January 2026
For Immediate Release
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA – Kwenu (d/b/a Know Well LLC), the life-skills education platform redefining how young people prepare for adulthood, announced a new phase of institutional discussions with public secondary and higher-education partners across Contra Costa County, centered on public safety education, bias-aware leadership development, and the expansion of project-based after-school programming.
Kwenu confirms active talks with the following institutions:
- Deer Valley High School in Antioch, California, led by Principal Robert Bowers
- Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, California, including Financial Aid leader Ivan Urrutia
- Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, including Akeem Ajani (PUMA / Umoja Center) and Marina Varela (Veterans Resource Center)
At each level, discussions focused on three shared priorities that Kwenu believes are foundational to long-term student success and community stability:
- Public Safety and Civic Literacy
- Law Enforcement, Explicit and Implicit Bias Awareness
- Funding and Scaling Project-Based After-School Programs
“These conversations are grounded in real systems, not theory,” a Kwenu representative stated. “Students are navigating public safety structures, institutional decision-making, and economic realities every day. Education has to prepare them for that reality with clarity, confidence, and practical skills.”
Institutional Scale and Student Impact
The institutions engaged in these talks collectively represent tens of thousands of students and educators across the East Bay.
- Deer Valley High School reports approximately 1,804 students, supported by 83.4 full-time equivalent teaching positions, resulting in a staff-to-student ratio of roughly 1 educator per 22 students. The most recently reported four-year graduation rate is approximately 90%, reflecting steady improvement in student outcomes.
- Los Medanos College reports a Fall 2024 headcount of 8,663 students, supported by approximately 947 faculty and staff members across instructional and administrative roles. This equates to roughly 1 staff member per 9 students, highlighting the operational scale required to support open-access higher education.
- Diablo Valley College serves one of the largest student populations in the Contra Costa Community College District. Publicly available figures indicate more than 14,000 undergraduate students, supported by a broad instructional workforce, with reported student-to-faculty ratios in the mid-20s to 1. While graduation and completion metrics vary by cohort and pathway, the institution is widely recognized for strong transfer outcomes to four-year universities.
Public Safety and Community Infrastructure Context
Kwenu emphasized that education outcomes are inseparable from the public systems surrounding students.
In Antioch, California, the Antioch Police Department lists an authorized sworn force of 115 officers, serving a rapidly growing population. Antioch also contains multiple licensed general acute care hospitals, including Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center and Sutter Delta Medical Center, anchoring healthcare access for the surrounding region.
In Berkeley, California, the city is home to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (Alta Bates Campus), a major general acute care hospital serving the East Bay, reinforcing the intersection of education, public safety, and healthcare infrastructure in student communities.
“Public safety literacy isn’t about policing alone,” Kwenu noted. “It’s about understanding systems, accountability, and how communities allocate resources. Students deserve that context early.”
Workforce Pathways and Biotech Mentorship
As part of its broader workforce readiness strategy, Kwenu is also advancing mentorship conversations with industry partners in South San Francisco, one of the world’s most concentrated biotech hubs.
According to the City of South San Francisco, the region is home to over 250 biotechnology companies, with the modern cluster historically anchored by Genentech, the city’s first major biotech employer. Kwenu views this ecosystem as a critical opportunity to connect students to real-world mentors in science, technology, and applied research.
“Project-based learning only works when students can see the end of the road,” Kwenu stated. “Mentorship bridges that gap.”
Looking Ahead
Kwenu expects these discussions to progress toward pilot programs and implementation planning in the coming months, with a focus on measurable outcomes, student engagement, and scalable funding models that support after-school and experiential learning initiatives.
Additional updates will be released as partnerships formalize.
About Kwenu
Kwenu (d/b/a Know Well LLC) is an education platform dedicated to bridging the gap between adolescence and adulthood through life-skills education, project-based learning, and professional mentorship. Kwenu partners with students, institutions, businesses, and communities to equip the next generation with practical competencies, civic awareness, and economic confidence.
For more information, visit igbokwenu.io or contact 510-969-6383.