Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is spearheading a new effort to expand higher‑education options in the city by attracting a historically Black college or university (HBCU). The initiative, organized as a fiscally sponsored project of the Oakland Fund, launched last year and is now conducting a feasibility study to gauge economic impact and identify growth industries.
Task force composition and goals
The volunteer task force includes Mayor Lee, business leaders, higher‑education officials, civic activists and philanthropists. Members such as Kim Thompson and Taína Knox say an Oakland HBCU could provide culturally affirming education while keeping talented Black students in‑state for high‑wage STEM careers in technology, entrepreneurship, life sciences, artificial intelligence, logistics and transportation.
Brain‑drain concerns
Thompson told The Oaklandside that many Black students travel east to attend HBCUs and often do not return, creating a “big brain drain” for California’s workforce. A local HBCU campus would give students a nearby, culturally relevant option and help retain talent for the Bay Area’s growing tech and biotech sectors.
Transfer pathway and scholarship data
California already offers a transfer pathway that guarantees admission to more than 30 HBCUs and includes a $5,000 scholarship, but uptake is low. According to the California Student Aid Commission, five students received the grant in 2024‑2025, ten in 2025‑2026, and five payments are pending for the current academic year.
Potential partners and sites
The task force is evaluating several models: a satellite campus for a single college, a hub that would allow multiple institutions to offer classes, or a partnership with the Peralta Community Colleges District to create a four‑year degree pathway. Possible locations include the former Holy Names University campus in the hills and sites in downtown Oakland, though no site has been finalized.
Past outreach and future steps
In 2022, Paul Quinn College of Dallas explored an Oakland campus, and in 2024 the task force attended the United Negro College Fund conference to gauge interest. Howard University visited the city for a site visit, but timing and leadership changes have delayed a decision.
Mayor Lee, who graduated from Mills College and has family members who attended HBCUs, says establishing an HBCU would help stabilize Oakland’s Black population, which has fallen from about 40% when she was elected to Congress to roughly 20% today. She argues the campus would signal continued commitment to the Black community amid gentrification and systemic discrimination.
The task force plans to release its feasibility study findings within the next month and will then compile a list of interested schools and a preferred location.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
