Activism

NCNW in Forefront of Fight Against COVID-19

As recognized and trusted messengers, NCNW is joined in their efforts to champion good health in communities of color by national partners that include the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), the Continental Societies, the Links, Phi Delta Kappa, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Council, National Black Nurses Association, Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Vaccinate Your Family, Women’s Missionary Society of the AME Church, and others.

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2022

Oakland Post

NCNW members of the San Francisco, Fairfield and Vallejo Sections at a COVID Vaccine Clinic held in Solano County. Photo courtesy of NCNW.

By Jennifer D. King

Given that their mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women and children in communities of color, it is not surprising that the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is leading the charge to save lives and championing the fight against COVID-19.

The 10 Northern California Region sections of NCNW (Alameda County, East Bay Area, East Oakland-Hayward, East Palo Alto, Fairfield/Vacaville/Suisun, Golden Gate, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, and Vallejo) are partners in the Good Health WINs (Women’s Immunization Networks).

Through their active participation in Good Health WINs, the NorCal sections are working to reduce health disparities, increase vaccination opportunities, vaccination education and identify the drivers of vaccine hesitancy.

NCNW members of the East Bay Area and East Oakland/Hayward Sections at a COVID Vaccination Clinic at Friendship Church in Oakland. Photo courtesy of NCNW.

The NorCal Region has hosted a number of educational webinars aimed at furthering the message that vaccines save lives. Their partnerships with both public and community healthcare providers include the West Oakland Health Council; Touro University Cares; Kaiser Permanente; UC Davis, La Familia; San Francisco African American Faith-Based Coalition; Vaccinate Solano; Sutter Health; and the California Department of Public Health, to host COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinics throughout Northern California.

NCNW is one of the oldest and largest African American Women’s organizations. Its membership, some 2,000,000 strong, is largely comprised of community-based and campus sections, and more than 30 national women’s organizations.

NCNW was founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator and social activist. The organization was led by the iconic Dr. Dorothy Height for more than 50 years. Dr. Thelma Daly is the current NCNW national president and James Ella James is the president of the NorCal Region.

NCNW’s programs address critical concerns known as “Four for the Future” and promotes focused education on science, technology, engineering and math; encourages entrepreneurship, financial literacy and economic stability; educates women about good health and HIV/AIDS; promotes civic engagement and advocates for sound public policy and social justice.

Learn more about NCNW, and Good Health WINs at www.norcal-ncnw.org

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

IN MEMORIAM: In Loving Memory of Mother Vera Day-Barnes

Don't Miss

Obama Returns to White House for 1st Time Since 2017, Celebrates Obamacare Anniversary

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

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

4 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

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.