OUR STORY

Who We Are

1Hood Media is a collective of socially conscious artists and activists based in Pittsburgh, committed to building liberated communities through art, education, and social justice. We mobilize underserved and disenfranchised communities to use their voices for change through art and cultural organizing. 1Hood addresses systemic issues such as racial injustice, gun violence, and voter suppression. At our core, we are creatives who work in, for, and with Black communities.

Our work takes many forms, including programs, events, and media productions, all aligned with 1Hood’s values and Five Pillars of Engagement: Arts and Culture, Education, Media, Civic Engagement, and Cultural Organizing. Programs often cross multiple pillars with cultural organizing as the foundation, providing meaningful opportunities for the Black community to shape our own narratives and community solutions.

A diverse group of seven people, dressed in black hoodies with yellow text, poses with their fists raised in front of the steps of a historic building with columns, outside on a sunny day.

1Hood began as a collective of men from various disciplines, ideologies, and belief systems who banded together to address violence within and against our community. Our flagship program, Media Academy, was born in response to research by the Heinz Endowments, which found that only 8.9% of front-page news focused on Black men and boys, and that 86% of TV stories about them focused on crime. Co-Founded by Jasiri X and Celeste Smith, 1Hood Media has grown to an intergenerational, intersectional community that utilizes art as a means of raising awareness about social justice issues affecting people around the world. 

Our HISTORY

Learn more about our work

2006

1Hood forms in response to rising violence across Black neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.

2010

The Media Academy is created to counter harmful media stereotypes and expand authentic representation for Black youth.

2017

1Hood Media Academy receives 501(c)(3) status, and the Artivist Academy launches.

2019

1Hood deepens its nonpartisan civic engagement work, mobilizing voter participation and civic leadership development.

2020

During the pandemic, 1Hood meets the moment with virtual offerings for the Black community, including Ask a Black Doctor and What Black Pittsburgh Needs to Know.

2021

1Hood becomes an inaugural recipient of Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand's Black Community Commitment grant and joins Kerry Washington's Vision Into Power Cohort.

2022

1Hood Media is named one of Pittsburgh's cultural treasures by The Heinz Endowments.

how we create impact

A woman wearing glasses and a pink dress is reading from a book at an event, with artwork in the background.
Two women sitting on stage during a panel discussion, smiling and engaging with each other. One woman is holding a microphone and wearing a colorful, patterned dress. The other woman is wearing a white dress. There are water bottles and a pink handbag on the table in front of them, and a backdrop with the text 'QUEER + QUARTERLY' and a plant behind them.
A woman with dreadlocks, wearing a red T-shirt, sitting in front of a green decorative wall, reading a book.

“This is the safest, most stable place I’ve had.”

- We Keep Us Safe Participant

A woman with long braids and a varsity jacket smiling and posing in a room with other people in the background, books, and posters.
A camera screen shows a video recording of three young people in conversation, with a blurred background featuring a neon green sign and a bright orange light.

“I ABSOLUTELY love 1Hood! I try to make sure I catch you each week.”

- Event Attendee

A woman speaking into a microphone during a panel discussion, with a man sitting beside her, both seated on white chairs, and a large dark backdrop with text behind them.
A male singer performs at an outdoor concert in front of a large crowd during daytime. The audience is standing on a grassy field, many with phones or cameras, and food trucks are visible in the background.
A man with a beard, sunglasses, and a keffiyeh headscarf holding a microphone and speaking during an outdoor event in a park.
Group of diverse individuals wearing black hoodies with yellow 'Hood' text at a conference, posing for a photo in front of a large banner with summit and organization names, some making hand gestures and smiling.
A woman with curly hair speaking into a microphone, wearing a blue denim dress and colorful belt, gesturing with her right hand, in front of a presentation screen.

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Get In Touch With Us

We are here to answer any questions you may have. 

Contact Us
Two women sitting on stage, one holding a microphone, the other laughing, with a backdrop that says 'Queer Quarterly.'

Our Programs

A young woman with dark skin and curly hair styled in two buns is standing in front of a black wall decorated with colorful paintings. She is wearing a yellow top, an orange sleeveless jacket, and layered necklaces, including a pendant of Africa, and has a colorful bracelet on her wrist. She has a serious expression and is looking directly at the camera.

Art

01

1Hood Media’s arts programming amplifies the voices of those most impacted by systemic inequity. We provide professional development opportunities and a platform for Pittsburgh artists to be heard through the Artivist Showcase Series, Select, and Kaleidoscope.

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Audience attending a presentation or panel at an event called HOOD, with a large screen displaying the word 'HOOD' in yellow text on a black background, seated in a dimly lit room.

education

02

Through Media Academy, We Keep Us Safe, and Fridays on Deck, we provide educational programs that support teens and emerging adults in media literacy, civic engagement endeavors, leadership development, and anti-violence initiatives.

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A woman takes a selfie with her smartphone, showing her smiling face and wearing a red hoodie with partially visible white text. She has dark hair, earrings, and patterned nails, seated at a wooden table with a dark background.

media

03

We reclaim our narrative through media created to uplift Black voices and center the Black experience in ways mainstream media too often fails to. We critically analyze all media forms, create informative content, and develop independent platforms to advance social justice, build liberated communities, and counter false narratives. This includes Black Pittsburgh and our podcasts, This Week in White Supremacy and Brunch with a Black Man.

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A diverse group of people, including women and children, gathered outdoors holding signs that say 'VOTE TODAY! BACK VOTERS MATTER,' smiling and showing support for voting.

04

We seek to engage traditionally excluded individuals as we work to build a truly reflective democracy. 1Hood Media’s nonpartisan civic engagement work is dedicated to increasing voter participation, addressing misinformation, and creating safe spaces for civic education training for the Black and marginalized communities.

civic engagement

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A group of people sitting in an auditorium, attentively watching a presentation or performance. The room is dimly lit with some red and blue lighting, and there are decorated walls with pictures and a red curtain in the background.

cultural organizing

05

We recognize the power of connecting cultural practices like art, music, food, and joy with organizing strategies to shift power and activate people in ways that yield policy agendas that are more responsive to community interests.

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OUR SQUAD

  • Jasiri X

    Jasiri X

    Co-Founder and CEO (He/Him)

  • Farooq Al Saïd

    Farooq Al Saïd

    Director of Education (He/Him)

  • Jasmine Green

    Jasmine Green

    Creative Director (She/Her)

  • Anyah Stempien Smith

    Anyah Stempien Smith

    Development and Education Assistant (She/Her)

  • Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E)

    Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E)

    Community Care Founder and Director (He/Him)

  • Ethan Rhabb

    Ethan Rhabb

    Reflective Democracy Associate (He/They)

  • Kathleen McGuire Gaines

    Kathleen McGuire Gaines

    Director of Development (She/Her)

  • Austin Bey

    Austin Bey

    Executive Assistant (He/Him)

meet the squad

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Your gift supports collective liberation through art, education, and advocacy. Consider setting up a monthly gift for maximum impact without breaking the bank.

Man wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap with a logo, and headphones speaking into a microphone in a recording studio with a laptop and water bottle on the table.
A woman with curly black hair, glasses, and a black T-shirt with yellow text that says 'HOOD' stands in a dimly lit room with chairs around her, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
Two women sitting in an audience. The woman in the foreground has dreadlocks, glasses, a gray jacket, and is looking at an iPad. The woman in the background has long dark hair, glasses, and is wearing a pink blazer.