Activism

Leaders and Advocates Host Eaton Fire Summit Focused on Supporting Black Elders

“We want people that could help … to step up,” said Kennedy. “I’m asking people to step up in a way where you talk to people, like myself, and the people that I deal with, so that your money will live beyond the Eaton fire.”

Published

7 months ago

August 10, 2025

Oakland Post

Dianne Lewis receives a word of support from Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton. Photo by Solomon O. Smith.

Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

Dozens of community service organizations, local leaders, advocates, and survivors gathered on Aug. 2 at the Pasadena Hilton for the Eaton Fire Senior Summit.

Titled “Rebuilding with Resilience,” the event was held to support seniors whose homes were lost or damaged in the Eaton Fire, which burned more than 14,000 acres and destroyed 9,418 structures in Altadena and Pasadena.

The summit was organized by Lena L. Kennedy, CEO of Community Women Vital Voices, a Pasadena native with deep roots in the city. With help from her daughter, granddaughter, and a team of volunteers, Kennedy brought together faith groups, nonprofits, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton delivered updates to constituents during the luncheon.

The day included workshops on rebuilding, state regulations, taxes, soil and water testing, modular homes, and financial assistance. Organizations such as Catholic Charities of California, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the DENA Forward Alliance hosted booths offering on-the-spot resources.

“Seniors were disproportionately impacted by this fire, especially up in Altadena, and it’s important for us to give them hope, because it is overwhelming,” said Barger. “So, summits like this are important to not only gather the facts and to make decisions, but also it’s a chance to be amongst others.”

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors governs unincorporated areas such as Altadena. Barger’s Fifth District includes both Altadena and Pasadena — collectively referred to by locals as “DENA.”

She acknowledged that much work remains and said she is collaborating with city and state officials to rebuild infrastructure that will support the new homes and buildings envisioned for the area. For those unable to attend the summit, Barger recommended accessing services at the Altadena Community Center, which has been designated as a fire survivor hub.

Organizers said the summit was also intended to remind those affected by the fire — especially residents in unincorporated Altadena — that they are not alone.

Hampton, a well-known and respected figure in the community, was warmly greeted as he walked through the concourse, shaking hands and consoling seniors.

One of those seniors was Dianne Lewis.

Lewis was able to get assistance and advice on updating her living will. Like many others who lost their homes, she is overwhelmed—rebuilding her life, coping with grief, and continuing to run the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center, one of the few Black cultural institutions in the Valley. She is also a strong advocate for Black elders. Last year, she traveled with Chu to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Black Altadena homeowners.

“I lost my will. They’re going to redo it for me. My living trust — they’re going to redo it for me. That’s something I don’t have to worry about,” said Lewis. “To see my colleagues and people that I work with in the community here, together, is positive.”

The next Eaton Fire Senior Summit will be held on Dec. 13.

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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

3 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.