Story from our CEO: April
Kingmakers of Oakland | April 2026 Newsletter
Movement. Momentum. Meaning.
April was not just a month of activity, it was a declaration. Across cities, across communities, across generations, Kingmakers of Oakland continues to stand at the intersection of culture, education, and liberation. What we are building is not a moment, it is a movement.
Advocacy in Action: James Irvine Foundation Advocacy Day
We were honored to participate in Advocacy Day alongside the James Irvine Foundation and Capital Impact Partners, a day that affirmed the power of voice, presence, and policy.
From receiving a formal proclamation on the Senate Floor from Jesse Arreguín to engaging directly with policymakers, advisors, and education leaders, we carried the stories of our Kings and Queens into rooms where decisions are made.
We extend deep gratitude to the many leaders who leaned in, listened, and stood with us, including representatives from the Office of Gavin Newsom, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the California Department of Education.
This is what systems change looks like: proximity, partnership, and persistence.
ASU + GSV Summit: Where Vision Meets Possibility
In San Diego, we joined global innovators at the ASU + GSV Summit, an epicenter for reimagining the future of education.
From “The Future: Face to Face,” hosted by the Reinvention Lab at Teach For America and my good friend Sasha Rapkin, to powerful exchanges with visionary leaders, the experience was both energizing and affirming.
But the soul of the summit lived in the Big Picture Learning Leadership Journeys, a sacred space where storytelling became transformation.
To witness leaders like LaShawn R. Chatmon, Dena Simmons, and Javier Guzman stand in truth, vulnerability, and brilliance was nothing short of transcendent.
There are few spaces where leaders are fully seen, not just for what they do, but for who they are. In that room, there was no separation between the personal and the political, the spirit and the strategy.
And in that spirit, I witnessed my partner, my friend, my queen, LaShawn, aka L Boogie, offer a testimony that moved beyond words. It was liberation. It was power. It was vulnerability. It was a reminder that our stories are not just reflections, they are instruments of change.
KOO Staff Retreat: Returning to Our Roots
Back home, our KOO Culture Collective curated a powerful, intergenerational retreat grounded in reflection, alignment, and action.
We recommitted to finishing the year strong, but more importantly, we returned to our grassroots foundation: being in community.
That means walking our neighborhoods. Sharing our stories. Inviting our people into the work, not as spectators, but as co-builders.
Special thanks to Motivate Coffee House for holding space for us to build, reflect, and reimagine together.
Student Showcase: A Celebration of Brilliance
This year’s Student Showcase was exactly what it needed to be, joyful, powerful, and unapologetically centering and celebrating Black Joy!
Young Kings and Queens from San Francisco, Oakland, and Seattle took the stage, not just to present, but to proclaim their impact.
From the Griots Exhibition to KOO Labs Academies, to the brilliance of the SFUSD AAALI and Seattle Public Schools AAMA programs, the message was clear:Our youth are not the future, they are the now.
We were honored to be grounded in culture by Samba Funk, and uplifted by dynamic MCs who ensured every young person felt seen, heard, and celebrated.
The Student Showcase was more than an event, it is a communal affirmation:“We see you. We believe in you. We are because of you.”
SFUSD AAALI Crowning Ceremony: Honoring the Journey
At the Southeast Community Center, over 100 young Kings and Queens were crowned through the African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative’s Mastering Our Cultural Identity classes.
We extend our gratitude to Dr. Maria Su for her presence and leadership, and to Leticia Irving and the AAALI team for celebrating a decade of impact.
Ten years of affirming identity.Ten years of cultivating excellence.Ten years of building legacy.
Seattle Public Schools: Strengthening the Brotherhood
Our journey continued in Seattle, where we spent time in deep community with the AAMA program, led by Dr. Mia Williams and an incredible team of educators and mentors.
From classroom visits to reconnecting with alumni like University of Washington scholar King Trevon, the experience reaffirmed the power of culturally rooted, relationship-driven education.
We also had the opportunity to connect with Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Shuldiner, continuing to build bridges that expand opportunity for our young people.
What Comes Next
Every room we enter, every young person we uplift, every partnership we cultivate, it all points toward something bigger.
We are not just developing leaders.We are restoring legacy.We are building ecosystems where Kings and Queens can thrive, academically, culturally, and spiritually.
But movements like this don’t grow on intention alone.
They grow through community. Through belief. Through investment.
At Kingmakers of Oakland, our work remains grounded in a simple truth: Black boys and young men carry brilliance, legacy, and sacred responsibility. Our role is to build systems that recognize, protect, and cultivate that reality every day.
In that spirit, I’m honored to lift up COVERED, written by, Nikka Lemons, PhD., FOUNDING PRINCIPAL, RESEARCHER & STRATEGIST. COVERED is a devotional ecosystem rooted in African ancestral tradition and Black spiritual sovereignty. Launching Juneteenth 2026, COVERED offers daily practices, prayer, ritual, and reflection, designed for Black males across generations, alongside a companion edition for the women and caregivers who stand as their spiritual anchors.
This is more than a book, it’s a daily affirmation of identity, alignment, and inheritance.
Learn more:https://www.coveredsuns.com
Join Us
If this work moves you, don’t just witness it, be a part of it.
Show up to our events
Partner with us
Invest in our young people
Amplify the mission
Because what we are building is not for us alone, it is for generations. Remember our children will be our fate or our future, it all depends on what you invest in. Invest in our youth!
And trust, this is only April.
May is already calling.
Peace and blessings,
Baba Chris