You are joining a Community of Values
We invite the whole person into the space
and create a container for authenticity to emerge.
We believe in order to create a thriving and resilient community,
all voices and perspectives must be invited to join the conversation.
We thrive because we are diverse and multicultural.
We embody the African proverb:
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Our purpose is creating space for and fostering innovation through collaboration.
We believe a spark of inspiration has the ability to change the world.
We consciously create an atmosphere of inspiration.
We honor each other’s special gifts and differences
and keep sacred our physical environment.
We value the opportunity to give to our
community and receive from it.
We leverage each other’s strengths and resources
and gain the knowledge we need to effectively
contribute to making a better world.
Meet our Team
Imán Benét
Events Coordinator
Imán Benét is a local artist and Human Rights, activist. Her introduction to Impact hub Oakland started after an event she …
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Imán Benét
Events Coordinator
Imán Benét is a local artist and Human Rights, activist. Her introduction to Impact hub Oakland started after an event she held in the space for her for women's empowerment organization, HerPlaceIsIn. Her Place Is In.. is an organization dedicated to creating social action through art and storytelling with a focus on building community, celebrating diversity and elevating the feminine voice. After such a pleasant experience working with the IHO events team, Iman knew Impact Hub Oakland was the place to be. She quickly became a work trader and felt so inclined to the advancement of the IHO space that soon after, she decided that a more permanent position on the Impact Hub Oakland team was an opportunity she could not pass up.
As a proud Oakland native, Iman's focus is on bridging the gap between art, business, and sustainability in a way that can effectively activate and empower local communities. Iman is committed to sharing stories, advancing social education, and creating space for conscious conversation that leads to real change.
When not at the hub, you can find Iman painting, writing, learning something new, or exploring new ways to hone her creativity.
Michelle Antoinette Nelson
Director of Events and Community Engagement
Michelle Antoinette Nelson aka LOVE the poet is an artist, host, innovator, and Founder of Brown and Healthy, a global health…
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Michelle Antoinette Nelson
Director of Events and Community Engagement
Michelle Antoinette Nelson aka LOVE the poet is an artist, host, innovator, and Founder of Brown and Healthy, a global health and wellness initiative for people of color. She has appeared on CNN Live, CBS WJZ-TV, and Fox 45 television as a multifaceted career creative who has dedicated over a decade to her life’s work to innovating for social justice, authoring books, curating live entertainment events, and writing for publications such as Baltimore Magazine and Red Bulletin. She has moderated narrative changing and thought-provoking panels for Labs at Light City and Afropunk and has been featured in Forbes Magazine for her work. Michelle is also the Founder of BE FREE Fridays, the longest running monthly open mic in Baltimore, lead MC at Summit, and a co-curator and host of The Red Bull Amaphiko US Festival.
Eugene “Ace” Johnson
Events Production Manager
Eugene “Ace” Johnson is an Oakland native who has been intrigued with the power of words since his youth. He has since th…
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Eugene “Ace” Johnson
Events Production Manager
Eugene “Ace” Johnson is an Oakland native who has been intrigued with the power of words since his youth. He has since then developed his craft as a public speaker, spoken word artist and lyricists; creating
a career in teaching individuals the power in discovering, developing and deploying their natural gifts and talents to evoke positive change in the world. Ace Johnson is the founder of Oakland based 501c3 Non
Profit, iVisionary Academy and has developed a variety of curriculum that use the creative arts to teach leadership development and life skills to youth in under-served communities. Ace is passionate about
holistic urban community development that is multi-generational and has developed several programs dedicated to seeing people live out their full potential within these communities. The iVa Talent Tour, The Cre8ive Genius, and The #BetterTogether BLOC Party, just to name a few. Lean more about these programs and how to get involved at
www.iVisionary.Academy
Ayana Ivery
Digital Marketing and Communications Manager
Ayana Dionne Ivery is a Graphic Designer and has been creating multi-media art since 2003, professionally since 2005. She has…
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Ayana Ivery
Digital Marketing and Communications Manager
Ayana Dionne Ivery is a Graphic Designer and has been creating multi-media art since 2003, professionally since 2005. She has been active in the community of Oakland for many years, from coordinating events and social media for the artist collective the Black Woman is God and Breaking the Silence, Townhall for Women and Girls of Color.
Born in Detroit Michigan, Ayana Ivery knew at a young age that she loved design and creating beautiful information. Living in Southern France, the Denver Rockies and the Silicon Valley have influenced her decision to reside in the Bay Area of California.
Her background studies include graphic design, journalism, international business, marketing and fashion design. Ayana is also fluent in Southern French.
Always approaching life with a vibrant color palette, Ayana Ivery sees life in beautiful hues.
David Jackson
Interim CEO
David Jackson is an Oakland native with a passion for social entrepreneurship and social justice. David has been a lifelong e…
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David Jackson
Interim CEO
David Jackson is an Oakland native with a passion for social entrepreneurship and social justice. David has been a lifelong entrepreneur, starting his first business at age nine (a lucrative lemonade stand), and ultimately owning and managing a group of seven independent bookstores for a decade.
