J.C. Hall

J.C. is a Hip Hop artist and clinical social worker. In 2013, he founded a Hip Hop therapy studio program at Mott Haven Community High School, a second-chance transfer school in the South Bronx that he has run ever since. Simply put, incorporating Hip Hop into therapy is a way to provide culturally responsive treatment through artistic mediums. Based on the impact J.C. has seen, he believes more schools and community spaces should offer Hip Hop therapy as a mental health tool. His vision is to resource the ‘infrastructure’ building - the research, thought leadership, and writing; the training for decision makers and upcoming therapists and artists; and the blueprints for how to implement programs. J.C. first learned about Hip Hop therapy in graduate school from its creator, the late Dr. Edgar Tyson, with whom he developed a close relationship over the years. J.C. wants to continue his legacy: finish a textbook and relaunch a conference on the topic, both of which Dr. Tyson started.