Olaywa K Austin (She/They)
Founder & CEO
Olaywa K Austin is a retired U.S. Air Force Medical Technician, Small Business Owner and Cultural Strategist. She is an Oakland native with a demonstrated history of cultivating environments and supporting platforms that are dedicated to improving the lives of Black people, Youth and LGBTQ communities through cultural education, design and social innovation.
Olaywa served a Tour of Duty during Desert Storm/Desert Shield; after returning to California, became a Case Manager for Mather Community Campus Employment and Rehabilitative Transitional Housing Program. Olaywa incorporated Creative Arts programming and Career Development in her case management work with foster youth, families with children and military veterans. Mather was awarded the Best Transitional Housing Program in the Nation, by President Bill Clinton. Mingling the Arts with their work in marginalized communities awakened Olaywa’s entrepreneurial spirit. In 2016 Olaywa founded TRiBE Oakland Performing Arts Incubator in West Oakland. TRiBE Oakland was quickly embraced by the community, becoming a safe space for gathering and local artistic expression. TRiBE Oakland was nominated for an Oakland Indie Award its first year in business. Olaywa has worked as an Independent Consultant with AIDS Housing Alliance; Oakland Pride; Rochester Black Pride, Washington Neighborhood Center - Sacramento, and GROW Organization SF Bay Area.