Technology is moving fast, and our communities can no longer afford to just be consumers—we must be the creators. The Sankofa Kings AI Lab is where Ancestral Wisdom meets Artificial Intelligence. We are preparing the next generation of young Black men to step up as the "Social Architects" who will design the future of Oakland.

The Commitment & The Bag

This isn't just a summer coding camp. The Lab kicks off with a paid 6-week Summer Residency (June 16 – July 23, 2026) and evolves into a year-long leadership fellowship. Kings are financially compensated for their time, expertise, and the tools they build for the Town.

Through youth-led research and intergenerational storytelling, our Kings will develop "Activation Toolkits"—straightforward, AI-powered solutions designed to fix real-world problems in our neighborhoods.

Our Intergenerational Design Teams

We are bringing together a cohort of 25 Kings across three distinct, paid tracks:

• The Apprentices (Middle School, Ages 12–14): Focused on foundational tech literacy, community observation, and storytelling.

• The Architects (High School, Ages 15–18): The core builders who will design, prompt, and launch the AI solutions.

• The Team Leads (Opportunity Age, 19–25): Paid, staff-adjacent mentors who facilitate the groups and guide their younger brothers.

Whether you are a young King ready to get paid to build for your city, or an industry expert looking to guide the next generation, there is a seat at the table for you.

I Am Because We Are. Choose your path below to get started.