Kingmakers of Oakland Receives Powerful Media Recognition for Sankofa Kings Fellowship

By: Leah Dobson 

Kingmakers of Oakland has received some amazing media coverage this month, and we are incredibly grateful! Thank you to The Oaklandside, NBC Bay Area, and Local News Matters for sharing the story of our inaugural Sankofa Kings Fellowship on your platforms and celebrating our young leaders who are learning to build with AI—not just use it.

Special thanks to Ashley McBride, Velena Jones, and Lloyd B. Davis for capturing this work with care and uplifting the brilliance, creativity, and leadership of our Kings.

Sankofa Kings was created with a clear purpose: to ensure Black boys and young men are not only consumers of artificial intelligence, but creators, innovators, and contributors shaping its future. Throughout the fellowship, participants explored AI, studied the issues affecting their communities, and developed solutions grounded in their lived experiences.

From supporting youth aging out of foster care to addressing broader community challenges, these young leaders demonstrated what is possible when they have access to technology, mentorship, and opportunities to lead.

Thank you for helping amplify this work and for recognizing the importance of preparing the next generation of creators and changemakers.

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