Words Beats & Life is creating a future where freedom, liberation and radical love are the basis of our work, leading to a world of equity, inclusivity and respect for all by 2040. The Towards 2040: Creative Leaders Fellowship paves the path to this future, by selecting a cohort of fellows each year from 2022 through 2040. The inaugural fellowship launched in 2022 with five national fellows and year two continued with five fellows from the DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region. Year three continues to focus on artists, arts administrators, cultural workers and community organizers based in the DMV.

What is our vision for the year 2040?

The Towards 2040 fellowship strives to enact meaningful change by 2040, using hip-hop as an outcome-driven, design-centered cultural practice to ensure justice and equality for all. Fellows are empowered to design systems, platforms and spaces that are accessible to everyone. Guided by their mentors, collective learning and skill building, they will transform their experience into solutions for the future.

Meet The 2025 Cohort Three Fellows

Additional support is provided by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.