Written by: Nicole G. Joseph, MSIMC
In a time when conversations around mental health are more important than ever, one South Side organization is changing the way we approach healing — not just through therapy, but through rhythm, rhyme, and real community connection.
On July 26, Ibukun Comprehensive Community Services, Inc. will host the Hip Hop, Arts, and Culture festival at Zhou B Art Center— a unique event fusing mental health awareness, live hip-hop, art, fashion, along with a community dialogue.With Grammy Award-winning artist Rapsody headlining and local talent like Fillmore Green, IAMGAWD, J Bambii andWood Harris set to perform, the all-day event promises more than music: it offers an immersive, healing-centered experience that is rooted in Black cultural expression and psychological care.
This is therapy with a beat. It’s hip-hop with a higher purpose.
A Legacy of Healing
The work of Ibukun CCS began with a mission grounded in empathy, clinical excellence, and cultural pride. Founded in 2007 by the late Dr. Christian Adeyemi Akiwowo, a Nigerian-born pediatric psychiatrist, the organization was established to support youth who were victims of abuse, trauma, and neglect — many of whom were referred through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Dr. Akiwowo’s impact was twofold: while leading pediatric psychiatry departments at institutions like Mount Sinai, he also became known throughout the Nigerian immigrant community for helping international students with education and immigration support.
He named the organization Ibukun, a Yoruba term meaning “children are blessings.” That name wasn’t just symbolic — it was the north star of his work.
When Dr. Akiwowo passed in August 2023, his son Christopher “Chris” Akiwowo stepped into leadership, inheriting more than a title. He inherited a mission of action, and he’s bringing fresh vision to the work — one that’s deeply rooted in music, culture, and a commitment to meeting youth where they are.
“We’re not just providing therapy. We’re shifting the narrative around what mental health looks like in Black communities,” Chris said. “We’re using hip-hop to bridge that gap.”
Therapy with a Beat: The Hip-Hop Curriculum
Ibukun CCS offers traditional mental health services — therapy, psychiatric care, mentorship, and in-school behavioral support — but one of their most innovative tools is their hip-hop therapy curriculum.
It’s not performative. It’s clinical. And it works.
“We use the five elements of hip-hop — MCing, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti, and knowledge — as vehicles for expression and healing,” Chris explained. “Hip-hop helps our youth articulate things that they may not know how to say otherwise.”
In this model, youth are invited to write lyrics, analyze music, create art, and engage in therapeutic dialogue, all while being guided by licensed mental health professionals. The curriculum isn’t entertainment disguised as wellness — it’s treatment with cultural resonance.
Chris recalled one young client who refused therapy altogether — until he was introduced to the hip-hop program. The teen wrote a song that unknowingly mapped out his depression and trauma.
“His therapist listened to the lyrics and used them as a clinical tool,” Chris said. “That became the gateway to a full behavioral treatment plan.”
Today, that same youth is not only attending therapy — he’s released original music on Spotify and is now mentoring others through Ibukun’s mentorship program.
“You don’t get engagement like that from telling someone to just ‘go to therapy,’” Chris said. “But if you ask what song they relate to, you’ll see the door open.”
July 26: Where Mental Health and Hip-Hop Collide
This year’s Dedicated Time of Service to Mankind event embodies the mission of Ibukun: healing through connection, expression, and community support.
Headlined by Rapsody, whose work is known for its depth, empowerment, and social commentary, the event sets a tone that centers both culture and care. Chicago’s own socially conscious hip-hop artists — including Asha Omega, Fillmore Greene, and IAMGAWD — will also perform, each bringing lyrics that reflect real struggles, dreams, and determination.
“There’s a narrative that Black Chicago only produces drill or trap artists, and that’s just not true,” Chris said. “We want to give a platform to the artists who are using their voices to uplift and challenge — not just entertain.”
But this isn’t just a night of performances. The event is curated as a multi-sensory healing experience — complete with interactive art installations, wellness activations, and mental health panel discussions designed to promote community healing.
“We’re activating all the ways we process trauma — sight, sound, movement, and discussion,” Chris explained. “That’s what holistic healing looks like.”
Mental Health Meets the Mic: Real Talk on Trauma
One of the night’s cornerstone sessions will be led by renowned relationship expert and Ibukun’s Director of Quality Improvement, Love McPherson, who will guide a panel on identity and emotional wellness. Her discussion is expected to unpack how mental health, creativity, and personal identity intertwine — especially for Black youth navigating cultural pressures, trauma, and social media.
“We’re creating a space where people can talk openly — not just about trauma, but about what it means to heal,” said Chris. “We need to normalize vulnerability in our communities, and music gives us a safe starting point.”
Also joining the conversation and celebration are actors Wood Harris (The Wire, Paid in Full), Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Average Joe), and community leader Tara Jones, all of whom will support the evening’s mission and messaging.
Why This Work Matters — Now More Than Ever
Mental health has always been a crisis in marginalized communities — but the past few years have intensified the stakes. From the residual trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic to the continued impact of systemic racism, gun violence, and generational poverty, the mental well-being of Black youth is under siege.
Ibukun CCS is on the front lines, offering care where it’s often hardest to access.
“Our organization is based in Englewood, where the need for culturally responsive mental health support is enormous,” said Chris. “We’re working with youth who’ve been abandoned, abused, and overlooked — and we’re helping them heal.”
The organization currently employs over 30 clinical and support professionals, including social workers, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and mentors. Many of their referrals come directly from DCFS and CPS, making their work an essential bridge between institutional systems and compassionate care.
But their services require resources, which is why fundraising events like this festival are crucial.
“This event isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about raising funds so we can continue providing therapy, mentorship, and support,” Chris said. “Every dollar helps a young person access the care they deserve.”
So Why Should You Be There?
Because the trauma in our communities is real — but so is our capacity to heal. Because this event is an opportunity to invest in solutions that honor both the mental and the cultural needs of our youth. Because therapy can look like a circle of conversation or a cipher of lyrics — and both matter.
Most of all, because the next generation is watching. “When we show up for them, they show up for themselves,” Chris said. “And when they heal, we all heal.”
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