Hip Hop Congress

Hip Hop Congress Reaching Cincinnati’s Youths

The Cincinnati chapter of the Hip Hop Congress, based in a part of town called Over-The-Rhine, is a particularly good example of what Hip Hop Congress is doing. The neighborhood acquired it’s most unfortunate claim to fame in April 2001. That was when it became the epicenter of racially charged riots that erupted in Cincinnati following the police shooting of Timothy Thomas, an unarmed black man. But with the help of Hip Hop Congress, it is becoming an important part of revitalizing their part of downtown.

Led by 26-year-old Hakiym Sha’ir, the chapter helps students apply for college, mentors at-risk youth, leads voter registration drives, helps to maintain an urban garden, and cleans up local parks. Sha’ir and other members of the chapter serve on Mayor Mark Mallory’s board of youth advisors. The organization’s communications executive, Lamonte “Blade Triple” Young leads their own audio/visual group called Hentertainment, which airs programs on local television. The television program also helps at-risk youths prepare for careers in technical engineering, photography and videography.

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