Senior Hip Hop educator at Hip Hop for Change specializing in MCing & music production.

  • Young woman with curly hair, glasses, and a white cold shoulder top standing and smiling in front of colorful graffiti art. She holds a canvas with an artistic letter A against a sunset background.

    Amani Jade

    Amani Jade is the Co-director/Co-founder of Hip Hop For Change’s original Women’s Empowerment Program. She is also a senior Hip Hop Educator specializing on MCing and creative writing.

  • A man with long dreadlocks standing in front of colorful graffiti art, holding two signs that read "SAN FRANCISCO" and "BAY AREA."

    Najee Amaranth

    Najee Amaranth AKA Sumofman is a senior Hip Hop Educator specializing in MCing and Songwriting.

  • A man wearing headphones and a black cap sitting at a music production workstation with a desktop computer, audio speakers, a ring light, and acoustic foam panels on the wall.

    Luis Rodriguez

    Luis Rodriguez AKA LV is the head engineer of Hip Hop for Change’s brand new, state-of-the-art recording studio.

  • A man with dark skin, dreadlocks, and a beard wearing a white shirt and gold chains, standing against a wall with sunlight casting shadows.

    Gideon Mekwunye JR

    Gideon is a Senior Hip Hop Educator and the head of our Breakdancing Program.

  • A smiling young man with long dark hair, a beard, and a single earring, wearing a black hat, a patterned shirt, and a black tie.

    Mitchell James

    Mitchell is a Hip Hop educator specializing in partnership development, curriculum development and MCing.

  • Three people DJing at a nightclub, with one person smiling and the other two focused on the music equipment.

    Jayd Cisneros

    Jayd AKA illijah Beats is our lead instructor for our Los Angeles teacher cohort, specializing in DJing, Beatmaking, and Breakdancing.

  • A person with curly hair squatting in front of a black wall illuminated by two neon lights, wearing headphones, a black hoodie, khaki shorts, and sneakers, looking up.

    Jane Hamaker

    Jane Hamaker AKA Jane The Message is a senior Hip Hop Educator specializing in MCing and Fashion. She is also the creator of our Hip Hop Fashion curriculum