On Thursday, April 9, the CIPHER Hip Hop Learning Community hosted its award-winning, nation’s longest-running 19th Annual Rock The School Bells (RTSB) Hip Hop Conference for over 300 high school and college students in collaboration with Middle College of Skyline College and Changing the Face of Entrepreneurship – Business, Entrepreneurship, and Management Division.
This year’s collaboration brought the spirit of Odd Future to life, reminding everyone in the room that what may seem unconventional, different, or “odd” today is often the foundation for tomorrow’s brilliance. And that energy showed up everywhere.
At the heart of the partnership was Middle College’s Vendor Fair, a space that didn’t just showcase products but amplified student voices, creativity, and hustle. Student entrepreneurs stepped into their power, sharing their brands, their stories, and their vision. From handmade goods to emerging business ideas, the fair felt like a live cipher of innovation, each table its own verse, each student its own rhythm. 71 Middle College seniors participated this year. Students gain the skills and knowledge needed to make a small business from the BEM Student Ambassadors: Bryan Cifuentas, Evangeline Gorostiza, Nikki Lee, and Aiden Moe under the leadership of Professor Soledad McCarthy. One of our student vendors made over $1400 selling her handmade knitted crafts. Gratitude to Soledad McCarthy, Martina Center-Goodman, Amber Gougis, Dean Michael Kane, Acting Dean Lindsay Ayotte, Grace Beltran, Brian Chew, and the BEM student ambassadors for bringing this vision to life and creating spaces for our Middle College to be seen.
Rock The School Bells brought its signature energy rooted in Hip Hop, education, and empowerment. In addition to attending various workshops such as Capture the Culture: Storytelling in the Digital Age, From Imposter to Industry Leader: Lessons in Entrepreneurship as a Person of Color, and Engaging Hip Hop and Community Solidarity Towards Action, attendees also had the opportunity to experience live performances by the Top Chefs Live Band, DJ Bitesize & DJ Owlboogie, Kababayan Dance Troupe, and performances by Mills High School and Balboa High School. Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with activation stations such as the Turntable Lab, poster screen printing, and live mural art. Attendees explored how Hip Hop continues to remix narratives, inspire critical thought, and spark new possibilities for the future of learning and leadership.
In creating this educational experience for our students, so many people came together to make this happen. Thank you to RTSB coordination leads – Bing Lozano-Lim, Alex Urbina, Joseph Jaballa, Matthew Embry, David Nguyen, and Kim Davalos for their assistance in making this conference a reality. Special shout-out goes to the Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics (BCE) Program for giving our attendees free clean-ups and quick shaves—gratitude to TRiO and Project Change for providing lunch for our attendees, facilitators, and performers. More importantly, thank you to the TRiO team, Brianna Clay, Jacquie Espino, and our TRiO Ambassadors for their efforts in coordinating lunch.
To our Facilities team, thank you for creating the space we envisioned for our conference, to the Media Services team for supporting our AV efforts throughout the day. We are also grateful to our donors and vendors who made this event successful.
None of this would be possible without the support of our Skyline College Administration, all of our academic deans, educational leaders, and the Office of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations, who continually support events that foster spaces of authenticity and belonging.
Together, the collaboration between RTSB and Middle College blurred the lines between classroom and culture, showing what’s possible when institutions trust young people to lead. What made this moment special wasn’t just the programming; it was the alignment. Both spaces believe in cultivating identity, voice, and purpose. Both understand that education isn’t just about information, it’s about transformation. And when those values meet, something powerful happens.
The Odd Future theme carried through as a reminder: our students are not bound by traditional paths. Their ideas might not always fit the mold, and that’s exactly the point. In that “oddness” lives creativity, disruption, and possibility.
Written by Nate Nevado, Soledad McCarthy, and Martina Center-Goodman
Pictures by Mei Lee
