By Nia Lundkvist and Staci Smith
We were incredibly proud to have Kingmakers of Oakland represented by our Director of Curriculum and Training, Staci Smith, and our Curriculum Designer, Nia Lundkvist, who were selected as presenters for the 4th Annual Black Boys and Men Symposium in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hosted by Grand Valley State University from June 11–13, the symposium brought together education and community leaders “to understand and interrogate the systems that impact the lives of Black boys & men in order to deconstruct and rebuild for their success. The symposium focused on creating a vision for equitable transformation throughout the educational pipeline, from K–12 to higher education and beyond.”
The three-day event was filled with keynote speakers, engaging session leaders, and education professionals from all over the country, all united in finding, sharing, and committing to solutions to the problems that challenge today’s Black men and boys. Featured keynote speakers included Judge Mathis, Steve Pemberton, Dr. Dar Mayweather, Ava Johnson, Dr. Edie Conor, and Two Men and a Stool. The breakout sessions extensively covered a range of topics, connecting Staci and Nia with experts from around the country.
Staci and Nia presented a sample lesson from the Crowns Curriculum, providing a live demonstration of Crowns in action. The lesson, “I’m A King – Beyond the Crown,” breaks down the term “King,” interrogating our collective and individual relationships to power, kingship, community, and our leadership potential. The session was interactive, thought-provoking, sparked lively discussion, and invited friendly debate. They received glowing feedback—and even a standing ovation from a few attendees.
Overall, Staci and Nia’s experience was overwhelmingly positive, inspiring, and activating, affirming the relevance of the work we do every day here at KOO. We are grateful for their shine and humbled by the opportunity to present as first-time attendees. What a blessing it is to be connected to so many powerful, brilliant people fighting the good fight alongside us!
