2024 Community Journalism Academy

Alma Collins Dumas

Alma Collins Dumas is a current student at Bishop O’Dowd High School, co-captain of the Debate Team on campus, and an avid student in challenging courses. She loves doing research for her  classes and she has repeatedly been exposed to nonfiction writing for class and debate. She is passionate about current events and wants to take the global lens of current events to a local scale through Oakland Voices.   

Nikia Durgin

Nikia Durgin best known as Qing Qi, is a Rap Star, actor, comedian, full-time Laney College student, full-time mother, and lifetime creative. A decorated live performer, Nikia is creating art that challenges patriarchy, anti-blackness, and public policy while empowering others to feel confident and move their bodies. Nikia made her feature film debut in the 2023 award winning film “Donna and Ally” She makes exhaustion look glamorous.

MuHajir Boyle Hassan

MuHajir Boyle Hassan was born and raised in East Oakland (Seminary Area), and has lived in West Oakland, Alameda, and the East Coast. He identifies as Black American, and was raised Baptist and Muslim. He’s lost family and close friends to violence in Oakland. His commitment to Black empowerment led him to join the Black Organizing project. He wants to use journalism to advocate for human rights. MuHajir is passionate about martial arts.

Yasamin Hatefi

Yasamin Hatefi is a Sociology and Public Policy student at the University of California, Berkeley.  Originally a SoCal native, Yasamin has called the Bay Area home for the past three years and has her heart rooted in Oakland. Yasamin is excited to be a part of Oakland Voices and integrate the skills she’s learned within governmental relations into the world of journalism to uplift communities. 

Marian Johnson

Marian Johnson is a 60 year young legal assistant, mother, and grandmother. She is a native and longtime resident of Oakland, California. She is motivated to share her memories and experiences living in Oakland so those stories will not be forgotten. She is committed to finding and creating opportunities that will allow herself and others to share positive and enlightening stories about Oakland, its residents, culture, history and current events.

Sydney Lester

Sydney Lester is a New Jersey native. She is passionate about housing, community, and global advocacy. Sydney is a student at San Francisco State studying Broadcast Electronics Communication Arts and Communications and plans to use that to continue to advocate for others. Sydney is pursuing a fulfilling life of education and connection, finding ways to draw relationships and using communication to help others to the fullest. 

Moamar Rafe

Moamar was born in Egypt and has been very fond of journalism since he was young, because of his family ties to the industry. He and his brother created a 20-page magazine when he was 10. He continued to produce magazines when he was a student at Cairo University, and his magazine was on a wall of the Faculty. He hopes to be a part of solving Oakland’s problems, and Oakland becomes the best city.

Kwajo Opoku Ware

Kwajo is a second-generation Haitian living in Ghost Town. He was trained in the historical materialist analyses of the Black Panther Party, and delivers his writings through Pan-Afrikan and scientific socialist lenses. Kwajo is the head of a small, Oakland-based media house, The Black Male Journal, where he produces articles, reports, and short form video content centered on Black male wellness and justice advocacy.