Cheza Nami Foundation

Cheza Nami is Swahili for "Come play with me." Cheza Nami Foundation, founded in 2011, is a California based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with headquarters in Pleasanton, California, whose mission is to promote cultural education and diversity awareness to learning institutions, corporations, and communities that focus on fostering a more congenial relationship among its members. Cheza Nami envisions a culturally diverse world where individuals of all ages can embrace the concept of global citizenship and understand the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. We aim to preserve and encourage the appreciation of African culture by inspiring and educating the American public about Africa’s extensive and unique attributes, regardless of their heritage of origin. We encourage diversity awareness through African culture and use art, dance, play, and movement to deliver a unique learning experience. We offer activities to community organizations and schools while addressing educational and social needs that help foster community building, global citizenship, and personal enrichment. 

With almost 10 years of successful programming experience, Cheza Nami has implemented drum and dance workshops, community drum circles, an annual cultural enrichment and diversity summer camp geared towards 6-8 grade students, an annual community festival, and multiple community engagement and enrichment programs. 

Collectively, Cheza Nami’s programs have kick started the Bay Area community’s global awareness and brought a heightened sense of self-expression and creative thought processes. The organization has an established presence in the Tri-Valley through its partnerships with local school districts and cultural organization and is considered a thought leader in cultural, diversity and global citizenship issues for public and private institutions alike. Cheza Nami's signature program is our Cultural Arts and Learning (CAL) Assembly program, which brings African music, dance, and facilitated discussions of diversity awareness and inclusion to schools in the K-12 Schools.

Cheza Nami has served over 90,000 people of all ages from around California since our founding in 2011. We have introduced our innovative programming across northern California, impacting communities in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, and Santa Cruz.