About the Hip Hop Caucus

 

Mission
Background
Advisory Board
Leadership
Target Grassroots States and Cities
Coalitions
Funding

 

 

 

 

 

Mission

The Hip Hop Caucus was created on September 11, 2004. Our mission is to foster civic engagement among young people of color on issues of social and economic justice, human rights, the environment, and international peace, so they can attain increased opportunities for themselves and their communities. We focus on meeting young people where they are, by linking cultural expression with social and political experience.

 

Background

The Hip Hop Caucus was founded on September 11, 2004. Over a five-year period, we have developed a 700,000 member national database, and created field teams in 48 cities across 30 states. A cursory overview of our past work includes three award-winning national campaigns – on Katrina, ending the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Getting out the Vote – and work in diverse coalitions and social movements.

The Hip Hop generation is uniquely qualified to combat urban poverty in the 21st Century. The birth of Hip Hop culture was a response to the very policies and practices that have sustained a persistent cycle of poverty in our communities over the past forty years. The Hip Hop community can speak to these policies and practices from a position of expertise and an understanding of the profound urgency for change.

Through Hip Hop culture, celebrities, cultural media, technology, and grassroots organizing, we reach young people of color from low-income communities, who are traditionally unengaged in the political process. Our work re-shapes how young people of color are viewed by the media, elected officials, and the public. Furthermore, because of Hip Hop’s broad appeal among many constituencies and vast influence in mainstream and global culture, we build unity across socio-economic and racial divides. Casting a positive light on Hip Hop Culture, we are able to put forth new and young leaders from urban communities – giving them a space to ‘sit at the table’, have their voices heard, and ultimately make positive change through the democratic process.

 

Advisory Board

Rep Barbara Lee

Advisory Board Chair

A supportive and active Advisory Board adds important value to our work. Currently, twenty-three Members of Congress sit on our Advisory Board, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee is the Chair. She is also the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Please see a complete listing of our Advisory Board, composed of twenty-five Members of the U.S. Congress.

 

 

Leadership

Hip Hop Caucus Board of Directors

Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President of the Board and CEO, Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., is a minister, community activist and
organizer, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop
political life

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., is a minister, community activist and organizer, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. Continue Reading about Rev. Yearwood HERE.

Jeff Johnson, CEO Jeff's Nation, LLC

Jeff Johnson is a Washington, DC based award-winning journalist, social activist and political commentator. Continue reading about Jeff Johnson HERE.

Lita T. Rosario, President and CEO, WYZ GIRL Entertainment Consulting, LLC

Lita Rosario is currently the President and CEO of WYZ GIRL Entertainment Consulting, LLC, an entertainment law firm located in Washington, DC, specializing in music, television, and film. Continue reading about Lita Rosario HERE.

Staff

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Chief Executive Officer

Liz Havstad, Director of Programs and Partnerships

Sean Muldoon, Program Coordinator

Lauryn Nwankpa, Assistant to the CEO

Darryl Perkins, Senior Program Associate

 

Target Grassroots States and Cities

The Hip Hop Caucus is working to build long-term organizing capacity in these cities.

Alabama: Birmingham | Arizona: Phoenix | Arkansas: Little Rock | California: Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento | Colorado: Denver | Connecticut: Hartford | Florida: Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando | Georgia: Atlanta | Illinois: Chicago | Indiana: Indianapolis, Gary | Louisiana: New Orleans, Shreveport | Maryland: Baltimore | Massachusetts: Boston | Michigan: Detroit, Flint | Minnesota: Minneapolis | Mississippi: Jackson | Missouri: St. Louis | Nevada: Las Vegas | New Jersey: Newark, Camden, Trenton | New Mexico: Albuquerque | New York: New York, Buffalo, Rochester | North Carolina: Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro | Ohio: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati | Oklahoma: Oklahoma City | Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh | South Carolina: North Charleston | Tennessee: Memphis | Texas: Houston, Dallas | Virginia: Richmond | Wisconsin: Milwaukee | Washington, DC

 

Coalitions

The Hip Hop Caucus is a proud and official member of the following coalitions:

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights coalition, consisting of nearly 200 national organizations, representing persons of color, women, children, labor unions, individuals with disabilities, older Americans, major religious groups, gays and lesbians and civil liberties and human rights groups.


Black Leadership Forum

Inspired by Dr. Dorothy Height (Chair and President Emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women) and the "Big 6" civil rights leaders of the 1960's, the Black Leadership Forum is an alliance of over thirty national African American civil rights and service organizations in the U.S. Member organizations are strategically linked together to advocate for the legislative and policy iterests of Black people on the interantional, congressional, state, country and municipal level.

 

Funding

We receive funding from Private Foundations, Corporate Partners, and Individuals. If you are interested in making a large contribution, or becoming a sponsor or a partner, contact our Director of Programs and Partnerships, Liz Havstad at 202.293.5902.