Qi Up Academy was born out of profound loss and an enduring brotherhood. Dr. Dan started this academy to honor the life, legacy, and aspirations of his Kung Fu brother of 10 years, Stephen "Baba Zumbi" Gaines of the legendary Bay Area conscious hip-hop group, Zion-I.

     Zumbi coined the term "Qi Up" to represent the vital practice of taking time to raise your vibes and cultivate your natural energy (Qi). After his tragic and unjust death at Alta Bates Hospital—a murder for which there has still been no justice—I knew our community needed a space to process, breathe, and heal. That is why Qi Up Academy provides free Taiji Qigong classes to the Oakland Bay Area every single week.

Click here to watch on YouTube.

Why Donate?

     We refuse to let financial limitations prevent our community from accessing these vital self-care tools. But to keep these classes free, we need your help.

Your donation directly supports this mission. When you give, you:

Honor a Legacy
Keep the spirit and philosophy of Baba Zumbi alive through community action. Celebrate his teachings by centering practice, storytelling, mentorship, and service that pass wisdom across generations.

Fund Radical Healing 
Ensure that high-quality Taiji Qigong remains 100% free and accessible to the Oakland Bay Area. Prioritize sustainable funding, donations, and partnerships that protect open classes, sliding-scale offerings, and outreach to under-resourced neighborhoods.

Raise the Collective Vibe
Provide safe, welcoming spaces where people can breathe, process, and build resilience in the face of systemic trauma. Create consistent opportunities for guided practice, peer support, trauma-informed facilitation, and community gatherings that nourish body, mind, and spirit.

Impact Vision
A resilient Oakland Bay Area where Baba Zumbi’s legacy inspires ongoing collective healing: accessible movement and breath practices reduce stress and pain, strengthen social bonds, and empower communities to resist and transform systemic trauma.

Key Actions

• Community-led Classes: Maintain regular free Taiji Qigong sessions taught by trained community instructors, with mentorship pathways for new teachers.

• Sustainable Funding: Launch an ongoing funding strategy combining grassroots donations, grants, benefit events, and ethical partnerships to cover instructor stipends, venue costs, and outreach.

• Outreach & Access: Offer classes in multiple neighborhoods, at parks, community centers, and online; provide materials in multiple languages and ensure ADA accessibility.

• Trauma-Informed Facilitation: Train instructors in trauma-sensitive approaches to create emotionally safe environments that honor lived experience.

• Intergenerational Mentorship: Host storytelling circles, apprentice programs, and memorial events that keep Baba Zumbi’s philosophy living and evolving.

• Community Care Network: Build a directory of supportive services (mental health, legal aid, housing support) to connect participants with resources addressing systemic harms.

• Measurement & Accountability: Track participation, demographic reach, participant feedback, and community impact; publish transparent reports and invite community governance.

• Cultural Stewardship: Protect the integrity of Taiji Qigong practice through ethical practices, appropriate attribution, and respect for cultural origins, while allowing grassroots adaptation.

Are funds tight? No problem!

To help in other ways, please leave us a review on Google by clicking here, and follow Qi Up Academy on YouTube by clicking the link here!