IHHE Begins…

The Institute of Hip Hop Entrepreneurship (IHHE) launched this past weekend not with the jarring discordant clamor of a bang, but instead with the gentle thrill of hope and light. It was a welcome respite from the strong emotions of last week and a beautiful glimmer of hope for the possibilities of what could be in a more equitable world.

During IHHE’s opening weekend, students heard from entrepreneurs who overcame hurdles and crafted their own hustles. Bahamadia, the “reigning queen of hip hop,”  and Yusuf Muhammad, aka the Veteran Freshmen, reflected on professional choices that helped them to create a brand, expand a business and authentically connect with audiences. Grammy-winning record producer and former co-owner of Ruffhouse Records Joe “the Butcher” Nicolo, music writer Brian Coleman and founder of talent/management booking agency, YouandMe Inc, Dawn White each gave valuable insight into what it means to be a business leader, from coming up with a unique concept to taking risks and collaborating with peers. WURD Radio CEO/President Sara Lomax-Reese led the class through a series of mindful practices to highlight the importance of mind, body and soul and thoughtful intention.

Ultimately, the true benefit was how the speakers fostered IHHE’s safe environment for creatives to talk about their experiences, share stories with one another and feel welcomed into a nurturing and judgement-free environment.

We at Little Giant Creative and IHHE know that we aren’t changing the world with this program. We lack the hubris to loudly proclaim that we have the answer. We do believe, however, that small voices and incremental actions can collectively become a seismic, shattering roar so that the popular majority of our country can silence the hate-filled minority and bring us to what actually makes America great.

IHHE, without any doubt in our minds, is a step in the right direction. The program is currently serving a cohort of 24 bright, ambitious women and men from across the diverse neighborhoods of Philly, places that have long been discounted as examples of what is “wrong” with urban centers. IHHE is a program that uses hip hop praxis and narrative to contextualize entrepreneurial best practices and to provide pathways for young people without the network, resources or desire to pursue the traditional college to career pipeline.

These young women and men provide the kind of hope for the future we so desperately need right now. We were inspired by each student and their determination to absorb every ounce of what IHHE offered. Their grace, respect and eagerness won over each and every one of us and we’re excited to see how Philadelphia will benefit from their prodigious talents. Together, the freshman class has the ability to send a clear message: When society expects more of its citizens, they will rise to the challenge.

As such, the Institute provides a powerful platform for those who have been traditionally and systemically barred from opportunity. IHHE is the brainchild of a Korean-Jewish woman and an African-American man, both born and raised in Philadelphia. A reflective testament to what can be achieved in an equitable and accepting community. The cohort is supported by a team of diverse leadership, including men and women of color who understand the challenges our students face. Many of our team members have faced those same challenges and view this program as a non-violent response to racism, sexism and other forms of xenophobia. We firmly believe that a community, when provided with the tools to be financially independent and thriving, will, frankly, lead to a more robust and equal economy. This is why we founded IHHE in the first place.

As demographics shift and so-called racial minorities become the majority, IHHE believes the next generation of leaders must come from underrepresented communities. The program was founded on this basic principle and we won’t stop there. IHHE is just the beginning for our fight to build a more equitable future, one in which every woman and man – despite their color, creed or gender – will have access to resources and a shared ability to make the world a better place.

With gratitude,