News

People’s Pitch Empowers Young Entrepreneurs

Published

6 years ago

June 16, 2018

Project Beanstalk co-founders Glenn Ray Brooks and Isaiah Johnson presented their business idea to a host of panelist judges and advisers at the People’s Pitch Event at the Kapor Center for Social Justice. The duo won $2000 to start their gaming business.

The People’s Pitch event was the place to be for those wanting to meet problem solvers and innovators of the future. Sponsored by Youth Impact Hub in Oakland at the Kapor Center for Social Justice on Thursday, May 24, about 10 millennials ages 18-24 stood before an audience of mentors, educators, venture capitalists, family members and the extended social justice network to share their business plans.

Competing for $1000, the 2018 Youth Hub Fellows presented their three-minute slide shows and enthusiasm for a solution-focused business that would both make money and improve society.

“In collaboration with Youth Business USA and the City of Oakland, our mission is to prepare, launch and grow 100 or more underrepresented young entrepreneurs in Oakland each year,” said Gino Pastori-Ng, Youth Impact Hub Co-Founder.

Prior to the pitch event, fellows took part in a comprehensive year-long social entrepreneurship training and implementation program. Housed at United Roots, the program supports emerging leaders of color from low income areas to create an equitable life-affirming economy by providing socially innovative training, co-working space, and access to networks and resources.

From natural hair care products to tennis shoe cleaning to 3-D printing, the youth demonstrated their desire to make their mark on the world immediately. Participants included Sole2soul, Russell Agustin and Rodolfo James III Agustin, Black Camera Productions, Jean Black and Plan U’s Tria Villanueva. The companies respectively sought to provide athletic shoes and promote a healthy lifestyle to underserved youth, create positive images for people of color and designing a schedule that keeps students organized.

Maleik Dion created BAYAF, to uplift Bay Area artists in the media while Alberto Ibarra dreamed of training minority youth the art of 3-D printing. Dion’s sister Jada Imani, chanted “Get Free – Get Money.” “Being entreprenuer is freedom,” said Imani who co-founded Tatu Vision with Dion. “With my 3-D company, I want to teach youth how to make accessories like cell phone covers and household products so they can sell them for a profit,” said Ibarra.

Shavon Moore of Bright Future’s Music sang throughout her presentation while James Green of Fix My Kicks designed a company that will restore sneakers and prevent them from entering landfills that harm the environment.

Jasmine Curtis of AvoCurl shared how harmful chemicals are in the thousands of unregulated beauty products that Black women worldwide utilize without knowing the dangers. “I began AvoCurl because in Europe 1300 chemicals are banned in our hair care products, but in our own country only 30 are banned,” said Curtis. “I want to ensure women of color have safe products and my products are so natural that they have to be refrigerated prior to use.”

Kabreshiona Smith began her company Move with the Breeze to promote healing practices among African Americans. “In our neighborhoods we either have food deserts (no grocery stores) or low quality foods (fast foods) available,’ she said. “I want to change that by providing healthy food and holistic practices.”

After half of the competitors won $1000 each, a venture capitalist announced that he would give each of the 10 companies $1000. At that point the event turned into an all out jubilee as youth and their mentors celebrated with them. Project Beanstalk co-founders Isaiah Johnson and Glenn Ray Brooks were competition winners and were thrilled to win the additional $1000 to start their business. “African Americans in the gaming sector is a huge opportunity and we are grateful to our mentors who have helped us,” said Brooks.

Panelists that advised the entrepreneurs after their presentations included; Tope Alabi and Lili Gangas of the Kapor Center, Clayton Bryan, 500 Startups, Lisa Gelobter, tEQuitable, Nayelli Gonzalez, Creators Circle, Brandon Nicholson, The Hidden Genius Project, Ismail Maiyegun, Hingeto, Mireya Smith Mojica, Bling, Claire Shorall, Neo, Niles Lichtenstein, Enwoven and Don Loeb of Tech Stars. Sinclair Wu, Education Social Entrepreneurship & Intl. Tech Collaboration, Meghan Freebeck, Simply the Basics, Sharla Turner, Gary Reeves, Andranee Nabors along with Kate Karniouchina Dean of Lorry I. Lokey School of Business and Public Policy also participated.

“Tonight everyone is a winner,” said Co-Facilitator Destiny Iwouoma with a.b. and Jasmine Stallworth. For more information, contact Youth Hub staff and creators; Galen Silvestri, Demario Lewis, Tammy Chan, Javiera Torres and Amanda Greene at www.youthimpacthub.org

Oakland Post

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Activism

NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention Highlights Black Voter Engagement, and More

A Friday panel featuring NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell and Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media, examined Project 2025, an initiative perceived as a potential threat to civil rights, healthcare access, and environmental protection. This session emphasized Project 2025’s projected impact on Black communities, noting that policies within the initiative could diminish gains in civil and environmental rights over decades. Russell and Wilson highlighted the need for vigilant monitoring and community mobilization to address these challenges.

