ABOUT US
WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING INDIVIDUALS. WE ARE BUILDING A COMMUNITY.
CultureShockNGO is a non-profit that uses the cultural framework of Hip Hop to create programming for youth in historically marginalized communities.
WHY HIP HOP?
HIP HOP WAS BORN FROM THE SAME THINGS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NAVIGATING TODAY - FIGURING OUT WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU BELONG, AND HOW TO SHOW UP IN THE WORLD.
IDENTITY
Know yourself. Hip Hop centers around self-knowledge and cultural pride. We use it to help young people develop a strong, grounded sense of who they are.
COMMUNITY
Hip Hop has always been about exchange - spaces where people step in, contribute, and make room for others. That spirit lives in how we design every program.
EXPRESSION
Every element of Hip Hop is a different way to say: I exist. I have something to say. I matter. We build on that tradition intentionally and deliberately.
OUR STORY
CultureShockNGO started with the idea of cultural exchange and grew out of a belief that every young person deserves access to the same level of enrichment - no matter the circumstances or zip code.
We began by focusing on what we knew: Hip Hop as a living, breathing cultural tradition with deep roots in exactly the communities we were looking to serve. Not as a gimmick. As a genuine framework.
Today we operate across Washington DC and Los Angeles, serving thousands of young people through programming that is carefully designed to curate community, teach transferable life skills, and give each of our students the chance to discover that anything is possible.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
OUR VALUES
KNOW YOURSELF
Identity development is at the core of everything we do. We create safe spaces for young people to figure out who they are on their own terms.
FIND YOUR PEOPLE
Every program is designed to build real community -- crews, friendships, and relationships that last beyond the classroom.
SAY WHAT YOU MEAN
We give young people tools to express themselves honestly and confidently, whether through music, art, dance or words.
MOVE WITH INTENTION
We are building individuals who navigate the world with purpose, curiosity and respect for themselves and others.