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Making NYC the epicenter of Hip Hop therapy
Image of J.C. Hall in black and white

Winner

J.C. Hall

Making NYC the epicenter of Hip Hop therapy
Image of J.C. Hall in black and white

Website

hiphoptherapy.com

Year

2024

Organization

Hip Hop Therapy

Sector

Education

Borough

Bronx

Neighborhood

Mott Haven

J.C., a Hip Hop artist and social worker, founded a Hip Hop therapy program at Mott Haven Community High School.

Hip Hop provided a lifeline for J.C. during a dark and turbulent youth. He grew up to be not only a Hip Hop artist but a clinical social worker. In 2013, J.C. founded a Hip Hop therapy studio program at Mott Haven Community High School, a second-chan…
Read winner story

Publication

Forbes

How J.C. Hall Is Rewriting The Rules Of Mental Health With Hip Hop Therapy

By Afdhel Aziz
June 15, 2026
In third grade, J.C. Hall was already in love with language. He'd write poems in school, fascinated by the way words could compress truth into something beautiful. Then the Fugees dropped The Score, and Lauryn Hill's…

Update from winner

J.C. accepting "Psychotherapy Network" Award
@jchiphoptherapyApril 5, 2024
A couple weeks ago, I received the award of a lifetime, and I am in just as much shock now as I was then.
“I always knew Hip Hop was therapeutic. It's been therapeutic for the communities that birthed it since day one.⁠”
J.C. Hall
2024 David Prize Winner
Founder of Hip Hop Therapy and J.C.’s late mentor Dr. Edgar Tyson (left), J.C. Hall (right)
“J.C. is one of the most exceptional clinicians, activists, advocates, and pioneers in his field.⁠”
Dr. Ian Levy
Assistant Professor, Rutgers University

Publication

Good Morning America

Can hip-hop music save lives? This social worker in the Bronx thinks so

By Dr. Anna Yegiants
December 13, 2023

Publication

ABC News

This Bronx high school hip-hop therapy program helps students process their emotions

By ABC News Staff
December 19, 2023

Update from winner

J.C. Hall Instagram
@jchiphoptherapyJuly 21, 2026
Winning the @davidprizenyc has given me room to breathe and the space to dream, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to amplify #HipHopTherapy 🙏🏼

Thank you @e_n_y_c for inviting me to @monicamoralestv where I also got to meet the legendary @imroxanneshante 🔥
To all winners