Welcome to the Future of Oakland: Architected by Kings

Right now, in this very room, you are witnessing a profound narrative shift.

The young Black men standing before you are not merely participants in another youth program—they are the Sankofa Kings. They are digital architects, software developers, and community researchers who have spent the past several weeks transforming from passive consumers of technology into active creators of our collective future.

Why We Are Here: The Sankofa Kings

Rooted in ancestral wisdom and driven by Youth-Led Action Research (YPAR), the Sankofa Kings program equips middle school, high school, and Opportunity Aged (18 - 25) Kings with the technical skills, mentorship, and agency to design real-world solutions.

At Kingmakers of Oakland, our baseline is clear: our boys are not broken, the systems are. When we want to heal the fish, we must first address the water.

Our Kings didn’t set out to write abstract, disconnected software. Instead, our multi-generational Tribes pointed their technical brilliance directly at the "water"—identifying systemic bugs within Oakland's environment, ranging from school funding disparities and foster care transitions to economic barriers and youth wellness. Using modern artificial intelligence, deep data collection, and web development, our Kings built tangible, real-world prototypes to patch those systemic bugs and uplift our community.

Beyond Tonight: Sustaining the Movement

While tonight is a celebration of what our Kings have built during this residency, our work to expand this multi-generational tech pipeline is only beginning.

True movement-building requires sustained, intentional resources. Your investment tonight directly fuels three critical areas of impact:

State-of-the-Art Tools & Technology: Securing the high-end laptops, cutting-edge AI software, and digital development platforms that our Kings need to build professional-grade creations.
Direct Youth Stipends & Tribe Leadership: Directly funding our eldest Kings to step into paid leadership roles. By providing seasonal stipends, we hold our Kings professionally accountable as Tribe Leads to mentor and guide their younger brothers in peer-to-peer tech leadership.
Expanded Real-World Curriculum: Funding direct community field research, youth interviews, and hands-on design labs that bridge advanced digital skills with immediate, local social impact.

How You Can Stand With Our Kings

When young Black men are given the tools, the space, and the unwavering belief to build, they don’t just enter the technology economy—they lead it.

Whether you invest $25, $100, or $1,000 tonight, every dollar goes directly toward expanding the Sankofa Kings, ensuring the next generation of Oakland youth can step into tomorrow fully equipped to lead.

So please, invest in our Kings, and join us in architecting a healthy, brilliant future.

Thank you for standing with our Kings and the Kingmakers of Oakland!

Sankofa Kings Community Showcase: Architects of Tomorrow

Witness 26 young Black tech architects launch community-focused AI apps at the Kapor Center. See the future of tech equity in Oakland!