The Kingmakers of Oakland exist to improve culture, conditions, and competencies across their district in order to better serve children and families situated farthest from opportunity. Born out of Oakland Unified School District’s Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA), the Kingmakers have a ten-year history of implementing using Targeted Universalism to “heal the fish, while treating the toxic ecosystem.” Attached to AAMA is the Manhood Development Program (MDP), which is its primary classroom strategy. Kingmakers leads professional development for students and adults in schools and districts across the country. Visit https://kingmakersofoakland.org/ to learn more.
Impact:
- Between the graduating classes of 2010 and 2018, the state-calculated high-school graduation rate for Black males in Oakland Unified School District increased from 46 to 69 percent
- The average GPA for 2012 Manhood Development Program students was 2.12 compared to the overall Black males’ average GPA of 1.7
Video Links:
- KOO Documentary 2.0 – A short documentary about the Kingmakers of Oakland
- I am a King – An original music video from the Kingmakers
- Portraits of a King – A video series produced by the Kingmakers Street Team
BELE Library Resources:
- Key Driver Diagram – This diagram lays out collective aim, the key drivers that push us to our collective aim, and the change ideas that move along each driver
- Collaborative Member Self Reflection – A tool to identify priority areas for personal and team learning
- We Dare Say Love – A book following a small group of Black male educators from Oakland Unified School District who changed district policy and practice to create a learning experience for Black boys rooted in love
- Transformative Schooling: Towards Racial Equity in Education – A book that captures the first 5 years of the groundbreaking work of Oakland Unified School District’s African American Male Achievement.
- Kingmakers of Oakland One Pager – A document providing a high level overview of the Kingmakers of Oakland.
