FEATURED LEADERS
Our Featured Leaders are Early Childhood Community stakeholders who work to make Oakland smarter and stronger. They are parents/caregivers, providers, educators, and collaborators.
Rha Bowden, Room to Bloom Site Director (Lotus Bloom)
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Rha Bowden (Mr. Rha) brings creativity, heart, and deep community commitment to his role as Site Director at Lotus Bloom and as the Co-Chair of the OSSS Boys of Color Workgroup. A lifelong educator at heart, he is passionate about creating spaces where children and families feel seen, supported and connected.
Can you share a bit about your journey, what brought you into early childhood education and community leadership in Oakland?
I grew up in a household where women were educators. My mom was a teacher who later became a principal, so education was always around me. My own journey started in high school. I was very shy, but my advisor saw something in me and prodded me to join a summer program serving inner city kids. That experience changed me - I saw the impact it had on the kids I worked with, and on me. I went to college planning to be a mechanical engineer with a minor in math - I’m a nerd! - but I realized my heart was in art and working with young people. I’ve taught more than 50 enrichment classes, directed afterschool programs, worked on restorative justice in Oakland, and now I’ve been with Lotus Bloom going on six years.
How has your role as Lotus Bloom Site Director shaped your perspective on community-based support for families and young children?
The first time I stepped into the Lotus Bloom building, it felt like someone’s living room. I remember exhaling. And I saw families exhale too. There’s a sense of security and welcome - people know they are protected there. Families are showing up despite economic hardships, housing insecurity, food insecurity, and immigration threats, because these spaces provide support, connection, and community. As a father, I know how isolating parenting can be. One of the values of Lotus Bloom is to reduce that sense of isolation that parents and caregivers have. Our program isn’t just for babies, it’s for families. It reminds us that it takes a village. The love you see when children come in is a beautiful reminder of why this work is so important.
You served as a very joyful emcee for the Oakland Early Learning Symposium. What did it mean to you to hold that space for educators across the city?
It was an honor to be around professionals who are committed and dedicated to supporting our youth. When emceeing, I realized that these early childhood education professionals are all stars and light workers. They show up every day and bring light to our community, even when there’s darkness around us. Being able to help bring out that light and celebrate them felt really good. It was beautiful to be in a space that was so loving and supportive and I think I should do this again!
You’ve spoken about the lack of men in early childhood education. What do you think needs to change to recruit and retain more men of color in the field?
That’s a big question and I don’t know that I have the full answer. But it starts early by letting young people know this is a viable path. My presence in these spaces is one way of saying “You can be a Mr. Rha”. We also have to shift how our society sees “men’s work” and “women’s work”, which is a hard thing to dismantle. Many Black men have had difficult experiences in education, so the school/classroom don’t always feel welcoming. When boys see men of color in early learning spaces, it plants seeds. It shows them they belong here too.
What gives you hope right now in Oakland’s early learning landscape, and what message would you share with emerging leaders, especially young men who may be considering this field?
I’ve seen so many organizations step up to support families, especially in challenging times. This tells me the ecosystem here is healthy and strong, even when resources are thin. My message to Black men is: we need you, brother. It is such a joy and privilege to be in young people's lives during those critical years. Black men have soul, compassion, creativity, and wisdom to bestow to our youth. We connect with children in ways that others do not, and all youth need our presence.
Can you share a bit about your journey, what brought you into early childhood education and community leadership in Oakland?
I grew up in a household where women were educators. My mom was a teacher who later became a principal, so education was always around me. My own journey started in high school. I was very shy, but my advisor saw something in me and prodded me to join a summer program serving inner city kids. That experience changed me - I saw the impact it had on the kids I worked with, and on me. I went to college planning to be a mechanical engineer with a minor in math - I’m a nerd! - but I realized my heart was in art and working with young people. I’ve taught more than 50 enrichment classes, directed afterschool programs, worked on restorative justice in Oakland, and now I’ve been with Lotus Bloom going on six years.
How has your role as Lotus Bloom Site Director shaped your perspective on community-based support for families and young children?
The first time I stepped into the Lotus Bloom building, it felt like someone’s living room. I remember exhaling. And I saw families exhale too. There’s a sense of security and welcome - people know they are protected there. Families are showing up despite economic hardships, housing insecurity, food insecurity, and immigration threats, because these spaces provide support, connection, and community. As a father, I know how isolating parenting can be. One of the values of Lotus Bloom is to reduce that sense of isolation that parents and caregivers have. Our program isn’t just for babies, it’s for families. It reminds us that it takes a village. The love you see when children come in is a beautiful reminder of why this work is so important.
You served as a very joyful emcee for the Oakland Early Learning Symposium. What did it mean to you to hold that space for educators across the city?
It was an honor to be around professionals who are committed and dedicated to supporting our youth. When emceeing, I realized that these early childhood education professionals are all stars and light workers. They show up every day and bring light to our community, even when there’s darkness around us. Being able to help bring out that light and celebrate them felt really good. It was beautiful to be in a space that was so loving and supportive and I think I should do this again!
You’ve spoken about the lack of men in early childhood education. What do you think needs to change to recruit and retain more men of color in the field?
That’s a big question and I don’t know that I have the full answer. But it starts early by letting young people know this is a viable path. My presence in these spaces is one way of saying “You can be a Mr. Rha”. We also have to shift how our society sees “men’s work” and “women’s work”, which is a hard thing to dismantle. Many Black men have had difficult experiences in education, so the school/classroom don’t always feel welcoming. When boys see men of color in early learning spaces, it plants seeds. It shows them they belong here too.
What gives you hope right now in Oakland’s early learning landscape, and what message would you share with emerging leaders, especially young men who may be considering this field?
I’ve seen so many organizations step up to support families, especially in challenging times. This tells me the ecosystem here is healthy and strong, even when resources are thin. My message to Black men is: we need you, brother. It is such a joy and privilege to be in young people's lives during those critical years. Black men have soul, compassion, creativity, and wisdom to bestow to our youth. We connect with children in ways that others do not, and all youth need our presence.