( ENSPIRE She Did That ) Sams Transforms Education Through Hip-hop For Grades 6-12 SEL Programs
Jamila Sams is the educator and entrepreneur at the center of the vital niche of culturally responsive social-emotional learning (SEL). The landscape of K-12 education is rapidly evolving. Since the pandemic, the need for SEL initiatives has exploded, transforming the field into a multi-billion dollar global industry. Within this burgeoning market, a unique and vital niche has emerged: culturally responsive SEL. Sams founded We Do It 4 the Culture™ (WDI4TC). Launched in 2020, WDI4TC is the only Black-owned, culturally responsive SEL edtech company serving school districts nationwide. By harnessing the power of Hip-Hop pedagogy, WDI4TC is not just teaching life skills; it’s fostering connection, affirmation, and healing within classrooms across the country.
WDI4TC is currently implemented in over 140 schools across 16 states and multiple school districts. It formats interactive, media-based Hip-Hop content into lessons. These lessons educate, affirm, and help students of diverse backgrounds develop vital life skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship-building. Studies have shown that Hip-hop pedagogy, specifically, can increase classroom engagement, help students with identity development, and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Sams wrote an op-ed for EBONY last year that adds more context, and the curriculum’s local impact was also recently highlighted in Baltimore.
Sams shares her inspiration of centering hip-hop for the SEL curriculum of We Do It 4 the Culture™, along with advantageous opportunities for students in marginalized communities. She discusses specific examples from schools implementing WDI4TC in action, the development of social-emotional skills, and the adapting of diverse needs for students from different districts. Lastly, Sams leaves a message on the impact she wants to have on educators and administrators who use the SEL programs.
What inspired you to center Hip-Hop culture in your curriculum specifically, and what unique advantages does this approach offer students, particularly those from marginalized communities?
Hip-hop is more than music—it’s a global culture, an art form of storytelling, and a tool for resistance. It was born out of marginalized communities as a response to systemic oppression, and it continues to be a source of empowerment and self-expression. At We Do It 4 the Culture™ (WDI4TC), we recognize that traditional SEL programs often fail to resonate with Black and Brown students because they don’t reflect their lived experiences.
By centering Hip-Hop culture, we create an authentic and engaging learning experience that not only teaches social-emotional skills but also validates students’ identities. Hip-hop fosters critical thinking, creativity, and resilience—all essential SEL competencies. When students see themselves reflected in their learning, they become more engaged, empowered, and prepared to navigate the world with confidence.
Can you share specific examples from schools implementing WDI4TC that illustrate these benefits in action? How does the curriculum bridge the gap between students’ lived experiences and the development of social-emotional skills?
In one of our partner schools in New York City, a middle school teacher shared how WDI4TC helped a student who had been disengaged and frequently in trouble find a sense of belonging. The student, who loved poetry, connected deeply with a lesson on emotional regulation that used Hip-Hop lyrics to explore self-awareness. He wrote his own verse about overcoming anger. It became a breakthrough moment—his teachers saw a shift in his behavior, and he became a leader in the classroom.
In Portland, OR, a teacher has integrated WDI4TC within their Social Studies classes. Students read and annotated a WDI4TC-featured poem that connected to their unit of study. They analyzed it to align with the social-emotional learning competencies.
These are just two examples, but across all of our schools, we see students becoming more engaged, improving their self-confidence, and strengthening their relationships with teachers and peers through our culturally responsive SEL approach.
How does We Do It 4 the Culture™ ensure cultural relevance in its curriculum, and how do you adapt the program to meet the needs of students across different schools and districts?
Cultural relevance isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach—it’s about meeting students where they are. As human beings, we do not exist as a monolith. We ensure relevance by upholding authenticity. Every lesson is created by educators who understand the power of culture, many of whom come from the same communities as the students we serve. We collaborate with schools, educators, and students to refine our program. We constantly seek feedback to ensure that our materials resonate and address the real issues students face. We also recognize that each district, school, and classroom has unique needs.
That’s why WDI4TC is designed to be adaptable—educators can tailor lessons to fit their student population. Whether it’s a school in a small district like Lancaster, ISD Texas, or a large urban district, such as Los Angeles Unified, our framework is flexible enough to be culturally relevant in any setting while staying true to its core principles.
What are your future aspirations for the program’s growth and impact? Are there plans to expand into other areas, such as teacher training or community outreach? How do you envision WDI4TC continuing to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of students and educators?
We’re just getting started. Right now, WDI4TC is in over 140 schools across 16 states, but we have a vision to reach students on a global scale. We’re expanding in several key ways:
- Teacher Training & Professional Development: Many educators want to be culturally responsive but lack the tools or confidence to do so. We’re launching expanded training programs to equip teachers with strategies for effectively integrating culturally responsive SEL into their classrooms.
- EdTech Innovation: We’re working on enhancing our digital tools to allow schools to implement WDI4TC at a higher level. We’re integrating AI capabilities for personalized learning and developing a student-facing component. Students then can engage with the curriculum asynchronously.
- Global Reach: As Hip Hop culture is a global culture; our long-term goal is to amplify the need for culturally responsive SEL in countries where marginalized youth are often unseen, unheard and not valued. We will be presenting our work in Accra this summer at the 2025 Ghana ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Conference.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of seeing your vision come to life?
The most rewarding part is seeing students light up when they realize that their voices, their culture, and their experiences are valued. When a student tells us, “This is the first time I felt like advisory was fun and I learned something about my classmate,” that’s everything. It’s also incredibly powerful to see educators have their own transformations—teachers who may have struggled with classroom engagement now feel energized and connected to their students in new ways. We’re not just teaching SEL; we’re affirming identities, fostering healing, and building future leaders.
What message would you like to share with educators and administrators considering implementing culturally responsive SEL programs like WDI4TC in their schools?
To every educator and administrator: If you want your students to thrive, you have to meet them where they are. SEL is not just about teaching skills—it’s about creating spaces where students feel seen, heard, and valued. Traditional approaches don’t always work for our students because they weren’t designed with them in mind. But culturally responsive SEL isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity.
Investing in programs like WDI4TC isn’t just about improving behavior or academic outcomes—it’s about equity, justice, and ensuring that every student has the tools to succeed, both inside and outside of the classroom. If you’re ready to reimagine education and create a school culture that truly supports all students, we’re here to partner with you. Let’s do this work together—for the culture, for the future.
Jamila Sams and We Do It 4 the Culture™ are shaping the SEL movement, preparing youths to communicate and process emotions for social development. By centering students’ lived experiences and cultural context, WDI4TC offers a truly transformative approach to education. As the demand for culturally responsive SEL continues to grow, Sams’s vision of empowering students through the rhythm and rhyme of Hip-Hop is poised to revolutionize classrooms nationwide, proving that sometimes, the most powerful lessons are learned through musical outlets. Follow Jamila Sams on Instagram, and for more information on WDI4TC, visit https://wedoit4theculture.com/.
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