I want to share a vision—perhaps it’s better to call it a dream. Project IN is a creative arts-based mental health platform that combines free-form artistic expression with intervention methods to empower individuals and foster personal freedom. It all began with Hip-Hop Project IN, a therapeutic intervention for immigrant youth in Barcelona, and has since evolved into Project IN, a social brand with several creative initiatives. But before diving deeper into that, let me share a bit more about Project IN, what it stands for, and how it came to life.
The Story (A Compressed Version)
Project IN was originally called “The Project.” It all began when I presented my dream of creating a Hip-Hop music-based music therapy and production studio for immigrant and refugee youth’s trauma treatment in Barcelona to Sergi Ferrer-Salat, the president of the Ferrer-Salat Music Foundation. At the time, it didn’t have a name, as you might guess, so it stayed unnamed for a while.
Sergi liked the idea, and several months later, we met again to bring it to life under its new name—Project IN. The “IN” stands for Inclusion, Intervention, Inspiration, and Integration—a cool, meaningful acronym. He also added "Hip-Hop" to the project’s name to better reflect the vision. It was at that moment that I realized the project could grow into multiple "Project INs," each serving different target groups.
After months of intense work, training with masters* in Hip-Hop therapy and trauma interventions, writing proposals, and securing a huge space, where we set up a studio. We poured countless hours of effort into bringing this vision to life—something I could never fully describe without writing a book.
Eventually, Hip-Hop Project IN launched under the Ferrer Salat Music Foundation, serving young men coming from the Superaccio Foundation and the greater Barcelona area. You can check the project’s details on our website.
After a year and a half, the project became independent, separating from the FSMF. That’s when I gathered a team of friends—artists, musicians, psychologists, writers, and dreamers—and together we started evolving Project IN into an art and mental health community with various simultaneous initiatives. We launched Co-Create, a collaboration and empowerment space for artists, and Sound High, which focused on electronic music without substance use. Many other creative ideas flowed through the space, and we started organizing events like Draw and Flow, ecstatic dance sessions, and artists' meetups.
However, we made one critical oversight: we didn’t secure a sustainable money flow. Everyone on the team had to take on other jobs to support themselves, and we couldn’t figure out a sustainable financial plan for Project IN. Despite our collective efforts, the project wasn’t able to pay the bills, and we were still relying on FSMF for rent and materials. We applied for funding but were turned down. We struggled to formalize Project IN into an official NGO. Eventually, it reached the end of its journey under the FSMF’s support, even with interns and students involved. Finally, I handed over the keys and moved to Portugal to start a new chapter.
A New Chapter and the Return of the Dream
The past two years have been a time of personal discovery, mostly focused on my music and passions. Along the way, my interest in clothing and design emerged, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence. I won’t go into detail about my startup and clothing trials, but I will say this: through it all, I never truly closed the door on Project IN. I felt like letting it go would be the same as erasing its potential.
When I first envisioned “The Project,” I saw it as something that could expand to multiple cities, working with various communities. It was a model, not just a single local initiative. When we created Project IN, I even thought about building an academy of artists and health professionals focused on social impact. I didn’t want to let go of that dream. So, even though I was busy with other ventures, I kept tweaking and updating the website, like a painting or a book that was never quite finished.
Then, on New Year's Eve 2025, something clicked. I realized how I could bring Project IN back to life, and now, you are a part of this journey.
Part 2: The Spark and The Vision
What happened on New Year’s Eve? Nothing dramatic, just a conversation that sparked the idea to take the first step toward opening my own store—and suddenly, everything clicked. I realized I could blend all my passions and gradually create the ultimate version of Project IN, step by step.
The first step? Launch an online store with designs that represent each Project IN initiative:
Co-Create: Designs focused on empowering artists, offering insights to overcome creative blocks, and a few fun jokes about creative flow.
Sound High: Designs for producers and electronic music geeks—the ones who take partying to the next level and surf the waves they shape, diving into altered states through sound.
Hip-Hop Project IN: Celebrating the four elements of Hip-Hop, reflecting the revolutionary power of this culture. I can also envision students from Hip-Hop Project IN designing their own clothing.
These are just the first three collections, but trust me, it’ll evolve rapidly. I’ve already launched three collections, and with each day, my design skills and imagination grow stronger. There’s massive potential for collaboration, creativity, and artistic expression here. The upcoming collection, Radical Imagination, will dive deep into exploring the edges of creative potential.
While pursuing all these, I feel Project IN is heading in the right direction. We’re not stuck in the old mindset of separating NGOs from companies. As you can see, companies are increasingly engaging in "impactful" actions—sometimes genuinely, sometimes out of guilt, but often as part of modern marketing strategies or greenwashing. I’m not here to blame anyone, but if you want a glimpse of the dynamics, check out Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy on Netflix.
On the other hand, NGOs are adopting business strategies, racing to secure subscriptions and resources, even employing people on commission outside metro stations (which can sometimes exploit students and young folks). I want to keep Project IN's new face conscious, and open its creative potential. It’s a tough balancing act, and I’m open to any support and constructive criticism along the way.
A Daydream of Project IN’s Future
Let me take you through a clear vision of Project IN’s near future: the opening of our first store/studio (the previous one didn’t have a store).
Picture this: you enter through a large gate and are immediately greeted by logos and photos from past projects, covered in graffiti by local artists. The ground features a chronological history of Project IN’s evolution, guiding you to the first floor. Here’s what you’ll find:
Co-Create Section: On the right, a spacious area where you can try on t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies from our shelves. Our in-store stock is limited because everything is made on demand—keeping the consumerist side in check. Next to this is a design station, equipped with a tablet and sketch board, where you can design and share ideas for free, using AI tools, Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. I have more ideas for this area, but I'll save them as a surprise for the opening.
Sound High & Hip-Hop Sections: To the left, you’ll find the Sound High section in smooth neon blue, purple, and black—tailored for electronic music lovers. Right next to it is the Hip-Hop section, bursting with vibrant graffiti-style colors. In between the two sections is a DJ/live set booth, where we’ll host music workshops, freestyle rap sessions, live sets, and concerts. The contrast between the two sections—Sound High boosting and enhancing Hip-Hop, and Hip-Hop providing the foundation for electronic music culture—creates a beautiful synergy.
Second Floor: This is where the magic happens. Imagine a large, airy space similar to Project IN’s first studio in Barcelona, where we had DJ booths, music production tables, design areas, and a space for workshops and therapies. Now, with more experience, I believe the design could be even better and more efficient. The second floor will be where all the projects bloom—where people create, heal, express, and share through art.
This is my vision for Project IN 2.0—the next step. You might think this is just a sweet dream—and it is—but so was Hip-Hop Project IN, which has already impacted over 200 young individuals in the past few years. You can follow the progress on the Store page of ProjectIn.org, where this dream is beginning to come to life. If you want to support us and grab some goodies, there’s a 20% launch discount right now, and we ship worldwide.
*Here are the names of some of those masters :
(with special thanks)
Dr. Alex Crooke - Research Fellow: Che (Music & Conciliation)
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
Dr. Elliot Gann - Executive Director at Today's Future Sound
J.C. Hall - Rapper, Therapist (www.hiphoptherapy.com)
Trauma Research Foundation
