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2024 in Review: 7 Questions for CAAASA

Serving as an informational resource to the California Department of Education (CDE), CAAASA makes recommendations on several of the department’s priorities, including curriculum and instruction, staff development, parent involvement, funding, and gender specific issues.

Published

1 year ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Dr. Adam Clark, president of the California Association of African American Administrators and Superintendents Association

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

The California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) is a group of educational leaders from across the state. The organization is committed to identifying critical issues in public education related to the performance of African American students and addressing them through education reform initiatives.

Its membership includes school superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors, and administrators. CAAASA has a long-standing history of hosting institutes, meetings, conferences, and various special events focused on education.

CAAASA has submitted testimony to the Speaker of the Assembly aimed at improving the status of African American males relative to their over-representation in the penal system and underrepresentation in the nation’s colleges and universities.

Additionally, CAAASA has worked in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) to sponsor events and programs that have been successful in addressing the needs of African American students.

This year, the organization sponsored a statewide conference in Sacramento titled, “Education is a Civil Right.”

Recently, California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Dr. Adam Clark, the President of CAAASA, about the organization’s successes, disappointments, lessons learned and future plans heading into the new year.

Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

What was your most important achievement in 2024 and why?

The most important achievement was organizing our statewide professional development summit to mark the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. We focused on research and strategies to improve education for African American and other students of color. Afterward, we partnered with the National Coalition of Educational Equity to host a convening in Washington, D.C., continuing our efforts to drive progress.

How did your leadership and investments improve the lives of Black Californians?

We launched two new Leadership Academies for aspiring administrators and superintendents. These programs help build a pipeline of future administrators committed to improving education for all students, especially students of color. By focusing on closing opportunity gaps, we’re ensuring Black Californians have the support and resources they need to succeed in the education system.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

The ongoing inequities Black students face are the most frustrating. Despite our progress, challenges still exist.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

I was inspired by the collaboration and energy at our national conference in Washington, D.C., where leaders from across the country united to focus on educational equity. Seeing so many passionate advocates gave me hope that real, lasting change is possible when we work together.

What lesson did you learn in 2024 that will guide your decisions next year?

I learned the importance of collective action. Building coalitions of educators, lawmakers, and civil rights leaders is essential to addressing the root causes of inequity in our schools.

CBM: What is the biggest challenge Black Californians face in one word?

Inequity.

CBM: What is your main goal for 2025?

My main goal is to speed up the implementation of evidence-based strategies that improve Black student achievement. Through partnerships, policy work, and professional development, I want to ensure our schools are equipped to meet the needs of Black students and help every learner succeed.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

4 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.