As the Sankofa King's Lead Facilitator, Yakpasua brings a deep commitment to community empowerment, educational equity, and the holistic development of our youth. With a background as an entrepreneur and community leader in East Oakland, Yakpasua has spent years championing initiatives that prioritize the voices and potential of Oakland families. Through his work with Sydewayz Cafe, he has been a consistent advocate for technology access, economic development, and public safety.

Ro is dedicated to cultivating spaces where young men are empowered to reclaim their narratives, leverage their brilliance, and lead with purpose. He believes that by bridging the gap between legacy and innovation, we can engineer a future that honors our past while securing a thriving community for the next generation.

the Program Director at Kingmakers of Oakland, where he leads a college access program supporting Black and Latino high school males in their academic, personal, and professional growth. An Oakland educator and advocate, Kahlil holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Sacramento State and has represented youth voices at national platforms like the White House Youth Summit. He also empowers young people creatively through initiatives such as the Kingmakers Music project.

Tsadiku Obolu is a Product Manager at Google specializing in Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs). With extensive experience in youth mentorship, Tsadiku is deeply committed to addressing the underrepresentation of Black men in the technology sector. He aims to guide young Black men in navigating the AI landscape, understanding their unique challenges, and leveraging technology as a pathway to economic mobility and global impact.

Carlos Rosario serves as a Brand Marketing Manager at Google, bringing specialized expertise in Creative Arts and Digital Media. He has experience working with youth and is motivated by a desire to supplement traditional educational curriculums with specialized training. Carlos is dedicated to helping young men overcome systemic inequities by equipping them with the creative and digital skills needed to excel.

Jonathan Alexander Robinson is a self-employed Freelance Creative Producer and Writer with expertise in Product Management and Design. Having worked with youth in a mentorship capacity, Jonathan focuses on empowering young men to critically understand AI tools and their socio-political impacts. Drawing on his industry connections, he aims to provide students with a well-rounded, nuanced knowledge base so they can actively collaborate in shaping future technologies.

Jessica Poole is a Designer and Board Advisor working independently with Oakland United, with a primary focus on Product Management and Design. She has extensive experience in technical and youth mentorship capacities. Jessica is passionate about ensuring young Black men are actively involved in tech conversations, focusing her efforts on nurturing their technical skills so they can step into future leadership roles both within and outside the AI sector.

Makēda Gershenson is a Futures Literacies Educator, Artist, AI in Education Trainer, and Group Coach working with Mosaics in the Making and Quest Labs. She has extensive experience coaching and teaching youth since 2012, operating at the intersection of play-based learning, social-emotional development, and strategic foresight. Makēda is dedicated to introducing non-extractive, ethical AI frameworks and holistic development tools to support the long-term growth and research foundations of the program's participants.

Leandrew Robinson brings over two decades of deep entrepreneurship and leadership experience within both the nonprofit and technology sectors. A proud UC Berkeley alumnus, Leandrew has dedicated his career to launching and scaling impactful initiatives—from founding his first nonprofit aimed at expanding higher education access for young people, to co-founding Colorwave, and building PosterChild.ai, an innovative platform that empowers organizations to amplify their community stories. His extensive background as an operator, CEO, and mentor makes him uniquely suited to guide and support the next generation of leaders within the Sankofa Kings program, ensuring their powerful narratives drive sustainable visibility and success.

George Hoffstetter is the Founder and CEO of GH Tech Inc., a global culturally responsive software and curriculum company he launched at just 16 years old. Deeply committed to democratizing STEM education and closing the digital divide, George has dedicated his career to using technology as a vehicle for social justice and youth empowerment. He recently graduated from Columbia University, where he also incubated RevEd—a global archive and video curriculum focused on revolutionary history and education. This fall, George will continue his studies as an MPhil candidate in Knowledge, Power, and Politics at the University of Cambridge, bringing a powerful blend of technical expertise, academic rigor, and grassroots passion to his leadership and guidance within the community.

Gemeny Givens III is an AI researcher, strategy consultant, and community organizer dedicated to building safe, equitable, and robust technological systems. As the founder of Golden Bastion Co. and a former Innovation Educator at The Hidden Genius Project, Gemeny has spent years bridging the gap between advanced computational processes and grassroots community empowerment. He holds a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence & Robotics with Distinction from the University of Hertfordshire and a B.B.A. in Marketing from St. Mary's University. Bringing a powerful blend of technical expertise in natural language processing and a deep passion for youth mentorship, Gemeny is committed to shaping the next generation of Black boys and young men into the social architects of the future.

Damien McDuffie, MFA is a creative technologist, archivist, and the founder of Black Terminus AR, a no-code augmented reality studio and platform dedicated to preserving and amplifying Black art and cultural archives. A multi-platform storyteller and seasoned brand strategist, Damien is also the co-founder of Wine & Bowties, a digital agency connecting world-class brands with underrepresented creatives. His pioneering work at the intersection of art and immersive technology earned him a position as an MIT & Black Public Media Visiting Artist Fellow. Damien holds an MFA in Professional Practice in Writing from Columbia University and brings over two decades of experience in community curation, storytelling, and digital innovation to his mentorship and leadership.

Dr. Cheryl Talley is a Professor of Psychology and a leading researcher dedicated to uncovering the mental, emotional, and spiritual factors that drive lasting behavioral change and academic success. As the Research Director for the Analytic Hub of the HBCU STEM Undergraduate Success Research Center—a multi-institution collaboration funded by the National Science Foundation—Dr. Talley utilizes her expertise in affective neuroscience to design high-impact interventions. By integrating mindfulness training and social-emotional learning, she empowers students to build strong academic identities and resilient habits, bringing invaluable academic rigor and a deep commitment to equity and student achievement to the community.