This Nonprofit Backed By MacKenzie Scott Launched An AI Fellowship For Black Men To Solve Real World Issues – AfroTech
An Oakland, CA, nonprofit has doubled down on its commitment to support Black communities despite the federal government’s anti-DEI policies.
Kingmakers of Oakland
Kingmakers of Oakland is prioritizing education and success outcomes for Black boys and men from pre-K through Ph.D, per its website. Through an array of programs, the organization seeks to help its constituents develop the tools they need to build generational wealth and become industry leaders.
The Oaklandside reports that Kingmakers of Oakland received a $3 million donation from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2022 to build a hub for music, animation, video production, podcasting, and fashion. The following year, it received a $5 million gift from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to collaborate with school districts including North Carolina, Georgia, and Illinois.
Still, that work was challenged by the Trump administration. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the current administration has sought to actively ban diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and positions.
As a result of these policies, many organizations have terminated programs geared towards communities of color, fearing retribution.
“We have decades of data, from public health to education to socioeconomic data, that shows when you disaggregate by race, you see inequities,” said Kingmakers of Oakland Founder and Chief Executive Officer Chris Chatmon, according to the outlet. “The only way to address that is to talk about race. We do it by addressing Black boys in particular, but this focus of moving away from equity and not being able to talk about race is going to further perpetuate the haves and the have-nots.”
Sankofa Kings
The nonprofit has ramped up its areas of impact, this time with AI serving as a foundation for its Sankofa Kings Fellowship. Fellows have the opportunity to study AI and develop real-world solutions that could benefit their local communities, The Oaklandside reports. This year, the program invited 24 young men and boys from middle school through age 25.
Maceo Smith was one participant in the fellowship. He worked with a group to develop a “micro-apprenticeship” for youth aging out of the foster care system. He and his team built a website using Google Antigravity that offers career and entrepreneurship resources.
“Being in this program has been a life-changing experience for me this summer,” Smith told The Oaklandside. “It’s been very inspirational for me, being able to help kids from my community and help them learn. I’ve grown as a person when it comes to learning more about myself and how I can impact people like me.”
Other topics addressed through the fellowship included homelessness, gentrification, and immigration. There was a showcase at the Kapor Center in Uptown Oakland on July 24, 2026, at the conclusion of the fellowship, where participants presented their findings.
“It’s important that Black voices and Black men, as well as Black women, have opportunities to actually expose and share what their experiences are, not only as a consumer but as a creator,” Chatmon said to The Oaklandside.
