12/7/23 – Oakland, Calif. – In a vibrant celebration of cinematic creativity, Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO) proudly secured two wins at the 2023 AfroComicon Film Festival at Oakland’s historic Jack London Theaters. The local community, including a KOO team contingent,…

By Quinci Mann 12/14/23 – Oakland, Calif. – In the heart of downtown Oakland Kingmakers orchestrated a vibrant spectacle, hosting their second youth-led Open Mic at the Oakstop community workspace. The venue was not just a backdrop; it became a…

Lamond Lougin Brother Lamond is very active with Kingmakers. He is a recent high school and TFI graduate, now a freshman at Cal State East Bay. Lamond’s has excelled with the Media Academy sparkling personality has made him an on…

Silas ‘Ovrkast’ Wilson Bro Silas has been teaching students beat making and music producing at Oakland Tech and KOO Labs the past two school years. Ovrkast, his MC name, is a talented artist and producer in his own right. He…

Wallah Umoja Bro Wallah arrived at KOO with a wealth of skills, experience and talents in music and video production. He’s displayed dedication and consistency with over a decade of teaching and empowering youth in Oakland.  The past two school…

Willie John Rogers Brother Willie has shown exceptional growth over the past four years with Kingmakers of Oakland. Now a freshman at Merritt College in Oakland, he is repping a 3.1 for his first semester. Merritt College is where the…

11/16/2023 – Oakland, Calif. – A cultural awakening swept through the East Bay, as Kingmakers of Oakland orchestrated its inaugural youth Open MIC event at the Oakstop coworking space in downtown Oakland. The venue pulsated with a symphony of raw…

In early November, CEO Chris Chatmon traveled to Boston to celebrate Ron Walker, longtime Executive Director at COSEBOC (Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color). After almost two decades he is retiring after being the organization’s servant leader.   Since 2008,…

School environments are more impactful as learning hubs when all stakeholders participate in building a culture to engage, encourage and empower Black boys.  We all know “it takes a village to raise a child,” so it’s critical that we engage…

11/03/23 Oakland, Calif. – Its official! Tupac Shakur is forever linked to Oakland after getting a street named after him on November 3rd. The dynamic  naming ceremony paid homage to the iconic Tupac Shakur with an extraordinary tribute filled with…