Beginning with her early education at Bethune Cookman College, where at the age of six she was regularly sent to sit and speak with Great Ancestor Mary McCleod Bethune.  Mrs. Davis' grew up in the Segregated South and attended Wittenberg University with a degree in music.  Her perspective on the history and experience of African American people provides a unique opportunity for the youth of YGB to learn and to develop their own racial identities. She is an award winning educator, with over 60 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and builder of schools, and of children. Her expertise as an educator and as a grand mother informs her work and strengthens the core of what YGB represents.   Her list of accomplishments and awards make her a must listen for any educators of African American children. Mrs Davis no longer regularly attends YGB rehearsals and activities, but she is always present in spirit, and remains a close advisor to the program administration.text goes here

Coming soon!

Ikera Davis is a founder of Young Gifted and Black of Oakland in all of its iterations as YGB, YGB Gold, The Black Sheroes, and YGB Berkeley.  She has been on three YGB International Tours, including two trips to Ghana to perform at Emancipation Day ceremonies. Ikera is a multi hyphenate artist and currently a student at the California Academy of Art in San Francisco. She holds two AA degrees in Sociology and Social Justice from Diablo Valley College. For YGB she leads rehearsals, teaches songs and serves as a generational bridge for the youth. She also represents YGB in official meetings and serves as a principal ambassador for the organization. Ikera is the face of YGB for parents, participants and other program partners, directing each of the performance ensembles. She also works on the development of YGB Onlline. Ikera has been a member of Young Gifted and Black for 16 years as a participant and a Director.

Alonzo Henderson is an alumni of YGB and YGB Gold, and a founding member of the Young Black Kings. He currently works as the Associate Director of the YGB Ensemble. Alonzo is also an emerging educator, working for several programs including as the Assistant Director of the King Makers of Oakland TFI Program. As an artist Alonzo is known as Zo1 an accomplished Producer, MC, song writer and brand manager who recently produced the latest Kingmakers of Oakland album Black Love. As an alumni Alonzo truly embodies the hopes and intentions of the Young Gifted and Black Program using his talents and eduction to move him forward while also giving back to the youth behind him.

Hodari B. Davis is the Artistic Director of Young Gifted and Black and the CIO of Edutainment for Equity.  Hodari is a founding member of the original YGB in Ithaca, New York and the co founder of YGB in Oakland and Berkeley. Hodari is a PhD Candidate in the School of Education at UC Davis. His research in part explores Afro Futuristic visions of Oakland. Hodari has taught Black Studies for over 30 years with an extensive knowledge of Black History. He hosts Mr. Davis Classroom a live public Black History experience for youth and adults. He has been involved with Young Gifted and Black for over 40 years. Hodari served as the National Program Director for Youth Speaks for over a decade including as the Executive Producer and Key Organizer of the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival. Hodari was an Executive Producer on two HBO specials, Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices in 2008 and 2010. His extensive experience as an educator and arts administrator has made him a leader in the field and a sought after speaker and pedagogue.  He has presented his work and pedagogy in countries around the world and has organized events in the most prestigious theaters in the United States including The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Apollo Theater, The SF Opera House and a host of others.  He produced the largest and most accomplished International Youth Poetry Festival in the world for over a decade.  He is also a co founder of the Life is Living Festival in Oakland and in cities around the United States. As a YGB Director he writes and curates the material performed by the groups and develops innovative online pedagogy for the website.

Candice "Antique" Davis is the CEO and founder of Edutainment for Equity.  She is a career educator who serves as the Executive Director of Young Gifted and Black.  As an arts administrator she supports the business and operations of YGB. She was a co-founder of the YGB Oakland program, and has worked to support YGB since 2009. Her contributions have been invaluable to the resilience of the program. She has been involved long enough to now have a child in the program. She works as the Director of "The Remember Project" and coordinated the artistic and service activities of YGB youth on their journeys to Africa.  Candice is an accomplished and award winning artist as well performing as “Candice Antique” at events locally and around the world.  Her music is a blend of traditional African American Soul with Pan African Afro Beat Dance music.  She is also the lead singer and songwriter for the accappella beat box hip hop band “Antique Naked Soul”. Candice’s experiences as an educator, artist, youth development professional and business owner have sustained YGB over the years.