CATALYST

The Catalyst Hip-Hop Program serves youth involved in the multi-disciplinary Hip-Hop arts of break-dancing, rapping, graffiti art, and DJ’ing. Catalyst provides free classes, as well as a safe space for youth to practice and perform. It is an engaged community of creative youth who come together to develop their talents in a positive environment.

MISSION

Catalyst Hip-Hop exists to positively impact the lives of youth involved in the four elements of Hip-Hop: break-dancing, rapping, DJ’ing, and graffiti art by providing free classes and programs designed to promote positive self-esteem, healthy peer-to-peer relationships, and drug prevention & intervention.

HISTORY

The Catalyst Hip-Hop program was founded in 2001 by Joel Stigale, who had seen first-hand, through his involvement in gang intervention, how the negative messages in main-stream hip-hop had influenced youth to embrace violence, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and crime as a way of life. Thus Catalyst was birthed out of a desire to offer an alternative message of hope and seeks to be a “catalyst” for positive life change and prevention/intervention in the lives of at-risk youth in Miami-Dade County. Catalyst offers youth a safe space to come and develop their talents, as well as to build relationships with mentors and peers.

LOCATIONS

Catalyst has three locations:

Catalyst Miami: 301 Westward Drive, Miami Springs, 33166
Catalyst Homestead: 1088 West Mowry Drive, Homestead, 33033
Catalyst West Palm: 5217 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth, 33463

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Tuesdays
Catalyst Miami is open from 7pm-12am for b-boys/b-girls to practice/cypher, writers can get down on the wall, and MC’s can come hang out in the MC lounge and work on music, jam out, or record. There is also a workout room stocked with exercise equipment for strength training & conditioning.

Wednesdays
Catalyst Homestead is open from 7pm-9pm for free breaking & MC classes then practice/cypher time.

Thursdays
Catalyst Miami is open from 7pm-12am. We get together for open discussions on faith & life then open up the b-boy room for some practice/cypher time. The workout room is also open for strength training & conditioning.

Fridays
Catalyst West Palm is open from 9pm-1am for practice/cyphers and monthly events, jams, and workshops (See calendar on Catalyst website for event updates)

Saturdays
Catalyst Miami is open from 7pm-1am for practice/cyphers for the b-boys/b-girls, MC’s, and writers can get down on the wall. The workout room is also open for strength training & conditioning. Events, jams, and workshops are usually on Saturdays. (See calendar on Catalyst website for event updates).

SPECIAL EVENTS

Saturday Mic Live is an event organized for MC’s to cypher, perform & battle (see calendar on Catalyst website for specific dates/times). While this is going on b-boys/b-girls are also breaking in the adjacent room & writers are getting down on the wall.

Battles vary from 1-on-1′s, 2-on-2′s, & crew battles for cash prizes. Held monthly (see calendar on Catalyst website for event updates).

For more information and/or to register for any of our free classes, email: vivian@miamiyfc.com
To reserve a spot on the graffiti wall, call: (954) 274-8132

STAFF

Vivian Stigale – Interim Director
Kevin Sanchez – Break-Dancing Director
David Arnaez – Assistant/Sound Engineer

Learn more at www.catalysthiphop.com.