Kingmakers of Oakland

KINGS IN THE MAKING

The AI² Lab — Ancestral × Artificial Intelligence

A one-of-a-kind creative experience for Black boys to explore identity, self-expression, and ancestral wisdom using emerging AI tools

Know Thy Self

My Personal Impact

Facilitators Leandrew Robinson and Jonas Fleur-Aime lead students through a journey of impact storytelling, connecting ancestral legacy with present actions and future goals. Students develop a “Trait & Legacy Bank” to define their unique value and use AI to translate these reflections into impact cards.

Deliverable: A lightweight personal impact profile highlighting students' real-world impact across school, family, and community.

AI Tools: Google Gemini and AI Image Generation

Legends of the Lineage

The Comic Book Cover Lab

Facilitator Theo Hollingsworth leads students through a visual deep-dive into comic book iconography as a “visual code” for ideology and power. By brainstorming a “Trait Bank” based on unsung ancestors and community leaders, students learn to translate character values into high-impact graphic design.

Deliverable: A professional-grade Comic Book Cover Poster featuring a chosen Ancestor or Historical Figure.

AI Tools: Google Gemini

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Ancestral Futurism

Fashion Design Lab

Facilitator Senay Alkebu-Lan treats fashion as “wearable memory,” exploring how clothing serves as a tool for liberation. Students use cultural artifacts and music as “Design DNA” to create futuristic garment concepts that remain grounded in the symbols and patterns of the African Diaspora.

Deliverable: A digital fashion concept/outfit image accompanied by an ancestral-influence caption.

AI Tools: Google Gemini

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On The Shoulders of Giants

A Research and Design Workshop

Facilitator Gemeny Givens III guides students through the world of academic research, using the works of historical Black thought leaders as a foundation. The lab emphasizes information literacy, teaching students how to vet AI-generated content and fact-check data to build a credible bridge between history and the future.

Deliverable: A brief, fact-checked research report on a historical inspiration.

AI Tools: NotebookLM, Google Gemini, and Google Scholar.

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