Staff
Darrin Korte, founder and president
Darrin Korte is the Executive Director of the Cambridge Community Center. Darrin earned his Master's Degree in Sociology from UMass Boston in 2010 and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Boston University in 2014. Prior to becoming the Executive Director at CCC, Darrin worked as an adjunct professor of sociology at Emerson College. Darrin utilizes his sociology background to teach broad lessons about race and inequality through the lens of hip hop culture.
Janos “The Arcitype” Fulop, founder
Janos "The Arcitype" Fulop is the owner and lead-engineer of The Bridge Sound and Stage recording studio in Cambridge. He is also the founder and owner of AR Classic Records and a member of local hip hop duo STL GLD and has won three consecutive Studio Producer of the Year awards at the Boston Music Awards. Over the course of his career, Janos has worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop. Our summer program is housed at The Bridge Sound and Stage every year.
imam “flash” firmin, program director
Imam "Flash" Firmin was born and raised in Cambridge and is a member of Cambridge-based hip hop duo, Natural Born Spitters (N.B.S.). Before Imam saw success in hip hop, he worked with students as a Community Field Coordinator in Boston Public Schools. He has also worked as an Assistant Teen Program Director for the City of Cambridge and a Senior Youth Counselor for the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program. Imam coaches youth basketball on the weekends, as well.
Eric Hirbour, assistant program director
Eric Hirbour has been writing, recording, and performing hip hop music for over 10 years. During this time Eric has performed at events such as the Bella Terra Music Festival and was part of Western Massachusetts hip hop collective, Mass All Day (M.A.D.). Eric is a founding member of THHT and specializes in teaching teens song structure, lyric writing, and stage presence.
Shalayah “red shaydez” washington, artist development director
Red Shaydez is a multi-faceted, boxer robe-wearing bully of a hip hop artist and the queen of cool, whose lyrical prowess leaves nothing standing in its wake. She has a track record to prove that she is not only next but is now: the Boston-born lyricist, filmmaker, and mentor has performed at A3C, Hubweek 2018, BAMS Fest 2019, headlines her own local shows, and is taking the college circuit by storm with her live show and consistently empowering brand.
S. Kwame Dance, mental health coordinator
Kwame is a behavioral health clinician and student completing his doctorate in clinical psychology in 2021. He is a lifelong Cambridge resident who has devoted over 15 years of service to youth. He holds an MBA in business marketing and is an experienced event planner/promoter, and artist manager. He has backgrounds in theater, music and dance, which he frequently utilizes in his therapeutic approach—a skill he refined during clinical training at Boston Arts Academy.
David “Lightfoot” Bellow, Audio engineer director
David "Lightfoot" Bellow is a music producer and audio engineer who joined the THHT staff in the summer of 2014. David attended the Center For Digital Imaging Arts of Boston University, studying Audio Engineering and Production. David works with the students who express an interest in the technical components of music production, recording, mixing, and mastering. He teaches participants how to utilize a variety of music programs, such as ProTools, Reason, Fruity Loops, and Ableton Live.