He transitioned into nonprofit management after acting as a business development consultant for faith-based nonprofits, to serve as the Director of City Team, a long-standing Oakland nonprofit. There he focused on helping the local community facing homelessness, food insecurity, and drug and alcohol addiction. His early commitment to overcoming challenges led him to believe that although times may be tough, there is always an opportunity to bear fruit.
In his work, Jackson has always maintained a bird’s eye view of the negative social and economic impacts facing children, families and the displaced. “I sought vigorously to implement programs with youth, the homeless, and marginalized groups in Oakland. My goal was to take the big picture and shift these folks away from the systematic downward spiral.”
With over twenty years of experience in entrepreneurship, business development, fundraising, management, and nonprofits, David is excited to serve as the Managing Director of Impact Hub Oakland, to continue the advancement of an entrepreneurial community and co-working space that creates solutions that work for all.
Meet our Founders
Konda Mason
Co-Founder
Konda Mason is the Co-Founder and CEO of Impact Hub Oakland, a beautiful inspiring co-working space that supports and connect…
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Konda Mason
Co-Founder
Konda Mason is the Co-Founder and CEO of Impact Hub Oakland, a beautiful inspiring co-working space that supports and connects socially engaged change makers and social entrepreneurs in creating community and acquiring the skills they need to bring their projects to life as they create a better world. She is a co-creator and co-facilitator of The Well Being In Business Lab – Oakland, a project of business leaders deepening their commitment to inner transformation and using their business for more positive impact.
A die-hard activist and change maker, Konda has helped to stop a coal-fired power plant from being constructed in Borneo’s Coral Triangle. Through her former company Yoganics, she was the first to bring organic produce into mainstream supermarkets in Los Angeles. Konda also leads eco-tourism journeys into the world’s most pristine ecosystem, the rainforest of Ecuador, to wake people up to a more regenerative and conscious way to live on the planet.
Konda is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher and teaches retreats and daylongs at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She is presently in the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader program with Jack Kornfield and Sylvia Boorstein as her mentors.
She is a Certified Permaculture Designer, was an online host for a Thought Leader speaker series for the Pachamama Alliance, and has spoken on many panels and/or keynotes for Wisdom 2.0, SOCAP, Social Venture Network, Bioneers, Permaculture Convergence Conference, SF Green Festival, Living The New Economy conference and many more. She is also an accomplished filmmaker with an Academy Award nomination.
Konda sits on the Board of Directors of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Oakland Public Conservatory Academy of Music.
A human equity and sustainable ecology advocate and social entrepreneur, Konda’s work is driven by the vision of realizing in her lifetime a genuine just, regenerative and sustainable world.
Lisa Chacón, PhD, MS
Co-Founder
Lisa is the co-founder, co-director and COO of Impact Hub Oakland. She brings a wealth of experience to her role gained from …
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Lisa Chacón, PhD, MS
Co-Founder
Lisa is the co-founder, co-director and COO of Impact Hub Oakland. She brings a wealth of experience to her role gained from her career as an inventor, manager and new business strategist in a corporate research lab, and an innovation, sustainability and transformational change consultant. She holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, and a master’s degree in sustainability. She has a passion for system and culture change, and working with teams to unleash their genius and achieve extraordinary results.
Ashara Ekundayo
Co-Founder
Ashara is a cultural worker of the urban landscape and brings her whole self and more than 20 years of professional experienc…
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Ashara Ekundayo
Co-Founder
Ashara is a cultural worker of the urban landscape and brings her whole self and more than 20 years of professional experience into the social entrepreneurial movement. Through her company BluBlak Media Consulting, she has worked with local and national organizations to build capacity for increased community engagement through the uses of creative practice, exhibition, strategic communications design and project management. She is a non-profit professional, serial entrepreneur, and activist committed to social change, and has supported individuals and grassroots companies in the redesign of their brand strategy through permaculture principles and is an expert at negotiating collaborative space within the intersections of the public and private sector.
In 2009, Ashara was selected by the Ashoka Foundation and the City of Denver in the U.S. launch of the “Change Your City” Campaign as a Social Innovator “stimulating the green economy.” She has worked with indie media outlets such as FreeSpeech TV, GritTv KGNU radio, and Just Media, and has presented at international conferences including the World Social Forum, the Biennial of The Americas and SXSW.
She has held Fellowship positions with the U.S. Dept of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs and Green For All, and is currently a member of the “Future Soul Think Tank” at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Her passions for social media, technology, and civic hacking also find her writing STEAM Curriculum for BlackGirlsCode.com, and hosting a food Tumblr blog and in-person series called “Grits & Greens.”
Ashara is also the Curator for Omi Arts Gallery – a contemporary art space located inside Hub Oakland featuring one-person exhibitions, performances and lectures.
