A Historically Black College In California?

October 1, 2026

A task force led by Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is working to establish a historically Black college or university (HBCU) campus in the city, which would be only the second such institution on the West Coast. The initiative aims to address the brain drain of Black students who travel to the Southeast for HBCU education and rarely return to California, thereby strengthening the local workforce and stabilizing Oakland's declining Black population. The volunteer group has completed a feasibility study identifying key industry sectors and is now working to finalize interested schools and potential campus locations, including satellite campuses, multi-university hubs, or partnerships with local community colleges.

Who is affected

Black students in California and Oakland who want culturally relevant higher education close to home
Oakland's Black community (which has declined from 40% to around 20% of the population)
California's workforce, which experiences brain drain when students leave for HBCUs in other states
Peralta Community Colleges District students who currently have limited pathways to HBCUs
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and the volunteer task force members
The Oakland Fund (fiscal sponsor)
Business, higher education, civic, and philanthropic communities in Oakland

What action is being taken

A volunteer task force is working to expand higher education offerings by bringing an HBCU to Oakland
The task force conducted a feasibility study this year to explore economic impacts and identify growth industries
The team is exploring various models including satellite campuses, hub centers, and partnerships with Peralta Community Colleges
The task force is touring potential locations including the former Holy Names University campus and downtown Oakland sites
The group held listening sessions with students last fall to gauge interest
Mayor Lee is tapping connections with HBCUs built during her time in Congress

Why it matters

This initiative addresses a critical gap in higher education access for Black students on the West Coast, where only one historically Black educational institution currently exists. An Oakland HBCU would allow California students to receive culturally affirming education without leaving the state, helping retain talent for the Bay Area's high-wage STEM careers and technology sectors. The project is particularly significant for Oakland's declining Black population, potentially providing stability and demonstrating commitment to the Black community amid ongoing gentrification, redlining, and systemic discrimination. Currently, despite existing transfer pathways to out-of-state HBCUs, only single-digit numbers of students utilize them annually, indicating substantial unmet demand for local options.

What's next

The task force plans to publish the results of the feasibility study in the next month
The task force will move to solidifying a list of interested schools
The team will settle on a specific location for the campus
Ongoing conversations with Howard University and other interested institutions will continue as timing and leadership situations stabilize

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint