A’Kia Walker

Although A’Kia was raised in Stanislaus County, her perspective on this community has changed significantly since graduating college. She had the pleasure of receiving an athletic scholarship to compete on the CSU Stanislaus Cross Country and Track & Field teams, where she obtained a B.S. in Molecular and Microbial Biology, Class of 2020. As a first-generation college graduate, A’Kia wasn't entirely confident in mapping out her career pathway, making it to a 4-year university alone was a huge accomplishment for her. Post-graduation, she was granted the opportunity to co-found a nonprofit organization called the Stanislaus County Youth Empowerment Program. Founding this organization was a mission to develop a more visible, and equitable pipeline for minority youth and young adults to strategically map out their futures with the support of a strong network. A’Kia’s hope is that all youth and young adults can experience Stanislaus County as a place for growth, community, and opportunities as they pave the way for their future.

As a NextGen on Board Fellow, A’Kia is serving a two-year term on Stanislaus Equity Partners’ Board of Directors starting in August 2022.