Oakland
Naismith Hall of Fame Basketball Legend Nancy Lieberman WNBA team for Oakland
The former player-coach and Gary Reeves, her development partner, have talked with Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan and members of the African American Sports Entertainment Group since March.
![](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/640px-Nancy_Lieberman_40701355952.jpg)
Nancy Lieberman, one of the most celebrated female basketball players over the last decades, is supporting the push to bring a WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) franchise to Oakland.
The former player-coach and Gary Reeves, her development partner, have talked with Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan and members of the African American Sports Entertainment Group since March.
Reeves said, “she (was) one of the most successful WNBA executives. In the early stages of the league’s development with the Detroit Monarchs …. she impressively operated the business side of the team into the ‘black’ and drove a fearless community outreach program. This resulted in the team having one of the largest fan bases in a large, urban-based WNBA city.”
Lieberman has spoken at length to Kaplan about possibly joining a female-led and Black-equity ownership group to bring a team to Oakland. Nancy Lieberman Charities is active today, supporting under-resourced communities across the country with PPE, food distribution, academic scholarships, job readiness programs and providing clothes to 100 new Nancy Lieberman Sport Courts for neighborhoods that don’t have up-to-date, safe playing surfaces.
Lieberman told Post Publisher Paul Cobb that she often credits the African American community for protecting her and supporting her as a child, especially when she played hoops at the legendary Rucker Park in New York City.
Kaplan cited the June 2021 cover story of the Sports Illustrated magazine as evidence of the emergence and growth of the WNBA and its potential opportunities for diversity and equity and female and Black ownership potential.
Since Lieberman’s first interview and podcast with the Post, many Oakland-based groups have expressed interest in bringing a WNBA team to Oakland.
Reeves said the initiatives taken by Lieberman and Kaplan should be supported and embraced by the Black community.
Gay Plair Cobb, CEO Emerita of the PIC (Partners In Careers), said “It’s past time for Black women to also participate as co-owners with a diverse group of women investors in major sports franchises.”
Activism
Open E.A.R.S. for Change Continues to Inspire Asian-Black Unity Through Annual Celebration
Destiny Arts Center youth dance group performed on stage at the Lunar New Year x Black History Month event at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center at 388 Ninth St., Suite 290. Photo by Peter Jew.
![Destiny Arts Center youth dance group performed on stage at the Lunar New Year x Black History Month event at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center at 388 Ninth St., Suite 290. Photo by Peter Jew.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/destiny-arts-center-featured-web.jpg)
By Anka Lee
Post Intern
Featuring lion dance, hip-hop dance and more, the third annual Lunar New Year Black History Month drew a multiracial and multi-ethnic crowd to the Oakland Asian Cultural Center on Feb. 1.
Perhaps unique in the U.S., this deliberately bicultural celebration honored diversity in both communities.
The celebration grew out of a time of significant tension between the Asian and Black communities during the pandemic when anti-Asian hate was prominent and appeared in a lot of media coverage. In those news stories, members of the Black community were frequently and untruthfully portrayed as the primary aggressors.
In response to this rift between communities, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) started the Open E.A.R.S. for Change initiative (Engage, Activate and Rise up Series), which was created with the intention to build stronger relationships between the Asian and Black communities in Oakland.
According to Saly Lee, the executive director of OACC, the bicultural celebration began with holding a series of community conversations to bridge cultural gaps and get input on what could be done. It took 18 months, but the first gathering in 2023 drew 1,200 people and the second was 1,800.
![Great Wall Youth Orchestra performed with traditional Chinese instruments at the Lunar New Year x Black History Month event at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center at 388 Ninth St., Suite 290. Photo by Peter Jew.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/capion-2-1024x682.png)
Great Wall Youth Orchestra performed with traditional Chinese instruments at the Lunar New Year x Black History Month event at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center at 388 Ninth St., Suite 290. Photo by Peter Jew.
Voices of a Dream, along with Dimensions Dance Theatre and Destiny Arts Center were among the African American performers. The participating Asian groups were diverse—with Filipino rapper Amihan, the Great Wall Youth Orchestra, Korean drumming, and Filipino martial arts.
The children’s story-telling activity was also bicultural, cohosted by Marcus Books, a historic Black independent bookstore, and Eastwind Books, which now exists online.
In an interview, the organizers of Open E.A.R.S. for Change discussed the event and their future goals to encourage Asian-Black unity. Lee called the Lunar New Year x Black History Month Community Celebration “the anchor event” that brings the communities together every year. She wants to organize more such cross-cultural events, though on a smaller scale, like hosting a local author for a speaking engagement.
As younger generations tend to be more involved in activism and advocacy, OACC hopes the celebration will also encourage older generations to join in. “Historically, this program was geared towards the Chinese community,” Lee said. That had made it easier for older generations to attend, but now “the focus has shifted… [there are] more family units and multicultural audiences.”
Although more diversity means more reach and engagement from different communities in Oakland, it also means there is still much work to be done. Emily Grover, the OACC Program and Communications Coordinator, emphasized that they are “trying to improve language access in other programs,” one example being more translation options similar to the ones provided by the exhibition.
OACC works closely with refugee and immigrant communities to support them and provide resources in multiple Asian languages. Despite some accessibility concerns, they are confident more opportunities will arise as long as they persevere and continue to spread the word. “Programs are largely free,” said Director of Programs & Exhibitions Indra Mungal. She added, “and we invite the public to check out the classes and spaces available to be rented here.”
Lee wanted to stress that regardless of language barriers, these programs are created to contribute to a more diverse society: “Even if the language changes, our work will not change.”
For more information, visit www.oacc.cc
Bay Area
Gov. Newsom Looks Back at 2024 Milestones; Presents Vision for 2025
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
![California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo Courtesy of California Governor’s Office.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gaivin-newsom-featured-web-1.jpg)
By Joe W. Bowers, California Black Media
In a recent video address, Gov. Gavin Newsom shared key moments that shaped California in 2024. He emphasized achievements in tourism, technology, public safety, and environmental resilience while underscoring the state’s ability to tackle challenges head-on.
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Focusing on innovation, Newsom praised NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for his leadership in advancing generative AI. He showcased the transformation of an abandoned mall into a quantum computing center in L.A. that addresses global challenges.
He also highlighted the ARCHES coalition’s work on green hydrogen, aiming to decarbonize California’s industries.
Newsom emphasized California’s leadership on clean transportation with over 2 million electric vehicles sold and a statewide network of 150,000 public chargers. He spoke about joining Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to celebrate the long-awaited electrification of Caltrain, linking San Francisco to San Jose.
In climate resilience, Newsom spotlighted removing the Klamath Dam, the largest project in U.S. history, restoring salmon migration and tribal lands. He discussed agreements with Italy and Pope Francis to address greenhouse gas emissions and praised the legislature’s action to increase transparency and hold oil companies accountable for gas price spikes.
Turning to health, housing, and education, Newsom outlined progress on Proposition 1 to improve mental health care, legislative efforts to increase housing construction, and the expansion of universal free school meals for all public school students.
Public safety highlights included combating fentanyl trafficking, expanding the California Highway Patrol, and addressing organized retail theft through new legislation.
Newsom also celebrated the state’s balanced budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years. He joked about his detailed budget presentations as his “yearly Super Bowl,” highlighting the importance he places on fiscal responsibility.
The Governor closed by reflecting on 2024 as a year defined by resilience and optimism, crediting California’s ability to navigate polarization and overcome challenges. He emphasized the importance of preserving California’s values of innovation and inclusiveness while continuing to invest in communities, infrastructure, and equity as the state looks ahead to 2025.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025
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