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Oakland Police Department Now Offering Assistance to Victims of Crimes

Florence McCrary, a member of the Violence Prevention Coalition Family Support Advocates, representing mothers who lost children to violence in Oakland said, “As a mother who lost their child to gun violence in the city of Oakland, I have to say that working with Brigitte Cook through OPD’s victim services was so very helpful.

Published

4 years ago

February 4, 2022

Oakland Post

Florence McCrary (left) and Annette Miller, members of the Violence Prevention Coalition and mothers who have lost sons to gun violence in Oakland, advocated for the creation of a Victim Service Liaison within OPD. Photo by Brigitte Cook.

Caption: Florence McCrary (left) and Annette Miller, members of the Violence Prevention Coalition and mothers who have lost sons to gun violence in Oakland, advocated for the creation of a Victim Service Liaison within OPD. Photo by Brigitte Cook.

By Post Staff

As Oakland has seen an increase in the levels of violent crime, there have been greater numbers of traumatized victims and survivors.

To meet the needs of residents affected by violent crime, the Oakland Police Department has created a position to serve as a liaison between the department and the community to help them navigate an array of services.

This furthers OPD’s plan to have victim-centered and trauma-informed responses to crime incidents. “For years, many in our community didn’t know where to turn or who to ask for help,” said Oakland Police Chief LeRonne L. Armstrong. “I felt it important to create the position of a victim specialist to give those most vulnerable the care and compassion they need at a very traumatic time.”

The Victim Specialist position is funded through a three-year Department of Justice grant. Victim Specialist Brigitte Cook, said “As survivors or family members face some of the worst days of their lives, it is vital to have a compassionate bridge between them and the department to connect them to the resources that they are eligible for.” Cook also meets with local organizations to share information about services and create opportunities for problem-solving.

“She made herself available to me through some of the most difficult times, attended meetings and helped me to ask the hard but necessary questions,” McCray said. “This is a much needed service that parents who have experienced loss benefit from. It needs to be supported as it elevates the presence of OPD and shows compassion, which is so important.”

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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

1 week 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.