Literary Arts & Living Record
Books, research, cultural education, digital publishing, and Black-centered learning.
Homage To Black Excellence · H2BE
Black excellence is our living inheritance.
A faith-centered literary arts nonprofit strengthening families and communities through knowledge, food sovereignty, caregiving, technology, art, music, and justice.
- 70,000+ Black American churches continue serving communities across the United States.
- Black churches remain major leaders in education, disaster relief, food distribution, youth mentorship, and civic engagement.
- Faith institutions continue supporting millions of families through worship, counseling, music, and volunteer service.
- Black American population: approximately 50 million people nationwide.
- Nearly 27% of Black Americans are under age 18, representing a strong rising generation.
- Black Americans contribute leadership across medicine, education, engineering, military service, entrepreneurship, science, government, arts, and public service.
Communities and states already building healthy food systems include:
- Detroit, Michigan: an urban agriculture leader with hundreds of community gardens.
- Atlanta, Georgia: growing Black-owned farming and food businesses.
- Jackson, Mississippi: cooperative agriculture and food sovereignty initiatives.
- Birmingham, Alabama: community garden expansion.
- Baltimore, Maryland: neighborhood farming and food access programs.
- New Orleans, Louisiana: local food, fisheries, and cultural agriculture.
- North Carolina: one of the nation’s largest concentrations of Black-owned farms.
- Georgia: a strong Black farming legacy and agricultural innovation.
- 8.6 million Black Americans hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, with educational attainment continuing to increase.
- Black creators publish books, podcasts, documentaries, films, music, educational courses, and digital media across every major platform.
- Thousands of Black-owned digital businesses operate in publishing, design, technology, software, education, and entertainment.
- More Black Americans serve as judges, attorneys, legislators, law enforcement professionals, educators, military officers, nonprofit leaders, and public administrators than at any previous point in U.S. history.
- Black civic leadership continues expanding through local government, education boards, nonprofit organizations, and community development.
One mission · Connected work
Excellence made visible.
H2BE brings spiritual grounding, cultural truth, creative discipline, community care, and self-determination into one living system. Every pathway carries knowledge forward and creates something valuable for future generations.
Food Sovereignty & Family Wellness
Growing, preparing, sharing, and teaching food as community power and generational care.
Faith, Caregiving & Community
Intergenerational ministry, elder support, family rebuilding, service, and spiritual wholeness.
Digital Creativity & Cultural Expression
Technology, music, visual art, exhibitions, media, and platforms that amplify Black voices.
Community pathways
Serve. Connect. Live actively.
Three focused H2BE pathways connect public service, senior digital independence, family legacy, movement, faith, food, and community care.
EBT/Food Assistance Work Requirement Volunteer Pathway
Eligible able-bodied adults subject to Michigan Food Assistance work requirements may volunteer with H2BE through nonprofit community-service opportunities that support literary arts, caregiving, technology, food sovereignty, cultural programs, and family rebuilding. H2BE schedules approved placements, records completed service, and verifies hours on the participant’s monthly form.
MDHHS or the participant’s caseworker determines eligibility, assigned hours, accepted activities, and whether the completed service satisfies the individual requirement.
Open the volunteer application →Senior Technology Ministry
Seniors receive patient, practical guidance using phones, tablets, email, video calls, online resources, photos, and digital storytelling. Technology becomes a tool for active living at home, confident participation throughout the community, steady family connection, and preservation of family legacies.
The ministry connects technology with caregiving, faith, food, creativity, home life, and intergenerational learning.
Open the Senior Technology form →GOD’s Walking Club
A culturally rooted, faith-centered wellness ministry for seniors, families, caregivers, friends, and youth. Gentle movement, prayer, fellowship, healthy food, technology learning, family connection, and garden-based food sovereignty work together to strengthen physical vitality and spiritual and social grounding.
Powered by H2BE and the Senior Technology Ministry, with community partnership from the Dearborn Town Centre for Seniors and the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ.
Register for GOD’s Walking Club →Music · Media · Production
H2BE Digital Record Label.
The H2BE Digital Record Label carries the nonprofit’s creative mission into culturally grounded sound. It supports purposeful music, artist development, digital production, and releases built with excellence and respect for each artist’s voice.
Christian Hip-HopChristian R&BInstrumental & SoulGospel Blues
Every H2BE artist commits to community service and takes an active role in promoting, performing, and sharing their music.
In God We Trust.
Schools · Artists · Cultural learning
Request a program. Create an experience.
These two pathways are intentionally separate: schools may request Black History Month programming and learning materials, while artists may propose an exhibition, performance, reading, screening, or creative experience.
Black History Month Programming
Request West African drumming, African dance, an African Kingdoms assembly, a Black American inventors presentation, or coordinated decorations and learning materials.
Open the school request form →Artist Showcase & Creative Experience
Propose visual art, a mural, music, comedy, poetry, books, textiles, photography, videography, or a multidisciplinary experience—and define what is needed to bring it fully to life.
Open the Artist Showcase form →Trusted work · Shared purpose
Clients we have worked with.
