Oakland

Jason Kidd Celebrated in His Hometown for Hall of Fame Induction

Published

7 years ago

September 10, 2018

NBA icon Jason Kidd addresses the audience at the Port Work Spaces on the roof top of the Kaiser Center in the heart of downtown Oakland with NBA star Brian Shaw (left) and childhood friend Eric Fortenberry (right).

On Friday, September 7, the iconic basketball star Jason Kidd will be one of thirteen inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with NBA colleagues Grant Hill, Ray Allen, and Steve Nash. However his hometown honored Kidd in their own special way on the roof top of the Kaiser Center in the heart of downtown. Presented by HipHopTV, the celebration at the Port Workspaces featured fans, friends, classmates and celebrities at the red carpet event.

Kidd, accompanied by his wife, Porschla Coleman, thanked his hometown supporters and credited several people for helping him become the man he is today. He was also praised by his elementary school teacher.

In his early years Kidds was a CYO champion, High School State champion, 1992 Naismith High School Player of the Year, National College Freshman of the Year in 1992-1993, Pac 12 Player of the Year and a two time Olympic Gold medalist. Kidd is an Cal Athletic Hall of Fame inductee and next month he will be inducted into the Naismith.

Actor Delroy Lindo attended the meet and greet sponsored by the Oakland Parks and Recreational Department earlier in the day. “As I watched Jason so personable and accessible for the children and people at the event, I thought to myself, that shows the type of man he is,” he said.

Patricia Fortenberry was excited to see Kidd. “My fondest memories of Jason are of him in my kitchen eating,” she said with her husband, Clarence and daughter in law, Alta. “He was a special boy and I am so proud of all his accomplishments.”

Fortenberry’s son, Eric, said the two spent a lot of their childhood together. “It’s great to see Jason honored in this way, by the local community,” he said. ” Growing up you hope for one another’s success and Jason no doubt put in the hard work and dedication required to be a success.”

Shawn Granberry, CEO of HipHopTV says he’s always wanted to host an event based in Kidd’s hometown. “It’s important to honor our own, especially great men of excellence, like Jason,” he said.

Sports reporter Malaika Babino was equally complimentary. “In the sports world you have a lot of hard working athletes,” she said. “However, Kidd and his success are extraordinary and deserve to be celebrated, right here in Oakland.”

Attendees included athletes Brian Shaw and Gary Payton and actor Lance Gross of the film “Temptation,” among others.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 18 – 24, 2026

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2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 – 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

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2 weeks ago

February 16, 2026

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Rising Optimism Among Small And Middle Market Business Leaders Suggests Growth for California

“Business leaders across the Pacific region continue to demonstrate a unique blend of resilience and forward-thinking, even in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty,” said Brennon Crist, Managing Director and Head of the Pacific Segment, Commercial Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Their commitment to innovation and growth is evident in the way they adapt to challenges and seize new opportunities. It’s this spirit that keeps our region at the forefront of business leadership and progress. We look forward to helping our clients navigate all that’s ahead in 2026.”

Published

2 weeks ago

February 14, 2026

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Super Scout / E+ with Getty Images.

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Business optimism is returning for small and midsize business leaders at the start of 2026, fueling confidence and growth plans.

The 2026 Business Leaders Outlook survey, released in January by JPMorganChase reveals a turnaround from last June, when economic headwinds and uncertainty about shifting policies and tariffs caused some leaders to put their business plans on hold.

Midsize companies, who often find themselves more exposed to geopolitical shifts and policy changes, experienced a significant dip in business and economic confidence in June of 2025. As they have become more comfortable with the complexities of today’s environment, we are seeing optimism rebounding in the middle market nationwide – an encouraging sign for growth, hiring, and innovation. Small businesses, meanwhile, maintained steady optimism throughout 2025, but they aren’t shielded from domestic concerns. Many cited inflation and wage pressures as the top challenges for 2026 and are taking steps to ensure their businesses are prepared for what’s ahead.

Overall, both small and midsize business leaders are feeling more confident to pursue growth opportunities, embrace emerging technologies and, in some cases, forge new strategic partnerships. That bodes well for entrepreneurs in California. Here are a few other key findings from the Business Leaders Outlook about trends expected to drive activity this year:

Inflation remains the top concern for small business owners. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, many anticipated a favorable business environment. By June 2025, however, that feeling shifted amid concerns about political dynamics, tariffs, evolving regulations and global economic headwinds.
Going into 2026, 37% of respondents cited inflation as their top concern. Rising taxes came in second at 27% and the impact of tariffs was third at 22%. Other concerns included managing cash flow, hiring and labor costs.

For middle market leaders, uncertainty remains an issue. Almost half (49%) of all midsize business leaders surveyed cited “economic uncertainty” as their top concern – even with an improved outlook from a few months ago. Revenue and sales growth was second at 33%, while tariffs and labor both were third at 31%.
And tariffs are impacting businesses costs. Sixty-one percent of midsize business leaders said tariffs have had a negative impact on the cost of doing business.
Despite challenges, leaders are bullish on their own enterprises. Though the overall outlook is mixed, 74% of small business owners and 71% of middle market companies are optimistic about their company’s prospects for 2026.
Adaption is the theme. For small business owners surveyed across the U.S., responding to continuing pressures is important in 2026. Building cash reserves (47%), renegotiating supplier terms (36%) and ramping up investments in marketing and technology are among the top priorities.
Big plans are on the horizon. A majority midsized company leaders expect revenue growth this year, and nearly three out of five of (58%) plan to introduce new products or services in the coming year, while 53% look to expand into new domestic and/or international markets. Forty-nine percentsay they’re pursuing strategic partnerships or investments.

The bottom line

Rebounding optimism among U.S. business leaders at the start of the year is setting the stage for an active 2026. With business leaders looking to implement ambitious growth plans that position themselves for the future, momentum in California could be beneficial for leaders looking to launch, grow or scale their business this year.