Seattle, WA, August 18, 2020 – 206 Zulu’s King Khazm received a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund to produce Pangea: Hip Hop Heals Compilation, an album featuring international Hip Hop artists, producers and djs from over 15 countries that speaks to the COVID-19 pandemic and current events globally. In April 2020, the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs invited U.S. citizen alumni of all U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to apply for small grants of up to $10,000 as part of the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund Rapid Response funding opportunity. Exchange alumni from across the United States submitted proposals for public service projects that addressed issues related to the COVID-19 crisis and helped build community resilience.
King Khazm is a multifaceted artist and community organizer who has become a prominent figure in the Hip-Hop community within Seattle and around the world. His work to unify and empower the community is demonstrated through 25 years of art and community service.
Pangea: Hip Hop Heals is a compilation album that expands upon today’s pandemic and related events. Hip-Hop is a universal culture that transcends barriers of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, language, and more, remaining as one of the greatest influences in youth culture of today. Similarly, COVID-19 is unprecedented, and has affected people of all background and types, despite each other’s differences. This project brings together many influential Hip-Hop artists from around the globe to share their experiences and unique perspectives.
Since April, the U.S. Department of State has funded over 25 projects that address the current global health crisis in cities and towns across the United States and virtually with international partners in communities around the world. Exchange alumni are contributing to their communities in meaningful ways by sharing media literacy best practices that help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, increasing access to virtual and at-home education for youth and their families, providing artistic and creative outlets for local and global audiences, and responding to other community needs.
“We are thrilled that our U.S. alumni are using the skills and knowledge they gained during their exchange programs overseas to join the worldwide effort against COVID-19,” said Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “These Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund public service projects uplift communities and provide them with resources and education needed to fight the pandemic.”
The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented in partnership with the Partners of the Americas. For more information visit https://alumni.state.gov. For questions on ECA exchange programs, contact ECA-Press@state.gov.