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

NAACP State Conference President Rick Callender (right) engages in a discussion on voter engagement and community advocacy with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson during the 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention in Los Angeles. Photo by Rich Woods.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention concluded on Sunday, Oct 27, following four days of discussions and workshops at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Bringing together civil rights leaders, policymakers, and advocates from California and Hawaii, the convention operated under the theme “All In.” The participants discussed critical issues impacting Black communities, including criminal justice reform, health equity, economic empowerment, education, environmental justice, and voting rights.

On Saturday, the President’s Fireside Chat brought together NAACP President Derrick Johnson and CA/HI State Conference President Rick Callender, who discussed the urgency of voter engagement and community advocacy.

Guest speakers included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), who spoke at the Women in NAACP (WIN) Labor Luncheon about the intersection of labor rights and civil rights. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond delivered remarks at the Leadership Dinner on education equity, focusing on policies to ensure all students have access to high-quality education.

Honors were given to longtime social justice advocate and former Assemblymember Mike Davis for his work in community activism. At the same time, actor and activist Danny Glover and the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown received the 2024 Legacy Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing their lifelong commitments to advancing civil rights.

The convention also offered practical workshops, including “What’s On Your Ballot?,” where coalition leaders provided analyses of California propositions, explaining their potential impacts on community rights and resources. The Voter Turnout Workshop provided background and encouraged participants to promote voter turnout through community-centered outreach strategies.

Sunday’s events closed with a Prayer and Memorial Breakfast honoring the contributions of past and current civil rights leaders.

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Bay Area

Alameda County Judge Blasts Defendants Over Delay in West Oakland Fire Trial

Judge Kimberly Lowell excoriated the RadiusRecycling/SchnitzerSteel defendants in court for causing delays in prosecuting this case. Since the defendants first appeared in court on July 23, they have obtained three extensions of the arraignment date.

Published

2 days ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Criminal charges announced this week are related to the August 2023 scrap metal fire at Radius Recycling Inc., formerly Schnitzer Steel. Photo courtesy of Oaklandside.

Special to The Post

District Attorney Pamela Price announced that a hearing was held on October 30 in the criminal prosecution of the Radius Recycling/Schnitzer Steel involving a fire at the West Oakland facility on Aug. 9-10, 2023.

The Alameda County criminal Grand Jury indicted radius Recycling and two of its corporate managers in June 2024.

The court clarified that the defendants will not receive more extensions on their arraignment and plea.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price agreed with the court that defendants should not get preferential treatment. Price and her team appreciated the court for clarifying that future delays by Radius will not be tolerated.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) public data shows that during and after the fire, the smoke plume traveled across Alameda County with high levels of PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) detected around Laney College in Oakland, Livermore, Pleasanton, and West Oakland.

PM2.5 is particularly harmful to infants and children, the elderly, and people with asthma or heart disease.

“This fire posed a great health hazard to the people of Alameda County,” said Price. “High, short-term exposures to a toxic smoke plume have been shown to cause significant danger to human health.

“Additionally, in this case, Oakland firefighters battled the blaze under extremely dangerous conditions for 15 hours with assistance from a San Francisco Fire Department fireboat and a fireboat from the City of Alameda Fire Department,” Price observed.

The team prosecuting the case from the DA’s Consumer Justice Bureau looks forward to resolving any future motions and having the defendants arraigned in court on Dec. 9.

The media relations office of the Alameda County District Attorney’s office is the source of this report.

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Alameda County

D.A. Price Charges Coliseum Flea Market Vendors in Organized Retail Theft Case

The charges against Octavio Ambriz Valle, 52, Devora Ambriz Valle, 49, and Felipe Del Toro Trejo, 54, include multiple felony counts of possessing stolen property and organized retail theft in concert. It is alleged that the trio of vendors possessed stolen property valued at $348,466 from nine different retailers, including Kohl’s, Macy’s, PetSmart, Sephora, Sunglass Hut, TJX, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart.

Published

2 days ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Alameda County courthouse. Courtesy photo.

Alameda County Courthouse File photo.

Special to The Post

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced today that her office charged three people in connection with multiple organized retail theft crimes stemming from a sophisticated criminal enterprise operating at the Oakland Coliseum Flea Market from March 26, 2023, through April 17, 2024.

It is alleged that the trio of vendors possessed stolen property valued at $348,466 from nine different retailers, including Kohl’s, Macy’s, PetSmart, Sephora, Sunglass Hut, TJX, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart.

Last year, the District Attorney’s Office successfully competed and received a $2 million grant from the California Department of Justice to combat organized retail theft. Price added another $2 million to bolster the Organized Retail Crime Alameda (ORCA) unit which is fully operational and collaborating with numerous law enforcement agencies.

“For over a year, this enterprise supported criminal networks by requesting and buying specific products from brazen boosters who repeatedly terrorized retailers,” said Price. “I want to acknowledge our Organized Retail Crime Alameda (ORCA) Vertical Prosecution Unit for its great work and the role they played in this multi-jurisdiction investigation, which included the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and San Ramon Police Department.”

If convicted and sentenced on all charges, Octavio Ambriz Valle faces a maximum sentence of nine years in County jail; Devora Ambriz Valle faces a maximum sentence of five years in County jail; and Felipe Del Toro Trejo faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in County jail.