Berkeley

Cynthia Foreman’s Signature Products in a Walgreens Near You

Published

11 years ago

December 26, 2013

“Sweetie Pie, you in business!”

Those were the words Cynthia Foreman heard from one of her mentors Lonnie Bates after he sold out of 100 of her sweet potato and pecan pies in 15 minutes.

Now years later, Cynthia Foreman’s Signature Products – a branch of Cynthia Foreman’s Sweetie Pies established in 2006 – can be found in Walgreens stores nationwide.

The story of how this ambitious businesswoman went from selling out dozens of pies to close friends to selling her popular shortbreads across the country started in Foreman’s hometown of Houston, Texas. She started selling pies after church to benefit a fundraiser for her daughter and the youth choir, and she knew then that she was on to something.

“It became a micro-business,” said Foreman, who recalls selling between 150-250 pies in less than 30 minutes every Sunday.

“I didn’t realize I was really in business. As a divorced, single parent, it ended up being another source to supplement what I was doing as a single mother,” she said.

After relocating to Oakland, Foreman’s pies became a hit as she built her customer base through her friend Oakland Raiders legend Clem Daniels, and mentors Ruth “Ms. B” Beckford and businessman Lonnie Bates.

Her most famous customer was NBA legend and McClymonds alumni Bill Russell, who would order four to six dozen pies for his trips from Washington to Oakland.

Foreman says Bates helped build up her confidence as a business owner and welcome competition. Before getting stocked at Walgreens, Cynthia Foreman’s Signature Products were sold at the local grocery store, Berkeley Bowl, her biggest contract.

When she approached Walgreens three years ago, Foreman saw a greater opportunity for her business.

“I saw one of my competitors in Walgreens; we made the same product and I was outselling this person. Mr. Bates always said competition is good, so I thought, let me try to get in this Walgreens,” she said.

“When I went into the first store, the manager said we already have that product. I said, well do you just have one brand of cookies?”

She said, “Rejection is not always bad; it’s a time to reflect on how can I do it differently.”

She persisted, going to another Walgreens the next day and meeting with the district manager, who wanted her products in the store the next week.

Now thousands of Walgreens locations throughout the country sell Cynthia Foreman’s Signature Products, including her sweet potato pies, shortbread cookies (traditional and gluten-free in 8 flavors), and frozen cookies.

“It didn’t happen the orthodox way. I’m very aware that it was not me, it was the support I had, it was people believing in me because that fueled me to keep going. I had some doors closed in my face but none of that stopped me. Everything started falling in line,” Foreman said.

“The idea started to be able to offer something that came from me with my hands. Aunt Jemima’s been on a box for 125 years plus, Uncle Ben’s been on a box, but [they] never owned the company. It’s a new age – we’re owning [businesses],” she said.

“Sometimes, women we really dream small or we compromise because we are nurturers by nature. I learned from people like Mr. Bates who kept telling me competition is good. What it showed is to give your best.”

Check your local Walgreens store for Cynthia Foreman’s Signature Products. For a list of all her products, visit. www.cynthiaforeman.com.

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Activism

Protesters Gather in Oakland, Other City Halls, to Halt Encampment Sweeps

The coordinated protests on Tuesday in San Francisco, Oakland, Vallejo, Fresno, Los Angeles and Seattle, were hosted by Poor Magazine and Wood Street Commons, calling on cities to halt the sweeps and focus instead on building more housing.

Published

2 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

The California Poor People’s Campaign’s Victoria King erected encampments for unhoused Oaklanders. Victoria King and her committee erected these emergency tents to symbolize the needs of unhoused Oaklanders. Photos by Post Staff.

By Post Staff

Houseless rights advocates gathered in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other city halls across California and Washington state this week protesting increased sweeps that followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision over the summer.

“What we’re dealing with right now is a way to criminalize people who are dealing with poverty, who are not able to afford rent,” said rights advocate Junebug Kealoh, outside San Francisco City Hall.

“When someone is constantly swept, they are just shuffled and things get taken — it’s hard to stay on top of anything,” said Kealoh.

Local houseless advocates include Victoria King, who is a member of the coordinating committee of the California Poor People’s Campaign. She and Dr. Monica Cross co-chair the Laney Poor People’s Campaign.

The demonstrations came after a June Supreme Court ruling expanded local governments’ authority to fine and jail people for sleeping outside, even if no shelter is available. Gov. Gavin Newsom in California followed up with an order directing state agencies to crack down on encampments and urging local governments to do the same.

Fresno, Berkeley and a host of other cities implemented new rules, making it easier for local governments to clear sidewalk camps. In other cities, such as San Francisco, officials more aggressively enforced anti-camping laws already on the books.

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IN MEMORIAM: Harvey Knight, 82

You are invited to attend the funeral services on Friday, Dec. 27, at Evergreen Baptist Church, Bishop L. Lawrence Brandon, senior pastor, 408 W. MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA at 11 a.m. Rev. Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson, pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church will bring the eulogy.

