A Sista's Touch
A Sista's Touch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 in Oakland that runs culturally responsive youth programs for African American girls, including Puberty to Queen (ages 8-12), Loving Me First (grades 9-12), and the We Run Oakland annual 5K, funded by donations, sponsorships, and event registration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersOakland Mills, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What A Sista's Touch does
A Sista's Touch (AST) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation founded in January 2017 by Dr. Shelitha Campbell and Dr. Jaliza Johnson and headquartered in Oakland. The organization delivers culturally responsive programming intended to affirm, inspire, and empower African American women and girls across the Oakland and greater Bay Area. Its portfolio centers on three program lines: A Sista's Always Prepared: Puberty to Queen, a free edification program for girls ages 8-12 that has run at least 15 cohorts and is hosted at partner venues including Kaiser Oakland and Hayward High School; Loving Me First, an inaugural 2026 summit for high school girls in grades 9-12 built on a T.E.A.C.H. framework covering Technology, Education & Entrepreneurship, Awareness & Advocacy, Collaboration, and Health; and We Run Oakland, an annual charity 5K run/walk held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater, now in its ninth iteration in 2026, focused on human trafficking awareness. A youth leadership sub-program, WROYAL (We Run Oakland Youth Ambassador Leaders), extends the flagship event into grades 9-12 leadership development.
The business model is a donation- and sponsorship-funded nonprofit operating with no disclosed paid tuition and no investor equity. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (collected via PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, and Zelle), corporate sponsorships and in-kind contributions, event registration fees ($20 early-bird per We Run Oakland participant), and nonprofit grant funding. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: awareness and participant acquisition flow through social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter/X), word-of-mouth, volunteer networks, and an embedded partner ecosystem spanning Kaiser Oakland, Samuel Merritt University, CSUEB, Hayward High School, Oakland Police Department, Alameda County Sheriff and Probation Departments, and grassroots anti-trafficking organizations including Ruby'S Place, Love Never Fails, Love Is Resistance, East Oakland Youth Development, and C.A.R.E. Sisters. Recurring co-host DO (DopeOnly Marketing) provides outsourced marketing capacity for We Run Oakland. Operations run lean with no disclosed full-time headcount; the work is delivered through founder leadership, a board of directors (Treasurer, Secretary, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Director of Volunteer Services, Director of Public Relations), and volunteer labor. The underlying technology footprint is minimal and undifferentiated — a Wix-hosted website, RunSignUp for event registration, Google Forms for volunteer sign-ups, and consumer P2P payment rails — with no proprietary technology, app, or AI/ML capability disclosed.
A Sista's Touch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Sista's Touch
- Legal name
- A Sista's Touch
- Website
- https://asistastouch.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- A Sista's Touch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 in Oakland that runs culturally responsive youth programs for African American girls, including Puberty to Queen (ages 8-12), Loving Me First (grades 9-12), and the We Run Oakland annual 5K, funded by donations, sponsorships, and event registration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Sista's Touch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth and Community Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
Keywords
Where A Sista's Touch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland Mills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Sista's Touch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission to cultivate Black Excellence through programs for adolescent girls. Donations accepted via PayPal, CashApp, Venmo, and Zelle.
- Corporate Contributions: Sponsorships and donations from businesses supporting We Run Oakland, Puberty to Queen, and other programs. Includes monetary, in-kind, media, and swag sponsorships.
- Event Registration: Registration fees for We Run Oakland annual 5K event. Registration fee of $20 per participant for early bird registration through December 23, 2024.
