On Sunday, October 12, 2025, Jabali Academy hosted its highly anticipated 2nd annual fundraiser, “Empowering Minds,” at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The event, presented by Dr. Jon Carroll and Nkechi Okoro Carroll, with title sponsors Warner Bros, the Berlanti Family Foundation, and Abacus Financial, brought together educators, entertainers, and community leaders in support of Jabali Academy’s mission to open a school with a curriculum centered around Africa’s contributions to the world, which is also rooted in community-partnered education.
Jabali Academy honored WWE superstar and TV star Thaddeus Bullard and educator Dr. William Syms as trailblazers whose philanthropy has made huge impacts in their communities.
Attendees included: Insecure star, Yvonne Orji, All-American cast members, Daniel Ezra, Alexis Chikaeze, Lauryn Hardy, Alexis Fields, and Kareen Grimes. King of the Hill showrunner, Saladin Patterson, Government Cheese star, Simone Missick, Locked cast member, Gabrielle Walsh, All-American director and actress, Jes Macallan, and actor Nicholas Bishop.
Jabali Academy continues to be on target to raise $10 million with 100% participation of donations from this year’s attendees. The funds raised will be used directly to build a state-of-the-art K-8 institution in Inglewood, CA.
Jabali Academy (JA) is an independent Kindergarten through 8th-grade school located in Inglewood, CA. The Academy is dedicated to providing a comprehensive education that prepares students to be global citizens while affirming their cultural identities. The school’s curriculum is centered in the traditions of African communities throughout the world and is complemented by traditional academic disciplines.
“We are so thankful for the continued financial support of our village as we work towards opening Jabali Academy and providing an excellent opportunity for Afrocentrically-based education in the City of Inglewood,” said Dr. Jon Carroll, Founder and CEO, Jabali Academy. “The affirmation that we have received about what we are doing lets us know we are on the right path and we are offering something necessary for our future leaders.”
