Born and raised in the East Bay, between San Leandro and Oakland, Aiya is a poet, facilitator, and community organizer whose work is rooted in the belief that education is liberation, creativity is change, and strong neighborhoods are built when people invest in one another.

After spending several years away from the Bay Area, Aiya returned home with a vision to create an organization that reflected the communities that raised her. She founded THE NGHBRHOOD to help remove barriers to opportunity by creating free-to-low-cost spaces and programming where community members can learn, create, connect, and access the resources they need to thrive.

Today, THE NGHBRHOOD brings that vision to life through literacy initiatives, arts and cultural programming, educational workshops, and community events that strengthen neighborhoods and foster lasting community connection.