Sankofa Kings Visit Google: Empowering the Next Generation of Black Tech Innovators

By: Leah Dobson 

This month, our Sankofa Kings had the exciting opportunity to visit Google's headquarters in San Francisco, where they experienced what it looks like to turn innovation into impact. Guided by Google employees and volunteers, our Kings toured the campus, learned about careers in technology, and gained firsthand insight into the work happening inside one of the world's leading tech companies.

The highlight of the visit was the opportunity for our students to present the AI-powered apps they have been developing through our Sankofa Kings youth leadership development program. This initiative encourages black youth to become creators of technology, not just consumers of it. Using artificial intelligence as a tool for positive change, students identified real challenges facing their communities, gathered feedback from community members, and designed apps that offer meaningful solutions.

After presenting their projects, our black male achievers received thoughtful feedback from Google professionals who challenged them with the same types of questions they might encounter when pitching ideas in the tech industry. The experience gave students valuable insight into product development while building their confidence as young innovators and entrepreneurs.

More importantly, the visit reminded our Kings that they belong in spaces where technology is being shaped. Seeing black mentor figures thriving in the tech industry reinforced their positive racial and cultural identiy and showed that they, too, can build careers that create lasting change. When the people designing technology reflect the communities they serve, the solutions become more thoughtful, equitable, and impactful.

Our Sankofa Kings continue to raise the bar by proving that the future of technology can be built for us and by us. We at Kingmakers of Oakland cannot wait to see where their ideas take them next.