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Funding: As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation, programs are primarily supported by individual and corporate contributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | We Run Oakland 5K Registration |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Puberty to Queen Program |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Loving Me First Summit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
A Sista's Touch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Sista's Touch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation that delivers free culturally responsive youth programs, edification workshops, and community events for African American women and girls in the Oakland/Bay Area. Its core offerings include the Puberty to Queen edification program for girls ages 8-12, the Loving Me First empowerment program for high school girls in grades 9-12, and the We Run Oakland annual charity 5K focused on human trafficking awareness. Programs are delivered in partnership with schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
Product overview
A Sista's Touch is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of culturally responsive programs focused on empowering African American women and girls. The core offerings include Puberty to Queen (an edification program for girls ages 8-12), Loving Me First (a high school extension program for grades 9-12), and We Run Oakland (an annual 5K charity event raising human trafficking awareness). These programs work together to edify, elevate, and celebrate excellence through prevention, empowerment, education, advocacy, and celebration, with the WROYAL youth leadership program providing additional engagement for high school students.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- A Sista's Always Prepared: Puberty to Queen: An edification session program for young Sistas ages 8 to 12 designed to intersect the perception of preparation and cultivation of confidence with the path of puberty.
- Loving Me First
- We Run Oakland
Products and services
- Puberty to Queen A free edification program designed to help young African American girls ages 8-12 positively embrace the transition into womanhood while cultivating confidence, hygiene preparedness, and body awareness through education sessions.
- Loving Me First A free one-day empowerment summit for high school girls in grades 9-12 navigating identity, independence, education, relationships, and future planning through the T.E.A.C.H. framework (Technology, Education & Entrepreneurship, Awareness & Advocacy, Collaboration, and Health).
- We Run Oakland An annual family and community charity 5K run/walk event held at Lake Merritt Amphitheater that raises human trafficking awareness and bridges the gap between community, resources, and self-care through partner resource fairs.
- A Sista's Workshops A workshop umbrella program encompassing Puberty to Queen and Loving Me First, providing fundamental resources to edify, elevate, and celebrate excellence among African American women and girls.
- WROYAL (We Run Oakland Youth Ambassador Leaders) A youth leadership and prevention program within We Run Oakland for high school students in grades 9-12 that teaches youth to recognize unsafe situations, organize community events, and build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
Quantifiable outcome
- Participants demonstrate increased confidence level in talking about puberty
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use A Sista's Touch
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
A Sista's Touch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
A Sista's Touch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DO (DopeOnly Marketing)coreCo-host for We Run Oakland annual events. DO and A Sista's Touch partner annually to host the charity 5K, combining AST's mission focus with DO's marketing expertise to maximize community engagement and event impact.
- Kaiser OaklandcoreHealthcare provider hosting Puberty to Queen edification sessions at their Oakland facility. Kaiser Oakland physicians including Dr. Simms-Mackey and Dr. McBride have served as speakers for the programs, providing medical expertise and credibility.
- Alameda County Sheriff's OfficeminorCommunity partner for We Run Oakland events, providing support for human trafficking awareness initiatives. Listed as a community partner supporting prevention efforts.
- Oakland Police DepartmentminorCommunity partner for We Run Oakland, collaborating on human trafficking prevention and awareness efforts in the Oakland community.
- Ruby'S PlaceminorCommunity partner participating in We Run Oakland resource fair, providing information about trafficking prevention and supportive resources for participants.
- Alameda County Probation DepartmentminorCommunity partner for events, with team members participating in human trafficking awareness activities and events.
- Lambda Chi Chi Beta Chapter at Samuel Merritt UniversitycorePremier Event Partner for the 2025 C.A.R.E. Symposium, supporting shared commitment to health equity and justice. Chapter serves as key supporter for anti-trafficking movement programming.
- You Are More Than InccoreFeatured keynote speaker organization at Loving Me First Summit. Founder Ashante Taylorcox is a nationally recognized expert in racial and gender justice with 11 years working with marginalized survivors of trafficking.
- Girl X LabminorCommunity partner organization. AST encourages community members to take advantage of opportunities shared by Girl X Lab, indicating collaborative relationship for youth programming.
- Hayward High SchoolcoreHost venue for Puberty to Queen Cohort 15 with Dr. Ennis at the school's STEAM Building, enabling program delivery to students in the Hayward area.
