FoCo Flava is a 501(c)(3) hip-hop arts and culture nonprofit and the only foundational hip-hop organization in Northern Colorado. Entirely volunteer-run and operating without a physical studio, we provide free, accessible, culturally grounded programs that uplift youth, families, and adults through street dance, community, and creative expression.
Founded in 2022, FoCo Flava has become a regional cultural anchor — blending dance education, cultural storytelling, youth development, and community-building to create spaces where people of all ages feel seen, valued, and connected. As dancers, educators, and organizers, we steward the cultural roots of hip-hop while opening doors for the next generation.
Our work includes community workshops, youth classes, school assemblies, multi-day camps, open training sessions, educator trainings, statewide battles and cyphers, and collaborative events with organizations across Northern Colorado. Each program is intentionally designed to foster creativity, nourish well-being, strengthen identity, and build meaningful relationships across diverse communities.
The Data Behind Our Impact
We documented 263 registered participants through forms and waivers in tracked events, with participants traveling from 66+ cities — from Hawaii to Florida. Our feedback averages 9.5 out of 10 satisfaction across 88 responses. The true reach is significantly higher when factoring in audiences, school assemblies, BGC programs, and community cyphers — conservatively exceeding 2,500 individuals annually.
Programs That Transform Lives
Camp Groove, hosted entirely at Boys & Girls Club facilities, has served 72+ documented youth with 100% of families rating the experience 8+ out of 10. Beyond registrations, we reach 200+ additional BGC members through integrated programming. Participants represent 30+ Fort Collins schools — unprecedented diversity spanning Title I schools like Harris Bilingual and Irish alongside charter schools like Liberty Common, creating economic integration rare in youth programs.
FoCo Flava Vol. 9 in Old Town Square drew 80+ registered competitors and hundreds of spectators, creating both cultural celebration and economic impact through cultural tourism while maintaining free public access.
Weekly Open Training, supported by CSU Hip-Hop Dance Club, launched January 2025, serving 36+ regular participants ages 12-30 every Monday night, creating consistent intergenerational community space.
Partnerships That Matter
Our cornerstone partnership with Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County hosts every Camp Groove session, ensuring facility access and reaching underserved youth. We've maintained multi-year partnerships including 4 consecutive years with CSU's Education in Motion, ongoing support from CSU Hip-Hop Dance Club for Weekly Open Training, and 3 years with Juneteenth Fort Collins. School partnerships span Harris Bilingual Elementary, Mountain Sage Community School, and Webber Middle School, reaching 30+ schools total. The United Way Community Impact Center hosts our events while Teen Self-Care Fairs integrate hip-hop into regional mental health programming.
In 2025, recognition of our quality came through selection to open Red Bull BC One USA Finals, closing CoDEO statewide festival, and performing at Fort Collins City Hall for the AAPI Heritage Proclamation.
The Economics of Volunteer Power
Our 100% volunteer board and many volunteer instructors contribute over 2,000 hours annually. At Colorado's 2026 volunteer value of $38.74 per hour, this represents $77,480 in contributed labor. This sweat equity enables us to direct 75% of every cash dollar directly to programs — far exceeding nonprofit sector averages.
Why FoCo Flava Matters to Northern Colorado
As Fort Collins rapidly grows and diversifies, FoCo Flava provides essential cultural infrastructure. We're the only program where kids from Title I schools dance alongside charter school students, where elementary and middle schoolers train together, where every economic level meets in the cypher.
Our participant demographics reflect Northern Colorado's future — majority youth of color across all economic backgrounds from 30+ schools. No other youth program achieves this integration.
Without a permanent facility or paid staff, we've built the only hip-hop nonprofit between Denver and Wyoming through pure community power.
Your investment sustains Northern Colorado's hip-hop cultural infrastructure, ensures economic accessibility, supports artist livelihoods, and builds the inclusive community we all deserve.
FoCo Flava builds community through hip-hop culture by creating accessible spaces for movement, education, and connection across Northern Colorado.
