The DC Urban Arts Academy

The Academy is a pre-vocational afterschool hip-hop program for youth ages 5-23 in the District of Columbia. At our campuses we engage students interested in hip-hop culture and harvest an excitement for learning in traditional and non-traditional learning environments. We are committed to producing learning journeys through hip-hop that lead Academy students to succeed in our three youth development focus areas: Employability, Skill Mastery, and Self-Awareness. At the heart of all that we do is the belief that hip-hop can serve as a buffer between hope and despair for the youth of the District of Columbia.  Through the integration of innovative hip-hop curriculum our teachers use hip-hop as the medium through which to create such a buffer. It is through the development of intergenerational apprentice relationships rooted in hip-hop culture, the staff of the Urban Arts Academy work closely with the students as Mentors. Through interactive classes in the four foundational elements of hip-hop and an apprentice leadership program, the academy is designed to cultivate the next generation of innovative young people who see the value in education as artists and as scholars. Along with our signature events, and community partnerships, the DC Urban Arts Academy invites the DC metropolitan community to experience the next age of hip-hop artistry and scholarship.

Our Goals:

1.     To promote post the pursuit of a secondary education to all our students
2.     To create a positive community young scholars, artists, and musicians
3.     To host the premiere events for young hip-hop artists in the Washington DC area
4.     To develop an appreciation for the history, techniques, and preservation/development of the elements of hip-hop.