Published

3 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Harvey Knight. Photo provided by his family.

Special to the Post

Harvey Knight, Jr., “Pops” to so many young men from Oakland, passed away at 82 on Dec. 5. Harvey was married to Brenda Knight, founder of Ladies In Red, for 51 years.

He was born on April 6, 1942, in Laurel, Mississippi.

After completing high school, Harvey moved to Oakland, California, to live with his father’s sister. He knew this would become his home. He loved the Bay Area for the sports it offered him as a basketball, baseball, and football fan.

He worked for UC Berkeley for over 43 years and part-time for the Oakland Coliseum for approximately 15 years as a security guard, where he could be close to his favorite pastime.

After establishing himself with jobs and his place to live, he knew something was missing. He found the love of his life, married her, and knew his life was complete.

Three sons were born to their union: Leonard, Harvey III, and Michael. He and his sons enjoyed the life of sports by going to the games and later supporting them in baseball at school and through Babe Ruth Baseball. His love of sports was passed on to his sons. All three played baseball while attending college.

Harvey was a soft-spoken man who provided life gems to many young boys playing baseball with his sons. Many of them would end up at the Knight family table for dinner or to listen to the man they all called ‘Pops.’

Harvey loved to travel and take in the history he experienced on his many trips with his wife, Brenda, and the organization she founded, Ladies In Red. Although Harvey did not like the color red, he enjoyed the travel provided throughout the United States. He often researched to provide his wife with information to assist her in planning the trips.

His favorite trip was to Selma, Alabama, where he learned so much about Selma’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in the name of Harvey Knight, to Foot Soldiers Park in Selma, Alabama. Go online to: footsoldierspark.org or mail to: Foot Soldiers Park INC, 1018 Water Avenue, Selma. AL 36701.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Brenda; sons; Leonard, Harvey III and Michael; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

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Activism

A Student-Run Group Is Providing Critical Support Services to Underserved Residents

During his three years volunteering at the program, Resource Director Zain Shabbir, says he noticed that many of the people who come in do not know how to navigate social services support systems, particularly online. This knowledge deficit, Shabbir says, is due to age or limited exposure to technology.

Published

3 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

UC Berkeley Law Students help a clinic attendee with legal advice at their Tuesday night services. The Clinic offers a variety of resources, including medical, to those in the community who have little access to these services. Photo by Magaly Muñoz

Part 2

By Magaly Muñoz

Resource Director Zain Shabbir is a jack-of-all-trades at the Suitcase Clinic, a student-run resource center that provides health and other services to underserved residents of Berkeley and surrounding areas.

Shabbir was once a clinic director. Now, he manages the General Clinic, floating around when case managers need assistance. And he has big plans for a new initiative.

During his three years volunteering at the program, Shabbir says he noticed that many of the people who come in do not know how to navigate social services support systems, particularly online. This knowledge deficit, Shabbir says, is due to age or limited exposure to technology.

So, he teaches clients the basics of using email, writing in word documents, and backing up files to their phones.

Shabbir shared a story about an interaction he had with a woman who came in seeking help to create a template to message property owners and realtors as she was seeking housing. Until that point, the woman was composing separate messages to each listing she was interested in, and that process was taking up too much of her time. With Shabbir’s help, she created a standard template she could modify and use for each housing inquiry or application.

He’s also hoping to use the technology to help people create resumes to find jobs.

“[The intent] is to help people find work in the city or wherever they live — or help them find housing. As most are probably aware, the two really go together because for housing, you need income verification, and for a job you need housing,” Shabbir said.

Having a warm place to go and a hot meal may seem basic buy it is critical for people who are struggling, clinic leaders say.

Mark, a frequent attendee of the Tuesday clinic, told the Oakland Post that he’s been receiving services from the program for nearly 25 years.

Mark said he was able to receive a referral to dental care through the Clinic, which he’s been using for about 20 years now. He also utilized the chiropractor, a service that is no longer offered, for pain and aches he acquired over the years.

Many program participants say they visit the clinic now for services provided by Berkeley medical students, who rely on osteopathic care rather than traditional methods. Osteopathic medicine is a medical philosophy and practice that focuses on the whole person, rather than just symptoms.

Executive director Nilo Golchini said that many clinic patients tend to appreciate and trust this type of medicine over mainstream practices because of sub-standard care they have received in the past because they are homeless or poor.

Acupuncture is also an extremely popular station at the Clinic as well, with participants saying it “soothes and calms” them.

Attendees of the clinic are generally in happy spirits throughout the hours they’re able to interact with fellow residents. Some even participate in arts and crafts, moving from table to show their friends their new creations.

“It’s a program that’s going strong,” said Golchini. “There’s a space for everyone” who wants to volunteer or receive services, and they’ll keep going as long as the community needs it.

The Suitcase General Clinic is open every Tuesday from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Women’s and Youth Clinics are held every Monday from 6 to 9pm.