The Kiru Family · Oakland, CA
The future is bright.
A family of organizations nurturing children and the adults who raise them.
The meaning behind the name
Kiru comes from Nkiruka.
In Igbo, Nkiruka means "the future is bright" or "the best is yet to come." It's my daughter's name, and it is the promise behind everything we build. Every Kiru organization meets families at a different stage of life, and every one of them points toward the same horizon.
Our family of organizations
Meet the family.
Children can't thrive in isolation. They thrive when their learning, their sense of self, and the adults who love them are all supported. That's what Kiru is built to do.
Kiru Parent Education
For families, schools & organizations
Coaching, workshops, and keynotes on child development and connected caregiving. For parents, schools, early learning programs, and employee resource groups.
Brown Girls Society
For Black girls ages 7–18
A sisterhood that grows with Brown Girls from age 7 to 18, nurturing brilliance, leadership, and belonging at every stage.
Visit Brown Girls SocietyKiru Montessori
For children, birth through kindergarten
Authentic AMI Montessori for the earliest years, in a classroom where every child is honored for who they are.
Join the interest listBright Future Media
Books · Music · Video · @MaryPoppin.ed
Children's books, music, and educational content rooted in culture and joy. Our first picture books are in the works.
Every stage of childhood
From the first classroom to the day they leave home.
Ages 0–6
Kiru Montessori
A strong, joyful foundation in language, mathematics, and independence.
Ages 7–18
Brown Girls Society
A sisterhood that walks with her through four phases into young womanhood.
The grown-ups
Kiru Parent Education
Because whole children are raised by supported adults.
All ages
Bright Future Media
Stories, songs, and lessons that let children see themselves.
Meet our founder
Rynae Okafor
Rynae is an AMI-trained Montessori educator, parent coach, and mother of two. She holds a B.S. in Developmental Psychology and a Master's in Early Education, and has spent more than a decade working alongside children and families.
She has spoken at dozens of conferences nationwide on child development and connected caregiving, and brings that work to schools, early learning programs, and workplace parent groups. She founded Kiru so families can find support at every stage of childhood, from the earliest years to young adulthood.
Rynae
Founder, Kiru
Book Rynae to speakKiru helped me connect with my child in ways I never knew possible. Wish I would have known about this 5 years ago!
Soniyah B. · Mother of two
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