Episode 12: From Oakland, CA to Brown University to UCLA

Sonya Brook's story is nothing short of inspirational and extraordinary (despite what she may tell you). Get to know the woman whose story and roots began in Oakland, CA. Also known as "The Town," Oakland has a rich history in Black culture, giving rise to the Black Panther party and having helped spur the careers of rappers Too $hort, the late Tupac Shakur, R&B group En Vogue, and many more. While raising her children, Sonya was accepted to Ivy League institution, Brown University. As if that weren't enough, some years later she got accepted to her current Ph.D. program at the University of California, Los Angeles. While juggling all these responsibilities, she is still able to run two nonprofits that are each based out in the Bay Area and in Inglewood, CA. This is the story of Sonya Brooks.