The AMANII Project

Hip-hop culture has been increasingly used as a therapeutic tool in social work practice, particularly with youth and marginalized communities. Here are some ways hip-hop is being used by the Center for the Advancement of Youth Development (CAYD):

The Amani Hip-Hop Based Education/Therapeutic Drumming Circles are informed by the following CAYD group interventions: 

• Education circles like Expanding Assets and Steering Initiative (EASI) address risk for undereducation.
• Therapeutic circles like The Music Club (TMC) address the risk of mental illness related to exposure to trauma.  
• Empowerment circles Justice Assets and Support for Youth (JASY) that address the risk for incarceration/recidivism.  

Amani Hip-Hop-Based Education/Therapeutic Drumming Circles builds upon the strengths of Dr. Gregory Washington, LCSW's above evidence-based CAYD therapeutic work, and incorporates the evidence-based work of Dr. William Hunter. 

• Encouraging Active Youth Engagement with Music, Beats, and Drumming 
• Music Cyphers for Storytelling, Risk Reduction, and Self-Regulation Skill Development  
• Nurturing Playlists as Assets for Education and Healing
• MT3 app and Digital Resources 
• College/Career planning