NIA Endowed Scholarship for Students of Color
Purpose of NIA
NIA is the Swahili word meaning “purpose.” NIA encourages us to look within ourselves and set goals that are beneficial to the community. It represents our hopes and dreams for the future of our children and future of Head-Royce. As a group of parents, faculty and administrators, we collectively strive to foster community spirit within Head-Royce while building partnerships with community groups, individuals and businesses.
Legacy of NIA
NIA was established in 2003 when four Head-Royce mothers met to discuss how they could contribute and support the three tenets of the Head-Royce mission — scholarship, diversity and citizenship. It was decided to host an annual speakers event that would be open to the Head-Royce and greater Oakland community. These founding members also had an equally important goal to establish an endowed scholarship to support the tuition for students of color admitted to Head-Royce School.
NIA in the Head-Royce Community
Funding Structure
Established by the grassroots fundraising and personal financial contributions of the NIA founders, The NIA Scholarship Endowment Fund has raised over $200,000 and ensures an admitted student of color will have financial backing throughout their HR academic career, regardless of any socio economic limitations.
Speaker of Color Series
The annual NIA Speaker of Color Series takes place during the month of February in celebration of Black History Month. This highly anticipated, far reaching event allows HR to partner with the community by bringing in an influential speaker to touch on relevant issues impacting students of color and the community at large. Through the NIA Speaker Series, we have addressed various topics including race, class, politics, resiliency, human kindness, acceptance and incorporated a wide variety of industries including engineering, medicine, biotech, sports, politics, arts and education.
Past NIA Speaker Events
2018 - Courageous Conversation with Glenn Singleton
2017 - "Tech Talk: Unlocking the Color Code" - featured a panel of experts who discussed breaking barriers in the technology industry.
2016 - "Martin & Music" - music and the spoken word of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2015 - "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" - an intimate evening with Roberta Flack
2014 – “Rubbing Off” Allison Briscoe-Smith, Ph.D.
2013 – An Evening with Anthony Robles, a three-time all-American wrestler born with only one leg
2012 – "Instilling Hope in Our Children" featuring Sarah O'Neal Rush, great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington
2011 – "A Tale of Acceptance" featuring Cheryl Kilodavis, author of My Princess Boy, and Monte Poole, sports reporter for the Oakland Tribune
2010 – "Diversity in the 21st Century" with Dr. Harry Edwards
2009 – Crystal Hayling, President/CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation
2007 – "Resiliency of the Human Spirit" – Mark Mathabane
2006 – "Celebrating the Arts" – Brian Copeland
2005 – "Trailblazers" – A Panel of Extraordinary Pioneers
• Thelton E. Henderson, United States District Judge
• Lourdes Portillo, a Chicano writer, director, and producer
• General Bernard P. Randolph, Senior Consultant for Space Systems Engineering
• Aqeela Sherrils, Executive Director of Community Self-Determination Institute
2004 – "50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education" - Cheryl Brown Henderson
2003 – The Little Rock Nine, featuring Melba Patillo Beale and Dr. Terrance Roberts
