At our 2025 Spring Symposium, Kingmakers of Oakland proudly presented the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to a true giant in the field of education and youth advocacy: Brother Ron Walker, founder of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC).
For decades, Brother Ron has been a tireless champion for Black youth—empowering generations of students, transforming educational spaces, and inspiring communities to embrace excellence and equity. His life’s work has not only made our schools more affirming, but our communities stronger, safer, and more connected.
As educators and community builders, we understand the critical importance of honoring our elders while they’re still with us—those whose vision, sweat, and strategy have made a lasting impact. Though retired, Brother Ron continues to lend his voice and wisdom, collaborating with district and government leaders to reshape systems and offer pathways to student success.
Brother Ron’s journey is not only one of leadership, but of deep mentorship. Since 2010, when Kingmakers’ CEO Chris Chatmon founded the Department of African American Male Achievement in Oakland Unified School District, Brother Ron has walked beside him—as a guide, an advocate, and a powerful example of what it means to lead with both intellect and heart.
His unwavering commitment has been a north star to many. As a mentor, scholar, and visionary, he has helped lay the foundation upon which we continue to build. His legacy is not a chapter that has closed—it’s a call to action, echoing in every classroom, every boardroom, and every community gathering where the success of Black youth is centered.
At Kingmakers of Oakland, we say with deep gratitude: Thank you, Brother Ron. Your legacy fuels our mission. Your wisdom lights our path. And your example reminds us that this work is not only possible—it is powerful, necessary, and sacred.
We stand on your shoulders, and we carry your vision forward.
