Activism

Black August Celebration by Prisoner Justice Groups at Bobby Hutton Park on Aug. 21

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC) in partnership with the grassroots group All of Us or None, will commemorate Black August at Lil’ Bobby Hutton (De Fremery) Park at 1651 16th St. in West Oakland on Saturday, August 21, from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Published

5 years ago

August 13, 2021

Christy Price

LSPC Logo

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC) in partnership with the grassroots group All of Us or None, will commemorate Black August at Lil’ Bobby Hutton (De Fremery) Park at 1651 16^th St. in West Oakland on Saturday, August 21, from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The mission of LSPC is to organize communities impacted by the criminal justice system, to advocate for the release and safe return of incarcerated people, and to reunify families and communities. It should be noted that the organization is primarily staffed by formerly incarcerated men and women who have returned home to make a difference in their communities.

The event entitled ‘Oakland Rejects Slavery’ begins with All of Us or None advocating for the removal of the slavery exception clause in both the state and federal constitutions of this country.

California Constitution Article 1, Section 6 states, “Slavery is prohibited. Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime.” You can also read the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. For a deeper understanding, watch Ava DuVernay’s documentary on Netflix called ‘13th.’

Throughout the day, there will be a variety of speakers that include former Black Panther Party member and current BPP historian, Billy X, Oakland’s Poet Laureate, Ayodele Nzinga, and a host of local organizations that include New Breath Foundation, Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, CURYJ, United Playaz, CA Prison Focus, Kage University, Place 4 Grace, and others.

The message is multi-pronged but clear, said All of US or None Communications Manager Troy Williams. “Remove the slave language. Black Lives Matter no matter who pulls the trigger. Stop Asian hate. Just stop hating! Return sovereignty of land. Protect water. Protect life. We want our communities to come and enjoy good food and good entertainment with good family friendly company.

“We will also address current events impacting our community and ask that as we fight to strip away the vestiges of slavery in our state and federal constitutions that Oakland stands together to reject the narrative and practice of the violence we have perpetrated against each other.

The event is also taking place during Black August, which began as a way of honoring those freedom fighters who lost their lives in the process of fighting for the full restoration of human and civil rights of all oppressed people.

“We commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of George Jackson and the Attica uprising that followed,” said Williams. “We are gathering to say that we have returned with a willingness to rectify our wrongs, pick up the torch, and continue on the march toward liberation.

For more information, please go to:

https://prisonerswithchildren.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=95

Troy Williams has written columns for the Post New Group for several years.

“The Oakland Post’s coverage of local news in Alameda County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California”

Christy Price

Posts by Christy Price

Up Next

Lee Cherry, Engineer and Advocate for African Americans in Science, Dies at 76

Don't Miss

The Unseen Population in Stockton

Christy Price

Click to comment

Activism

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

1 week 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.