CATALYST GRANTS
Hip-Hop Heals
By Tim Neptune
Teaching artist Olympio White (top center), known as “Anti,” celebrates with participants during the B-Fly Breakthrough recording studio grand opening at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation. | Photo: Reen Nemeth
THE FACTS
Sometimes, it’s hard to find the right words to say. For young people who have experienced significant trauma, the words may be completely lost. This is the reality for some patients at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, which led Senior Recreation Therapist Ashley Everett, CTRS, to apply for a Catalyst Grant.
“The Catalyst Grant gave us the financial support to get these teaching artists in-house, bringing their expertise and knowledge into a setting where they can work side by side with us and the patient. It helped us highlight an amazing organization that aligns with so many of Cleveland Clinic’s values.”
Ashley Everett, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital For Rehabilitation
Cleveland Clinic’s CATALYST GRANTS pool donations to fund the brightest ideas from our caregivers to improve patient outcomes and experiences. To date, more than 300 grants have been awarded, representing a total of $14.1 million in support.
THE NEED
Everett wanted to help her patients heal their physical injuries as well as their emotional wounds. She says that kids are not always open to just traditional talk therapy, and they want to be able to address things that are going on in their lives in a way that feels natural to them. This part of the recovery is just as important as the physical rehabilitation.
THE IDEA
Everett combined rehabilitation with the talents of Refresh Collective, a nonprofit that empowers youth and adults through the power of hip-hop. Together, they created B-Fly Breakthrough, a novel curriculum that allows patients to process their trauma through lyric writing, singing and recording. Following the life cycle of a butterfly, patients grow into the people they want to become within five weeks. Teaching artists from Refresh Collective help empower patients by working alongside them as they produce their stories in an engaging and supportive way.
THE IMPACT
With a Catalyst Grant, Everett and her team at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation were able to create an in-house recording studio. They held a grand opening with Refresh Collective in February 2024.
Their first B-Fly Breakthrough graduate entered the program as a wheelchair user. He suffered a brain injury as a result of a car accident. Because of his strength and perseverance, he was able to recover and walk out of his final recording session. Currently, only inpatients have participated in the program, but organizers hope to expand their efforts. Once funds from the Catalyst Grant are depleted, the team will seek additional philanthropy to continue giving a healing voice to more pediatric patients.