H2BE’s work has moved through food sovereignty, faith, cultural education, public transportation, city development, creative placemaking, music, medical legacy, and community learning. Select any organization to visit its website.
Food sovereigntyDetroit Food Policy CouncilUnder the executive leadership of Winona Bynum.Visit website ↗
Food sovereignty · Urban agricultureDetroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network & D-Town FarmWith Malik Yakini, co-founder and former executive director.Visit website ↗
Faith · CommunitySecond Baptist Church of DetroitWork connected with the leadership of Rev. Dr. Kevin M. Turman.Visit website ↗
Faith · CommunityPlymouth United Church of ChristLegacy and leadership of Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood Sr. and Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood III.Visit website ↗
Faith · Cultural institutionShrines of the Black MadonnaPan-African Orthodox Christian Church.Visit website ↗
Arts · Creative placemakingArtspace Projects, Inc.Including City Hall Artspace Lofts in Dearborn.Visit website ↗
Community developmentEast Dearborn Downtown Development AuthoritySupporting arts, place, business, and neighborhood connection through Downtown Dearborn.Visit Downtown Dearborn ↗
Municipal collaborationCity of DearbornPublic programs, community spaces, and cultural experiences.Visit website ↗
Regional transportationSMARTSuburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.Visit website ↗
Detroit transportationDDOTDetroit Department of Transportation.Visit website ↗
Legacy · Education · STEMThe David L. Head FoundationPreserving Black achievement and expanding educational access.Visit website ↗
Black medical legacyDunbar Memorial Hospital MuseumDetroit’s foundational Black medical institution and living record.Visit website ↗
Music · Cultural expressionMollywop!Detroit-based band creating funk, reggae, rock, soul, and community energy.Visit website ↗
Local partnership · National learning
Relationships that make the work move.
H2BE builds through community institutions and carries its knowledge into wider professional learning spaces. These relationships connect archives, libraries, literacy, place-making, leadership, technology, and direct community service.
Learning rooted in place.
Local institutions extend the reach of cultural education, archival learning, public literacy, digital access, and family connection.
Knowledge shared beyond one room.
H2BE presentations connect community-built practice with professional audiences focused on downtown development, library leadership, service, and learning.
Upcoming event
Come laugh, listen, and share your voice.
H2BE invites Detroit families, neighbors, artists, poets, comedians, and community members to a welcoming evening of creative expression at the Detroit Public Library.
Enjoy comedy and poetry in an open-mic setting, with light refreshments and alcohol-free mocktails provided.
Open Mic: An Evening of Comedy & Poetry
Join us for an uplifting evening where humor, spoken word, and community connection meet. Guests are welcome to attend and enjoy the experience.
Date
Time–
LocationDetroit Public Library — Edison Branch
HospitalityLight refreshments & mocktails
365-day leadership spotlight
Dr. Denguhlanga Julia Kapilango
Founder · Executive Director · Chief Financial Investment Officer
Dr. Denguhlanga Julia Kapilango leads Homage To Black Excellence as a year-round ecosystem of faith, disciplined service, scholarship, creativity, administration, and community investment. She transforms ideas into books, curricula, exhibitions, research, digital learning, music, food-sovereignty work, caregiving ministries, technology pathways, partnerships, and programs that families and communities can use.
Her leadership joins spiritual grounding with nonprofit governance, financial stewardship, cultural production, artist development, public learning, organizational strategy, justice-centered research, grant oversight, and direct community care. Each area is designed to strengthen Black life, connect generations, cultivate enterprise, and leave multiple forms of value for future generations.
Faith & FamilyPrayer, ministry, caregiving, spiritual wholeness, and intergenerational rebuilding.
Executive & Financial LeadershipGovernance, budgeting, grants, investment thinking, operations, partnerships, and accountability.
Literary Arts & ResearchPublishing, curricula, the Black Hi Story Library, Detroit records, and Buffalo Soldiers Diaspora learning.
Food & Community WellnessFood sovereignty, gardens, active living, senior connection, and family nourishment.
Art, Music & TechnologyExhibitions, digital media, artist platforms, the H2BE Digital Record Label, and senior technology.
Justice & Future BuildingCommunity safety, service pathways, cultural truth, entrepreneurship, and generational legacy.
Ongoing call to application
Help shape a new culture of caregiving.
Bridging Generations honors the sacred voice of elders while preparing compassionate adults to lead intergenerational conversations, learning, technology support, food, faith, and fellowship.
Lead Innovators
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis through H2BE’s secure internal application.
- Honor elders and empower adults
- Guide healing conversations
- Support caregiving and cultural connection
- Serve with compassion and reliability
H2BE digital learning ecosystem
Go deeper at your own pace.
The main H2BE website stays focused while expanded publications, research, dictionaries, and interactive learning live inside two dedicated experiences.
Created and stewarded by H2BE
The Black Hi Story Library
A searchable home for publications, community research, living records, educational frameworks, and free digital learning.
Enter the Library ↗Interactive heritage experienceBuffalo Soldiers Diaspora Explorer
Explore service, family, movement, place, culture, language, and the far-reaching legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers Diaspora.
Open the Explorer ↗