Oakland task force explores bringing an HBCU to California

A task force is working to bring a historically Black college or university (HBCU) to Oakland, California, to expand local higher education options. Led by Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and a volunteer group of civic, business, and academic leaders, the initiative aims to provide culturally affirming education to students in the region.

Currently, the West Coast has only one such institution, the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. Task force member Kim Thompson noted that bringing an HBCU to Oakland could prevent a ‘brain drain,’ as students currently traveling east to enroll in HBCUs often do not return to California. This would allow more local students to access high-wage STEM careers within the Bay Area.

The Oakland HBCU initiative, a project of the Oakland Fund, has conducted a feasibility study to examine potential economic impacts and identify growth industries. The study is expected to highlight sectors such as technology, life sciences, and artificial intelligence.