Empowering Our Young Kings: Kingmakers of Oakland Brings Crowns to MetWest High School

We are thrilled to officially announce our expanding partnership with MetWest High School as we introduce our Crowns curriculum to their 9th and 10th-grade young Black boys.

Our connection to MetWest runs deep. From personal family ties to previous site visits, interns, and joint events, this milestone represents a natural evolution in our relationship. A huge part of this collaboration is thanks to MetWest’s principal, Dr. Sholonda Gregory, whose unwavering commitment to supporting her students has made bringing Crowns to her school a reality.

This program is a powerful multi-organizational effort. Led by Brother Fiyah Abakah, who has been connected to Kingmakers of Oakland since he was a young student, the initiative brings a culturally grounded, deeply intentional learning space to the classroom. In partnership with Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade and Dr. Joaquin Noguera’s organization, Repurposing Schools, we are also incorporating a scientifically designed survey to measure and assess youth wellness.

Through the combination of the Crowns curriculum and Brother Fiyah Abakah’s facilitation, our goal is to help our young men become more literate in understanding what wellness looks and sounds like, while strengthening our four key pillars:

• Cultural Identity: Grounding young men in their heritage and royalty.

• Belonging: Building a supportive brotherhood inside the school.

• Self-Advocacy: Empowering students to speak their truth and lead.

• Community Connections: Linking personal growth to collective impact.

Class is already underway, and seeing our nine young men fully engaged, excited, and appreciative on day one sets a powerful tone for the rest of the year.

We are deeply grateful for Dr. Sholonda Gregory, the MetWest staff, and the entire school community. Above all, we are truly honored that MetWest has entrusted us with their Black boys.