Nana Kra Kwamina II, aka Dr. Kwa David Whitaker, Esq., born Thursday November 18, 1943, is a dedicated father and cultural advocate.  

In 1981 he simultaneously received his Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Case Western Reserve University with a specialization in Educational Psychology and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.  Dr. Whitaker has been a career educator and cultural advocate for over 4 decades in his unrelenting quest to aid the development of urban students, families and communities.

Dr. Whitaker has served as a high school mathematics teacher, graduate school program coordinator, school board member, and co-counsel in several desegregation litigation cases.  He maintained small family therapy and legal practices throughout the 80's and 90's.  His 25-year old ‘rites of passage’ transformation process for 25-30 Kent State University freshmen is the recipient of  an Innovative Programming Award, and, the sister program is in its 10th year at West Virginia University.

Since 2004 Dr. Whitaker has been involved with his daughters, colleagues and 'rites' Initiates in the development of several ‘rites-based’ urban charter schools that have received favorable state ratings that continue to grow and expand.  As part of his Akan Chieftaincy, and, as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Atonkwa Development Company (ADC), Nana Whitaker has made over 50 research/development trips to Ghana to oversee development projects and expand his knowledge-base of  ‘rites of passage’ concepts, principles and practices that form the educational foundation of the urban charter schools.  Nana is confident that the behaviors, attitudes and learning curves will show spontaneous and dramatic improvement when given the opportunity to experience the full benefit of the African cultural-spiritual principles that enabled our ancestors to lay the foundations for civilization and make significant contributions for the benefit of humanity, throughout the millennia. 

In addition to helping expand charter schools offerings, improving Atonkwa’s infrastructure, health and education, and numerous civic commitments, at home and abroad, Nana is currently working on several books to follow his publications, Rites of Passage: A Journey of Transformation and  Why I Became An African Chief.  These include a sequel to David Walker’s Appeal, What Traditional Governance Can Offer African Americans, and Reflections In A Black Man’s Transformation.