By Leah Dobson
5/12/25 – San Francisco Unified School District’s AAALI office put on an amazing end-of-the-year Crowning Ceremony with the support of Kingmakers of Oakland. It was an unforgettable evening of family, culture, community, and celebration.
This special event brought together students from our curriculum classes, along with their facilitators and loved ones, to honor a year of growth and achievement. As the room filled with excitement, guests found their seats, and the ceremony began with heartfelt opening remarks from African American Achievement & Leadership Initiative (AAALI) Directors Laticia Erving and Glenn Bell, who welcomed a packed room of supporters ready to uplift our young Kings.
After the welcome, it was time to break bread and share a meal. Everyone gathered to enjoy a soul food feast that brought comfort, conversation, and community to the table. With bellies full and hearts even fuller, the night moved into its most anticipated moment—the crowning ceremony.
One by one, San Francisco facilitators stood beside their students and spoke proudly about the journeys they had taken together. Some shared classroom accomplishments and unforgettable memories. Others reflected on challenges overcome. A common thread in every story was the profound growth seen in their students—growth made possible through a curriculum rooted in history, identity, and connection.
The transformation was undeniable. When students are taught by someone who looks like them, who understands their experience, and who believes deeply in their potential, the results are powerful. Facilitators shared the daily affirmations and mantras they speak with their students—words that inspire confidence, pride, and resilience.
The love in the room was something you could feel. Laughter filled the air, proud parents snapped photos, and their facilitators beamed with pride at the young scholars standing before them—strong, confident, and thriving.
Our classrooms aren’t just about education. They center identity, belonging, and a community that shows up with love—day in and day out.
