Bay Area

Burundi’s Ambassador visits Oakland to unite and collaborate with Oakland-Burundi Sister Cities

In a remarkable display of international goodwill and cooperation, Ambassador Dr. Albert Nasasagare, the former Special Advisor to President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Africa, embarked on a historic visit to Oakland, California. Invited by Dr. Maritony Ann Jones, a fellow ambassador and humanitarian, the visit took place on Sept. 25th-26th, and it offered a unique opportunity to foster international relations and showcase Oakland’s hospitality by the Oakland-Burundi Sister Cities executive team.

Published

2 years ago

October 3, 2023

Oakland Post

(l-r) Ray Bobbit, Royl L. Roberts, Burundi Ambassador Albert Nasasagare, Ottis Bruce Jr., Dr. Maritony Jones, Jonathan Fitness Jones visited the office of Alameda County DA Pamela Price (Photo by Richard Johnson)

By Post Staff

In a remarkable display of international goodwill and cooperation, Ambassador Dr. Albert Nasasagare, the Special Advisor to President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Africa, embarked on a historic visit to Oakland, California. Invited by Dr. Maritony Ann Jones, a fellow ambassador and humanitarian, the visit took place on Sept. 25th-26th, and it offered a unique opportunity to foster international relations and showcase Oakland’s hospitality by the Oakland-Burundi Sister Cities executive team.

The visit was hosted and sponsored by JonathanFitnessJones, Oakland Post Ambassador to the Community/AASEG, and Ray Bobbit founder of African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG), underscoring the significance of this diplomatic engagement.

Dr. Albert Nasasagare, met with the board and staff of the Oakland Private Industry Council (PIC) and was briefed on how projects like the AASEG could become a resource of hope and opportunity for groups like the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) founded by Richard Johnson. The Ambassador was given information on how to develop and utilize youth employment and training programs by PIC CEO Ray Lankford.

Dr. Nasasagare also visited the offices of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Y. Price where he met with DA Senior Staff Ottis Bruce Jr., Chief Assistant District Attorney, and Royl L. Roberts, Chief Assistant District Attorney, and Antwon Cloird Senior Program Specialist.

Their discussions revolved around the Burundi-Oakland Sister Cities exchange students program plans which were proposed to be in alignment with DA Price’s program called “Drum Major for Justice, ” which was launched this summer for the youth.

The Ambassador visited the Oakland Post and was invited by Paul Cobb, publisher of Oakland Post to join him at the City Hall, where he met District 6 City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins. Cobb invited the Ambassador to join him as an observer to a press interview at the City of Oakland Mayor’s office.

Ray Bobbit took the Ambassador on a city-wide tour and shared a brief history of Oakland, stopping at the local landmarks and seeing all parts of Oakland which also included touring the Oakland Coliseum.

The Ambassador wanted to immerse himself in the local culture and to learn of the city’s diversity. He engaged with residents who spoke French, Swahili and Kirundi, connecting with African communities in California. Ambassador Nasasagare said his visit was marked by “meaningful discussions and interactions, aimed at addressing common challenges and exploring opportunities for collaboration.”

One of the pressing issues discussed during the visit was the rising crime rates in California, particularly in the city of Oakland. Ambassador Nasasagare’s insights, drawn from his experience in Burundi, where a decade-long civil war wreaked havoc, proved invaluable. He emphasized the importance of listening to the voices of youth in the community, and the victims affected by crime and the need to work collectively to find solutions as a united community.

Ambassador Nasasagare’s journey to Oakland reflects his life story. Hailing from Burundi, a country in central Africa, he said he had witnessed firsthand how “political agendas exploited youth, leading to a decade-long civil war from 1993 to 2006, resulting in a staggering death toll of over 300,000.”

Poverty in Burundi surged during this period, reaching 67% of the population. Ambassador Nasasagare, even in his youth, recognized the need for change and rallied young people to work together to shape their future.

The Ambassador’s advocacy for youth empowerment led him to serve for fifteen years as Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Protocol for late President Pierre Nkurunziza, and was the former Special Advisor to Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye for three years. He is also the founder of the Youth Coalition in Action (YCA), a local NGO dedicated to helping children in need, mentoring youth and women for financial empowerment, and promoting community development and environmental protection.

The visit culminated in a dinner where future collaborations between sister cities and Burundi were discussed. The potential for empowering youth and organizing exchange programs for Oakland’s youth in Burundi, providing training and job opportunities, was a focal point of discussion and the visit. Mwaro in Burundi will become the first city in Burundi to be part of the Oakland-Burundi Sister Cities International, a project initiated by Ambassador JonathanFitnessJones.

Jones said Ambassador Dr. Albert Nasasagare’s visit to Oakland “has opened doors to new possibilities, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation, youth empowerment, and community development. It is a testament to the power of dialogue and partnership in addressing complex challenges and building a brighter future for all.”

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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.