Activism

Open Letter to Tidewater Capital Developers: What’s Your Plan to Prevent More Harm to Black-Owned Business and Cultural Artists?

Oakland has produced more African American sports greats than any other city in America. Oakland is home to the most militant and effective social justice organizations, (the ILWU is one example), and the very first Black trade union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. None of these have the sort of very visible recognition that are warranted.

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2023

Oakland Post

1431 Franklin Street Office Option (left) and Residential Option (right), rendering by Large Architecture

By Kitty Kelly Epstein, PhD
Special to The Post

Many people, including me, have long been concerned with Oakland’s lack of public recognition for the accomplishments of the Black community and lack of concern for its current condition.

Oakland has produced more African American sports greats than any other city in America. Oakland is home to the most militant and effective social justice organizations (the ILWU is one example) and the very first Black trade union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. None of these have the sort of very visible recognition that is warranted.

And at the same time, half of the Black community has been forced to leave the city, and of those who remain, many are Black men who are forced to live on the street.

One bright spot has been the promise of a Black Arts Movement and Business District (BAMBD) in downtown Oakland, which promised to prioritize development to benefit the Black community and was passed by the City Council in 2016.

And now we find it is not new Black-owned businesses but yet another non-Black developer proposing to build a huge non-Black development. So, to the developers at Tidewater Capital, I ask: what exactly are you planning to do with the property you own at 1431 Franklin that will not further damage the community?

You have submitted two proposals to the Oakland Planning Commission: one for an office building, ridiculously unnecessary given the current number of office vacancies, and the other for a high-end residential building that would certainly house mostly affluent white folks and hire out-of-town labor for its construction.

And in the process, I would argue that your proposal would damage one of the most treasured, long-standing Black-owned, and historically recognized businesses in the city — Geoffrey’s Inner Circle at 410 14^th St.

In some ways, the situation is similar to the forced closure of Black-owned Uncle Willie’s Barbecue at 614 14^th St. by the actions of another huge developer, in that case, a hotel.

It may come as a surprise to you, but many of us do not believe that someone should get to build whatever they want just because they are rich enough to buy a piece of property.

Black-owned businesses and galleries, parking, and cultural spaces would all be of benefit to this district. More unaffordable housing will not. Furthermore, you own another property nearby which you could develop without so much damage to the community.

So – what exactly are you planning?

Kitty Kelly Epstein is a professor of Urban Studies and Education, Oakland resident, host on KPFA Radio, an author of two books about Oakland.

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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.