Activism

Oakland’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 24–30,

For the second year in a row, Executive Director Brenda Grisham, mother of Christopher Jones, The Christopher Lavell Jones Foundation and Their Lives Matter, will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by hosting two events to bring public awareness about the impact of crime in Oakland and to offer resources and information to survivors and victims.

Published

4 years ago

April 24, 2022

Oakland Post

Photo - (left) Brenda Grisham Christopher Lavell Jones Foundation Director. (Right) Florence McCrary Family Support Advocates. Photo credit - Brigitte Cook Violence Prevention Coalition

In commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and to raise awareness about crime victims’ issues, rights, resources and services, local organizations will host several special events and activities.

The first event, held by Broken by Violence and King David Respect for Life, was a Walk for Justice on April 22 from the Police Department to the Alameda County Courthouse. On Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m., Adamika Village will lead the Stop Killing Our Kids Peace Caravan from Liberation Park, 7101 Foothill Blvd., through the streets of Oakland to the steps of City Hall.

For the second year in a row, Executive Director Brenda Grisham, mother of Christopher Jones, The Christopher Lavell Jones Foundation and Their Lives Matter, will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by hosting two events to bring public awareness about the impact of crime in Oakland and to offer resources and information to survivors and victims. The first event will be a press conference held by and for victims of all crimes in Oakland on Friday, April 29, 11 a.m. at OPD Headquarters. On Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., victims, survivors, family members, friends and supporters are invited to participate in an afternoon of healing with food, resource tables, and a children’s arts and craft corner at the Children’s Memorial Statue at Lake Merritt.

Both events are presented free to the public, presented by The Christopher Lavell Jones Foundation and Their Lives Matter in partnership with Alameda County Victim Assistance Division, Alameda County Justice Center, Youth Alive, King David Respect For Life Inc., Bonafide Sisterhood, ROYALS Inc., and the Alameda County Health Systems SAART Division (Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Response and Recovery Team). For additional information, contact Brenda Grisham at 510-938-6162 or bgrisham@cljfoundation.com.

The Oakland Violence Prevention Coalition is a group of individuals and organizations impacted by violence that have come together to radically transform the culture of violence in Oakland through community-led, healing-centered practices and political advocacy. The coalition advocates for community-led prevention and intervention solutions to reduce violent crime. “We are working to break the cycle of violence and heal our city,” said Brenda Grisham.

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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.