If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Partners
As we navigate complex systems and work to transform them, we must turn towards each other and leverage our collective capacity. In that spirit, the work of Akoben Organizing is predicated on collaboration, and calling each other to righteous action.
Chris Darby
I am passionate about supporting people and organizations to increase their capacity to engage in the good work. As a lifelong learner with experience facilitating groups that range from leaders at Fortune 500 companies to September kindergarteners, I aim to build community, foster creative collaboration, and improve educational opportunities in the Bay Area and beyond. Growing up Black and middle class in Berkeley, California provided me a foundational intersection that early on sparked difficult questions of race, belonging, resource distribution, leadership, equity, and solidarity–questions that I have been pursuing vigorously ever since.
I studied the African Diaspora and Colonial Americas at Columbia University, graduating magna cum laude with a BA in history in 2009. In 2015, I was awarded the Urban Scholar Fellowship to attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where I earned my MA studying community engagement, peace education, and curriculum development. The following year I was a Scholar in Residence at the MindKind Institute for Mindful Leadership in New York before returning home to the Bay Area.
Randy Seriguchi, Jr.
Randy Seriguchi Jr. supports school districts, community-based organizations, and philanthropic leaders to build creative packages of support for Black teacher recruitment and retention. As the former executive director of Urban Ed Academy in San Francisco, built a national model for recruiting, training, and housing new Black male teacher candidates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is an active member of the New York State Bar Association, holds a JD from the American University Washington College of Law and received his BA in English from the University of Michigan.
In Partnership With
Advisors
Baba Arnold Perkins
Arnold Perkins is a respected and knowledgeable community leader, a valued member of numerous boards, and a founder of the Brotherhood of Elders Network.
Baba Cole
Ron Bridgeforth has dedicated his life to youth mentorship and literacy initiatives. He currently serves on the Leadership Council and Education Committee of the Brotherhood of Elders Network.
Baba Greg Hodge
Greg Hodge is a social change activist, organizational development consultant, facilitator, attorney, teacher, mentor, minister, and drummer. He served on the OUSD School Board, and is a leader in the Brotherhood of Elders Network.
Carmen Bogan
Carmen Bogan is a nonprofit organizational management consultant, children’s author, publisher, and frequent trainer and lecturer to women's groups, nonprofit professionals, and faith-based organization leaders.