Meet Manny Faces
Award-winning journalist, public speaker, podcast professional, DJ, living kidney donor and outspoken advocate for the power of Hip Hop music and culture to uplift humanity.
Manny Faces is an award-winning journalist, podcast professional, public speaker, author, and independent scholar. Much of his work advocates for the use of Hip Hop music and culture as a tool to improve lives, livelihoods, and communities throughout the nation and the world, in fields including education, science and technology, health and wellness, politics and social justice, business and entrepreneurialism, journalism, the fine arts, spirituality and self-help, and more.
In 2015, he founded The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy (since relaunched as The Hip Hop Institute for Social Innovation - www.hiphopinstitute.org), an organization utilizing journalism, original research, and media/public outreach to increase awareness and understanding of Hip Hop’s important artistic and cultural contributions.
In 2017, Manny was recruited to launch News Beat (www.usnewsbeat.com), a groundbreaking podcast that melds high-level social justice journalism – interviews with experts, activists and those affected by injustice – with music and original lyrical contributions from independent rap artists. News Beat continuously receives journalism industry awards, most prominently, winning Best Podcast at the 2018 and 2021 New York Press Club Journalism Awards over other New York-based outlets including the New York Times.
In 2018, Manny launched Hip-Hop Can Save America! (www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com), an interview-style podcast highlighting people and organizations utilizing Hip Hop music and culture in innovative, inspiring, and surprising ways. The show is a 2023 Signal Award winner, sits on the ‘recommended materials’ list at several institutions including the Harvard Graduate School of Education and has been included as a curriculum resource in multiple educational publications.
In 2019, Manny launched a podcast production and consultant firm, Manny Faces Media (www.mannyfacesmedia.com), and he continues to produce and develop audio projects for various businesses, nonprofits, and journalism outlets, with a focus on using innovative reporting, production and storytelling to amplify under-represented voices and their often under-reported stories.
Manny is also an accomplished DJ, event host, media commentator and sought after public speaker who has presented at, moderated, and participated in panel discussions, workshops, and conferences at universities, organizations, and festivals throughout the country and the world. He sits on several academic, nonprofit and advocacy organization advisory boards and is the author of the book, “Hip Hop Can Save America! Inspiration for the Nation from a Culture of Innovation” (2025, Peter Lang International Academic Publishers)
Manny currently resides in the Atlanta metropolitan area.