Hip-Hop Education Center wins STEAM Forward grant for new girls AI accelerator

The Hip-Hop Education Center has received a STEAM Forward Grant from NYC Her Future and the New York City Department of Education to launch a six-week accelerator for high school girls and gender-expansive youth in New York City. The program blends Hip-Hop culture, AI, and workforce training, and ends with a public showcase on June 27, 2026.

Why it matters: - The grant aims to expand access to artificial intelligence, STEAM learning, and career exposure for young women across New York City. - The program is designed to reach young women of color and other students historically underrepresented in technology fields. - The initiative links cultural preservation with workforce development, giving students a direct path from classroom learning to public presentation.

What happened: - The Hip-Hop Education Center received a STEAM Forward Grant from NYC Her Future and the New York City Department of Education – Office of Business Development. - The award will launch the Hip-Hop STEAMHER Accelerator: Girls Leading the Algorithm. - The accelerator will culminate in a public presentation at the NYC Her Future STEAM Forward Fair on June 27, 2026. - Students will also participate in the STEAM & AI Student Showcase on June 27, 2026, at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in Manhattan.

The details: - The six-week accelerator combines Hip-Hop culture, artificial intelligence, and STEAM career preparation. - The program is rooted in culturally responsive pedagogy and the Women in Hip-Hop Living Archive. - HHEC is partnering with Create Labs Ventures to develop the AI platform. - HHEC is also working with Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy in Bedford-Stuyvesant to expand its Fresh, Bold & So Def: Women in Hip-Hop initiative. - The program will serve high school girls and gender-expansive youth. - Participants will take part in workshops, mentorship, and collaborative learning led by educators, researchers, and industry leaders. - Session topics include digital archiving and metadata, AI ethics, prompt engineering, and design thinking. - Career panels will feature voices from technology and culture. - Students will work in teams to build an AI-powered chatbot informed by the Women in Hip-Hop research dataset developed by HHEC’s research committee. - Participants will contribute original research and archival entries to expand the historical record. - The program includes portfolio development, personal branding, and public speaking training. - The outcomes include AI literacy, ethical technology awareness, research and archiving skills, STEAM career exploration, and a digital portfolio and professional profile. - Martha Diaz, founder and president of HHEC, said the program is about reclaiming narratives, building confidence, and creating pathways into industries where young people have historically been underrepresented. - Nicia Fullwood, founder and head of school at BELA, said the partnership helps students gain technical skills and confidence to see themselves as architects of the future. - Glenda Smiley, chief of partnerships and strategic initiatives at BELA, said the work connects access, authorship, memory, preservation, and workforce development.

Between the lines: - The grant signals growing interest in AI education that is tied to culture, identity, and real-world job skills. - The partnership model suggests the program is meant to be both instructional and archival, not just technical training. - By centering Hip-Hop history, HHEC is positioning technology education as a tool for representation as well as employment.

What's next: - HHEC and its partners will run the accelerator and prepare students for the June 27 showcase. - Students are expected to present chatbot projects, research, and digital portfolios to educators, industry professionals, and community members. - The program will continue HHEC’s broader effort to advance equity in education through arts, technology, and workforce development. - More information is available through the organization’s social media channels.