Bay Area

Oakland at Its Best… A Glimpse: Uniting the Community and Supporting Future Generations

This past Saturday, September 7, 2024, the West Oakland community, particularly in the Campbell Village area at 8th and Campbell, came together for a heartwarming and festive event. The 4th annual backpack giveaway, hosted by Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) in collaboration with annual community giveaway by the Grown & Sexy Divas Motorcycle Club, truly captured the spirit of Oakland — uniting the community and supporting future generations.

Published

1 year ago

October 1, 2024

Oakland Post

LeRonne Armstrong and Richard Johnson. Photo Credit: Jonathanfitnessjones

Oakland Unites: FIGB and Grown & Sexy Divas Motorcycle Club Host 4th Annual Backpack Giveaway

By: Richard “Razor” Johnson

Children and families were able to do more than just pick up backpacks filled with school supplies; they stayed to play, eat, and engage with community leaders. The event featured bungee jumping, games for the children, delicious food for all, and clothing donations for those in need. The collaboration between FIGB and the Grown & Sexy Divas demonstrated the strength and unity of Oaklanders coming together for the greater good.

Nicole Goodwin and Dana Terry of the Grown & Sexy Divas Motorcycle Club, along with FIGB, organized the event with the mission of empowering and uplifting the community. Their commitment was evident in the joy and sense of togetherness felt by all who attended.

Sam DJ McNeal, one of the many who stopped by to show support, added energy to the event while participating in a nearby dance video shoot. In addition to the backpack giveaway, the event offered free clothing, toiletries, toys, and meals, accompanied by uplifting music that set the perfect tone.

Most notably, ex-Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong took the time out of his busy schedule to attend the event and assist in the backpack giveaway. His presence was a powerful reminder of his commitment to bringing the community back to its prominence. Armstrong’s actions reflect a genuine desire to improve Oakland, not just through words, but through direct involvement. His participation helped make the event a shining example of what collective action and leadership can achieve.

The success of the event was made possible by the generous support of community leaders and organizations. Among the key supporters were Kathy Adam, CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce; Jonathan Paul Jones from the African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG); Oakland Post News Group; Rick Fortenberry of the Oakland Private Industry Council (OPIC); and Maritony & Associates. FIGB members from Sacramento, Stockton, and San Francisco also came out, further showcasing regional unity.

The overwhelming participation from so many groups and individuals is a testament to the power of unity in Oakland. In all, it was a joyous and successful day, showcasing what the city can achieve when the community comes together to uplift its own, fostering hope and strength for the future.

Special thanks to all the sponsors and supporters who made this event possible.

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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

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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

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.