Institute for Sustainable Health and Social Impact Receives Funding from Ontario Cannabis Store's 2025 Social Impact Fund for "High Notes, Clear Minds" Initiative

Innovative music-based program to advance cannabis knowledge and promote responsible consumption in Black communities across Ontario 

ONTARIO, [December 15, 2025] — The Institute for Sustainable Health and Social Impact (ISHSI), in partnership with Hip Hop Healing (HHH) Global and Kopius Records, is proud to announce that it has been selected to receive funding from the Ontario Cannabis Store's (OCS) 2025 Social Impact Fund for its groundbreaking project, "High Notes, Clear Minds." 

“High Notes, Clear Minds” advances cannabis knowledge and promotes responsible consumption by delivering culturally attuned education to Black communities across Ontario through music, rhythm, and creative expression. 

"We are honoured to receive funding from the Ontario Cannabis Store’s Social Impact Fund for this important work." said Ika Washington, Acting Executive Director of ISHSI.

"High Notes, Clear Minds represents a new approach to cannabis education, one that meets our communities where they are, using the power of music and cultural expression to foster open dialogue, reduce stigma, and empower individuals with evidence-based knowledge about responsible consumption." 

The 12-month project will host eight workshops across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Peel, Hamilton, Vaughan, London, Sudbury, and Durham, reaching an anticipated 300 participants. The initiative specifically targets Black youth (ages 19-30), Afro-Indigenous communities, seasonal workers, Rastafari communities, and other often-overlooked populations within Black Ontario communities. 

We are humbled for receiving funds from OCS for our 'High Notes, Clear Minds' project. We are thrilled to offer culturally relevant and accessible cannabis literacy and harm reduction education for Black communities. As a black led organization we understand the complex relationship with cannabis use and marginalized communities. This funding will support informed, lower-risk and responsible cannabis use within Black communities.” said Jermaine Henry, Founder/CEO of Hip Hop Healing and CMHN Project Lead.

Grounded in Canada's Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines, the program will provide accessible, evidence-informed education on harm reduction strategies, safer consumption methods, and the social and legal context surrounding cannabis use. Through live performances, interactive workshops, and community-led discussions, High Notes, Clear Minds aims to reduce cannabis-related harms while building trust within Black communities. 

High Notes, Clear Minds expands on previous collaborations between ISHSI and HHH Global, which have facilitated open dialogues on hip-hop, healing, community, mental health, and responsible recreational cannabis use in Toronto. 

The initiative will also include the creation of digital educational resources, virtual Q&A sessions to provide ongoing participant support, and a comprehensive evaluation to assess the impact and inform future programming. A key focus of the project is sustainability, with plans to establish long-term partnerships and develop strategies for continued cannabis education efforts in Black communities beyond the grant period. 

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About the Institute for Sustainable Health and Social Impact 

The Institute for Sustainable Health and Social Impact (ISHSI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable health practices and advancing social impact initiatives. Guided by its mission to integrate research, advocacy, and collaboration, ISHSI works toward fostering a healthier, more equitable society with a vision of a sustainable future where health and social impact empower individuals and communities. 

About Hip Hop Healing (HHH) Global 

Hip Hop Healing (HHH) Global is an organization dedicated to using hip-hop culture as a tool for healing, education, and community empowerment. Through workshops, performances, and community engagement, Hip Hop Healing creates spaces for dialogue, expression, and transformation within marginalized communities. 

About the OCS Social Impact Fund 

The Ontario Cannabis Store's Social Impact Fund was created to build meaningful partnerships that bridge knowledge gaps, generate shared social value and drive positive change related to cannabis in Ontario and beyond. Delivered through the OCS’s Good All Around social impact platform, the Fund provides financial support to programs, services and research led by incorporated not-for-profits, registered charities and academic or research institutions. 

Media Contacts

Ika Washington 

Acting Executive Director 

Institute for Sustainable Health and Social Impact 

Email: director@ishsi.org or ishsi.general@gmail.com

Jermaine Henry 

Founder & CEO/ Project Lead 

Hip Hop Healing Global 

Email: hiphophealing@gmail.com or jermaine@ishsi.org