Charles Cole, III
Founder & Executive Director, Energy Convertors
Energy Convertors (EC) supports high school students across Oakland who are marginalized by economic status, racial stereotyping, neighborhood violence, and/or gender. EC believes in taking negative energy and turning it into a positive, and their Student Fellowship program teaches marginalized youth to tell their authentic stories in a solutions-oriented way, while building their agency as well as literacy and advocacy skills.
Charles Cole, III, is the founder of Energy Convertors, where he aims to better the community where he grew up and specifically to give Black males the support that he lacked. Prior to launching EC, Charles was a Community Engagement Specialist for the Oakland Unified School District, leading district-wide initiatives for the Superintendent and working with the community to build capacity for meaningful change in their schools. He has also served as a social worker, a Director at Teach For America, the Vice Chair of the California Young Democrats Black Caucus, and served as a director for various youth-focused non-profits.