Edward West
Co-Founder
Edward is an entrepreneur and educator. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University, and an MBA from Presidi…
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Edward West
Co-Founder
Edward is an entrepreneur and educator. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University, and an MBA from Presidio Graduate School. In 2006, Edward co-founded Mission Motors, manufacturer of advanced electric powertrains for vehicle manufacturers and high performance electric motorcycles. In the four years after the founding of the company while he served as President, Mission grew to a staff of 35, raised two VC funding rounds and a PE round, and created multiple contracts with major vehicle manufacturers. He is currently teaching the Integrative Capstone class at Presidio Graduate School’s sustainability-focused MBA program where he brings broad and holistic perspectives to creating business ventures with the goal of large scale social, cultural, environmental and systemic change.
Kristin Hull
Co-Founder
Kristin is an educator, activist, entrepreneur and conscious investor. She began her career as a bilingual elementary school…
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Kristin Hull
Co-Founder
Kristin is an educator, activist, entrepreneur and conscious investor. She began her career as a bilingual elementary school teacher, and then co-founded a Charter school in Oakland (North Oakland Community Charter School) and served on the founding board of George Mark Children’s House, the first free-standing children’s hospice in the United States.
Interested in innovative solutions to leverage resources for social change, Kristin entered the space of impact investing while serving as a board member for various not-for-profit organizations and foundations. She serves on the board of directors for theMosaic Project, the Nicholson Foundation, Playworks and CAFWA.
Later, when her family sold their investing business, and started a foundation, she helped move the foundation assets to being 100% mission aligned. Since then, Kristin started the Nia Community Fund concentrating on conscious investing in Oakland. She is also a co-founder of Hub Oakland and serves as a peer coach urging friends and colleagues to investigate their holdings to ensure their investments are aligned with their personal and organizational values.
Kristin attended Tufts University where she earned her BA and teaching credentials. She holds an MA in Research in Bilingual Education from Stanford University and a PhD in Urban Education from UC Berkeley. She lives in Piedmont with her 2 boys and 4 chickens.
Zakiya Harris
Co-Founder
Zakiya is is a California native, who has been working as an artist, educator and activist for the past 10 years. She receive…
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Zakiya Harris
Co-Founder
Zakiya is is a California native, who has been working as an artist, educator and activist for the past 10 years. She received her B.A. in Political Science and History from Rutgers University and attended New College of Law in San Francisco before leaving to pursue her life long passion of teaching. She has taught elementary through collegiate level in a variety of public and private settings.
In 2003, she became the lead trainer at the DJ Project where she facilitated job training and entrepreneurship modules using the medium of hip-hop culture. In 2007, she Co-Founded Grind for the Green, an organization committed to moving young people of color from the margins to the epicenter of the environmental movement using hip-hop, art and culture. In 2008, she became the first African-American Regional Director of the San Francisco Green Festival, the largest sustainability event on the planet, where she served for two years.
Named one to watch by Grist.org, some of her achievements include receiving the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Future Leaders award, serving as a Fellow for Green For All under the direction of Van Jones and becoming a Bold Food Fellow. An accomplished public speaker, she has presented at Green Festivals, TEDx Denver, Toyota Motors Inc and the NAACP national Convention. Her work was recently featured in the October 2011 edition of Readers Digest. She is also an accomplished dancer, vocalist, actor and member of the west coast based neo folkloric ensemble Ase Dance Theater Collective.
Her highest honor in life is being a mother to her beautiful 6 year old daughter.
Ahmed Rahim
Co-Founder
Ahmed, Business & Finance Team is the CEO, co- founder and master blender behind Numi Organic Tea. Before starting the Numi b…
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Ahmed Rahim
Co-Founder
Ahmed, Business & Finance Team is the CEO, co- founder and master blender behind Numi Organic Tea. Before starting the Numi business in 1999 with his sister, Reem, Ahmed spent a decade living, working and traveling throughout Europe as a professional film maker and photographer. Calling home to Paris, London, the German Alps and eventually Prague, Ahmed helped create several teahouses in Prague in the mid-nineties. He became a partner in this enterprise while pursuing his artistic career and building his farm outside of Prague.
Ahmed is fluent in English, Arabic, French, German and Czech. He holds a B.A. in Psychology and Theatre from New York University, and has studied film and photography at various universities in New York, Paris and Prague. Ahmed currently sits on seven non-profit boards of directors and consults with more than a dozen for profit companies. He is currently studying architecture to create a sustainable future.
IMPACT HUB GLOBAL LOCATIONS
What started in 2005 as a gathering place for Impact pioneers in London has grown into a community of more than 7,000 professional members in 50+ Impact Hub locations worldwide. As an Impact Hub member, you gain access to each and every location worldwide. This growing community utilizes the power of entrepreneurship and collaboration to generate and advance innovative approaches social and environmental challenges at both local and global levels. The Impact Hub network is a global force for the new economy. We invite you to explore our network, from San Francisco to Singapore, Johannesburg to Madrid, and dozens of other cities across the globe.
Youth Hub Oakland
Impact Hub San Francisco
Impact Hub Los Angeles
Impact Hub London
Impact Hub Johannesburg
Impact Hub Singapore