- California State University East Bay (CSUEB)coreHost venue for Loving Me First Summit at North Union Room 311, providing accessible location for high school girls to attend the empowerment event.
- Sports Basement BerkeleyminorEvent venue partner for We Run Oakland swag bag pickup, providing Berkeley location for participant check-in prior to the Oakland event.
- East Oakland Youth DevelopmentminorCommunity partner participating in We Run Oakland events and supporting youth development and trafficking prevention efforts.
- Love Never FailsminorCommunity partner providing resources and support at We Run Oakland events, focusing on trafficking prevention and survivor support.
- Love Is ResistanceminorCommunity partner participating in resource fairs and awareness events, contributing to the collaborative anti-trafficking ecosystem.
- C.A.R.E. SistersminorCommunity partner organization supporting anti-trafficking initiatives and events.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A Sista's Touch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Black Girls Rock!: National nonprofit dedicated to the empowerment and uplift of Black girls and young women through mentorship, education, and media. Most directly comparable in mission focus on affirming Black girls' identity and potential.
- Sadie Nash Leadership Project: Nonprofit building leadership skills in young women and gender-expansive youth through cohort-based programming. Comparable age-tiered leadership development model for adolescent girls.
- MISS Foundation: Community-rooted nonprofit serving underserved youth and families through education, mentorship, and empowerment programming. Comparable community-delivery model focused on youth development.
- Girl Trek: Community-based nonprofit mobilizing Black women and girls through walking and civic engagement for health and justice. Comparable model combining physical activity events (like We Run Oakland) with Black women/girl empowerment.
- The Loveland Foundation: Nonprofit providing mental health support and wellness resources specifically to Black women and girls. Closely aligned culturally-affirming, identity-centered programming model.
Broad incumbents
- Girls Inc. National nonprofit delivering age-tiered programming for girls from elementary through high school, including puberty and life-skills education. Operates a broader girls-serving mission with similar cohort-based delivery model.
- National Black Child Development Institute: National organization focused on the healthy development of Black children and youth through education, advocacy, and community programming. Operates at a broader developmental scale with similar culturally-rooted mission.
- Polaris Project: National anti-human-trafficking organization operating the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline and survivor services. Direct mission overlap on the human trafficking prevention side of A Sista's Touch programming.
- The Gathering for Justice: National nonprofit focused on juvenile justice and youth advocacy, particularly affecting communities of color. Overlaps with AST's anti-trafficking and youth empowerment mission at a policy and movement level.
Regional players
- Ruby's Place: Bay Area nonprofit providing services for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Listed as an AST community partner and operates in the same anti-trafficking ecosystem in the Oakland region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
A Sista's Touch social profiles
Digital presenceA Sista's Touch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Sista's Touch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
A Sista's Touch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Sista's Touch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A Sista's Touch
What does A Sista's Touch do?
A Sista's Touch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation that delivers free culturally responsive youth programs, edification workshops, and community events for African American women and girls in the Oakland/Bay Area. Its core offerings include the Puberty to Queen edification program for girls ages 8-12, the Loving Me First empowerment program for high school girls in grades 9-12, and the We Run Oakland annual charity 5K focused on human trafficking awareness. Programs are delivered in partnership with schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
Is A Sista's Touch a public or private company?
A Sista's Touch is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was A Sista's Touch founded?
A Sista's Touch was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is A Sista's Touch based?
A Sista's Touch is headquartered in Oakland Mills, United States, in the North America region.
How does A Sista's Touch make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Contributions, event Registration and 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Funding.
Who are A Sista's Touch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Black Girls Rock!, Sadie Nash Leadership Project, MISS Foundation, Girl Trek and The Loveland Foundation. Broad incumbents are Girls Inc., National Black Child Development Institute, Polaris Project and The Gathering for Justice. Ruby's Place is listed as a regional player.
Does A Sista's Touch have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Sista's Touch.
What industry is A Sista's Touch in?
A Sista's Touch's product category is Youth and Community Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.