Bay Area

California Education Chief Thurmond Considers Run for Governor

California’s chief elected education officer, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who is the first Afro Latino and second African American to hold the position, is considering a run for governor in 2026.

Published

3 years ago

July 19, 2023

Oakland Post

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Official portrait.

By California Black Media

On July 5, Thurmond announced that he has formed a campaign committee. In a statement, he said “I have formed an exploratory committee to begin that process.”

“Working families across California are facing so many challenges that require our entire state government working together to solve,” said Thurmond in a tweet last week. “Growing up as a Black and Latino kid without my parents, I lived the struggles that so many Californians face every day — that’s why I dedicated my career to fighting for a brighter future for California’s children.

“Right now I’m fully focused on my job as State Superintendent — from taking on MAGA extremists who want to ban books to defending classroom teachers and students against the constant assault on our democracy.”

A 54-year-old Democrat, Thurmond was elected to his position as the state’s top educator in 2018, saying at his inauguration that his own experience as a poor child of immigrants made him realize that all children deserve a first class-education.

“I grew up in poverty and without my parents,” he said then. “But I was raised by a cousin, an amazing woman, who made certain that I got a great education. That’s what got me where I am today, and that’s what I want for my two daughters and all students. I pledge to devote all my energy, talent, experience, and all the powers of my office to ensure all students get a great education.”

Thurmond’s mother, an Afro-Latina who immigrated to San Jose from Panama to become a teacher, died when he was barely old enough to go to school himself.

Upon hearing of Thurmond’s intent, longtime Richmond community organizer and activist Joe Fisher was enthused.

“Oh, he would be good!” Fisher said, recalling that he has watched and supported Thurmond’s leadership since the superintendent’s days on the Richmond City Council. “I think he would be good at it and I think he would have a good shot,” adding that he would even “put a few dollars in the bank” for Thurmond’s campaign. “He’s fair and capable and responsible. He’ll stand strong not just for African Americans but everybody.”

The California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) honored Thurmond with an award for his dedication and commitment to students on July 6, the California Department of Education reported.

The award comes as Thurmond sponsored an Assembly Bill to increase the number of bilingual teachers in the state. “Throughout his tenure, Superintendent Thurmond has fought for all students,” the report said. “He has launched initiatives to close opportunity gaps for African American and Latino students, English learners, students with disabilities, foster and homeless youth, and students from low-income backgrounds.”

A graduate of Temple University and Bryn Mawr College, Thurmond’s early career in social work and nonprofit institutions put him in leadership positions that were a natural segue into elected office.

He formerly served on Richmond’s City Council, the California Assembly and the West Contra Costa Unified School District’s board. He was re-elected to his current position in 2022 and his term ends in 2027.

So far, there are several contenders for governor when Gavin Newsom leaves office also in 2027.

Among them are current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former State Controller Betty Yee have announced their candidacy while State Attorney General Rob Banta and former Los Angles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have expressed interest. All are Democrats.

Wikipedia, the California Department of Education, and CBS 5. Contributed to this report.

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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

2 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

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.