How can technology effectively promote social justice and strengthen families?

The Hip Hop Initiative aspires to capture innovations that can advance social change. It strives to create a new paradigm among the nonprofit sector, the hip-hop community, private industry and activists vis-a-vis how they think about social justice issues and how they might better work together.

The Initiative identifies innovations or applications of technology, which effectively promote social justice through alliances with diverse sectors and mediums.

To view the Hip hop video, see below

Why Hip-Hop?

The hip-hop culture emerged in the early 1970’s as a New York youth movement. This generational movement emerged after the civil rights activism and has become a global influence. Its success has created conditions causing it to evolve into a multi-billion dollar commodity. It now not only guides what youth listen to, watch and wear; but also it now transcends to adult markets as well.

More importantly, its influence is beyond commerce. As author Jeff Chang notes, it also “serves as a critical space for young people to develop progressive thought and action”.

ZeroDivide intends to take this history and “movement” to another level of influence and to expand its reach. By applying technological advances and providing knowledge and expertise on policy reform and advocacy, the hip-hop community can be an important participant and leader in mainstream social justice activism.

For a list of grantees

Kitchen Cabinet

In 2004, ZeroDivide established the Hip hop Initiative that reflected our understanding that hip hop is one of the most influential cultural forms affecting today’s youth, local communities, and modern global culture.

We learned that our ability to create progressive social change through the medium of hip hop and technology depended upon our capacity to collaborate with for-profit, non-profit, and community-based organizations. This collaboration culminated in our Kitchen Cabinet.

The Kitchen Cabinet is an informal advisory group that ensures the Initiative remains relevant and “in touch” with the pulse of hip hop culture. It also provides a space for leaders in the hip hop social movement to strategize, collaborate, and coordinate their efforts.

To view the video:

Links

Hip Hop for Social Justice - Chuck D at the Commonwealth Club

ZeroDivide Grantee, Urban Economy, co-sponsored an event featuring Chuck D., founder of the highly acclaimed group Public Enemy and outspoken advocate for social justice, equality and economic mobility.

Kitchen Cabinet Real Talk: Hip Hop as a Media for Social Justice
Our first Kitchen Cabinet Real Talk participant packet is available online.