We empower youth and adults to express themselves authentically, honor cultural roots, and develop as leaders while fostering belonging across generations and backgrounds. Through programs serving documented participants from 66+ cities and 30+ local schools, we demonstrate that hip-hop culture transforms lives — building confidence, cultural pride, and community connection.
Our work is guided by five core values: Expression, Community, Culture, Energy, and Legacy.
The Evolution from Underground to Institution
FoCo Flava's roots trace back to Fort Collins' underground hip-hop scene of the 2010s, where the Mighty Rockmorez crew gathered dancers in parking lots, parks, and borrowed spaces for freestyle cyphers. These informal sessions built community but lacked structure, consistency, and accessibility for youth.
In 2018, recognizing the need for formalized programming, a collective of dancers from the crew began the transition from informal gatherings to community organization. Together, they co-founded the CSU Hip-Hop Dance Club, creating the first structured hip-hop space on campus and establishing a college-to-community pipeline that continues today through our Weekly Open Training sessions. This wasn't the vision of one or two people — it emerged from countless cyphers, late-night conversations, and shared dreams of what Fort Collins hip-hop culture could become.
By 2022, this collective formalized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with dancers, educators, parents, and community members forming a working board that serves as both governance and ground-level staff. We operate without traditional hierarchy — our board members teach classes, set up events, and mop floors. This model ensures decisions come from those actively building the culture, not distant administrators.
Why Hip-Hop Matters Here
Fort Collins presents unique challenges and opportunities. With Larimer County at 77% white while our region rapidly diversifies, cultural programming becomes essential infrastructure for belonging. Youth of color often travel to Denver for cultural connection. Creative professionals leave for the coasts. Families struggle to find programs that honor their heritage while building bridges.
FoCo Flava addresses these gaps through hip-hop — an art form born from marginalized communities that teaches resilience, creativity, and collective power. Hip-hop's four elements (breaking, DJing, MCing, graffiti) plus knowledge create multiple entry points for expression. Its intergenerational nature means 7-year-olds and 30-year-olds can cipher together. Its emphasis on authenticity over perfection makes it accessible to all skill levels.
The Data Validates Our Approach
Our impact metrics tell a powerful story: 263 documented participants from 66+ cities, 30+ Fort Collins schools represented, 9.5/10 satisfaction rating, and estimated reach of 2,500+ individuals annually. But the qualitative data matters more — the shy kid who finds their voice, the Title I student dancing with charter school peers, the family that finally feels at home in Fort Collins.
Infrastructure Without Walls
Operating without a permanent space might seem like limitation, but it's become our strength. By partnering with Boys & Girls Club for all Camp Groove sessions, we ensure access for underserved youth. By utilizing CSU spaces, we maintain university connections. By performing in Old Town Square, we bring hip-hop to the people. This distributed model keeps overhead minimal while maximizing reach.
Our 100% volunteer board/staff collective contributes 2,000+ hours annually, worth $77,480 at Colorado's volunteer rate. This sweat equity model proves that community investment trumps traditional funding. When people give time, not just money, they're building something larger than a nonprofit — they're building a movement. Every board member is also program staff, every teacher helps govern, every volunteer has a voice. This is hip-hop's collective spirit in organizational form.
Looking Forward
As we approach 2026 and our 10th anniversary Vol. jam, FoCo Flava stands at a crossroads of opportunity. High school expansion could triple our youth reach. Mental health partnerships could address wellness gaps. A permanent space could centralize our distributed model while maintaining partnership strength.
Your Colorado Gives investment doesn't just fund programs — it sustains the only hip-hop cultural infrastructure between Denver and Wyoming, ensures the next generation has access to their culture, and proves that volunteer-powered, collectively-led organizations can achieve professional-caliber impact.
We're not building a dance program. We're building the Northern Colorado we want to see — diverse, creative, connected, and alive with the energy of hip-hop culture.
Organization name
Foco Flava
2022
Tax id (EIN)
92-1187824
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities, Community Improvement & Capacity Building
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
911 GILGALAD WAYCO, US
Fort Collins, CO, US
Larimer County, CO, US
Weld County, CO, US