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Democratic Party, Others Endorse Rebecca Kaplan for Alameda County Board of Supervisors Seat

Obtaining the endorsement of the Alameda County Democratic Party in this race was a major accomplishment for Rebecca Kaplan’s campaign, as all four candidates running were included for consideration and presented at the Democratic Party’s forum and to receive the endorsement, candidates must obtain over 60% of the vote.

Published

4 years ago

April 21, 2022

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan has worked closely with IAFF Local 55 on a variety of important issues such as wildfire prevention, implementation of the MACRO program in Oakland, halting the fire station closures, and responding in a timely manner to medical calls.

Rebecca Kaplan’s campaign announced that she had received the endorsements of the Alameda County Democratic Party, former California state Assemblyman Sandre Swanson and local firefighters unions in her bid for election to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

Obtaining the endorsement of the Alameda County Democratic Party in this race was a major accomplishment for Kaplan, as all four candidates running were included for consideration and presented at the Democratic Party’s forum and to receive the endorsement, candidates must obtain over 60% of the vote.

Swanson praised Kaplan for her decades of service and her accomplishments.

“I have worked with Rebecca for over two decades, and experienced her thoughtful and effective leadership,” Swanson said. “Together we have worked for social justice, against human traffickers of our children, for racial equity in economic opportunity, LGBTQ+ rights, for quality jobs and affordable housing for our community, and to prevent closures of our public schools. I look forward to continuing our work together with Rebecca Kaplan on the Board of Supervisors, and I enthusiastically endorse her election.”

Rebecca Kapland, left, with former State Assemblyman Sandre Swanson. Photo courtesy of Kaplan’s campaign.

The two firefighters’ unions supporting Kaplan are IAFF Local 55, which includes Oakland and Alameda County Firefighters and IAFF Local 689 in Alameda.

Kaplan has worked closely with IAFF Local 55 on a variety of important issues such as wildfire prevention, implementation of the MACRO program in Oakland, halting the fire station closures, and responding in a timely manner to medical calls.

“Rebecca has been a tireless advocate for the Fire Service and for the rights of the working people who undertake these dangerous jobs. We look forward to working with her on the Board of Supervisors,” said Zac Unger, president of the Oakland Firefighters Local 55.

Kaplan was grateful for the endorsements.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of our firefighters,” Kaplan said of the April 8 announcement. “Our first responders provide vital services protecting the health and safety of the public. I look forward to continuing our work together on public safety, wildfire prevention, and other important issues affecting our community on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Alameda County Democratic Party and from Sandre Swanson,” Kaplan said on April 12. “I look forward to continuing to work together toward solutions to the urgent and important issues affecting our community on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.”

For more endorsement information please visit: https://www.supervisorkaplan.org/endorsements

This announcement is courtesy of Julie Wedge, campaign manager – Rebecca Kaplan for Supervisor 2022.

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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

1 week 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.