Activism

No Turning Back: California Black Caucus and ACLU Commit to Advancing Equity and Justice

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end what he calls “Wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing,” that resulted from former President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 13985. He stated that the Biden Administration “forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and implemented them at various federal government departments and agencies.

Published

1 year ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Amir Whittaker, policy counsel from ACLU Southern California, said the Trump Administration could disrupt the Department of Education, which houses the Office of Civil Rights. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the American Civil Liberties Union California Action (ACLU) joined hands to host a forum focused on equity and justice on Jan. 21.

Discussions at the event explored what the State and everyday Californians can do to protect families, communities, and individuals from the impacts of Trump administration policies.

Titled “Advancing Equity and Justice: A Policy Forum,” the meeting was held at the Legislative Office Building near the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Sen. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego), and ACLU Action Executive Director David Trujillo were the speakers.

“This is the beginning of a journey. I want people to understand that this is not a quick-flash-in-the-pan kind of issue,” Weber said. “There will be lots of issues. We will probably hear about a new issue every day, but we should be prepared to understand what we’ve done, where we are, and how we need to move forward.”

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end what he calls “Wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing” that resulted from former President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 13985. He stated that the Biden Administration “forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and implemented them at various federal government departments and agencies.

Just days after the executive orders were issued to clamp down on DEI initiatives, federal government entities began removing resources for underrepresented Americans from their web pages.

Trujillo said safeguarding communities’ freedoms is the “civil rights fight of our lifetimes” and he pledged that the ACLU and its California affiliates will continue to fight for civil rights and justice.

Presenters addressing public policy priorities included Eva Bitran, Director of Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Southern California; Nicole Ozer, Technology and Civil Liberties Director, ACLU of Northern California, Duke Cooney, Legislative Advocate, ACLU California Action; and Amir Whitaker, Senior Policy Counsel at the ACLU of Southern California.

Earlier in the day, ACLU leaders gathered at the State Capitol to urge state policymakers to lead the national fight against the Trump administration’s policies. In solidarity, Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) and CLBC member, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), attended the news conference.

ACLU’s Chief Political and Advocacy Officer Deirdre Schifeling, who attended the forum at the Legislative Building as well, said, anticipating the rollout of Trump’s agenda, ACLU affiliates have been preparing. She said the intention is to “defeat, delay and dilute” the President’s agenda at the state and local level.

Whitaker warned that the Department of Education (DOE) is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration.

“He’s threatening to eliminate the Department of Education, which houses the office of Civil Rights that investigates such things as bullying, which is most likely to impact Black students,” Whittaker said.

Weber-Pierson said, “We are entering very uncertain times.”

“It is extremely important that we don’t get so discouraged and disheartened that we give up,” she said. “We should use this as an opportunity to prepare: to learn as much as we can, to fight back as much as we can, to build up our communities and people as much as we can so that in the future it doesn’t matter who is in office.”

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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

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.