Activism

Reimagining Senior Living at 77th & Bancroft a Community Hub for All

“This project represents a unique opportunity to create a sustainable, affordable housing community that not only meets the needs of our seniors but also revitalizes the heart of East Oakland,” said Carolyn Johnson, Black Cultural Zone’s Chief Executive Officer. “We envision a place where seniors can live with dignity, participate in cultural activities, and contribute to the fabric of our community.”

Published

1 year ago

October 5, 2024

Oakland Post

77th and Bancroft architects Art Clark and Patricia Wells discuss project plans with seniors at the East Oakland Senior Center.

Public Invited to Community Meeting on Oct. 7 at Praise Fellowship Christian Church

By Tasion Kwamilele

Once known as the city’s most challenging housing complex, 77th & Bancroft is undergoing a remarkable transformation! It’s poised to become a vibrant senior living community, complete with essential amenities and welcoming commercial spaces.

Community partners developing a home for seniors in the heart of East Oakland are holding an informational workshop seeking feedback on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. at Praise Fellowship Christian Church at 7711 MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland.

Led by the Black Cultural Zone and Eden Housing, in partnership with the California Affordable Housing Initiative (CAHI) and the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA), this initiative directly responds to community concerns about blight and the desire for a thriving East Oakland.

“We are pleased and honored to share the exciting benefits of the 77th and Bancroft Senior Housing project with the East Oakland community, a spokesperson from Eden Housing shared. “This joint development with our partners at the Black Cultural Zone will provide 90 affordable units, offering seniors not only a place to call home but also access to vibrant community spaces, including 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor activity areas. By creating affordable, secure housing, we are helping ensure that our senior residents can age with dignity and remain connected to their community.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners—the Oakland Housing Authority and the City of Oakland—for their invaluable support in making this project a reality. Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive future for East Oakland,” the spokesperson concluded.

The informational workshop on Oct. 7 “is your chance to engage with project developers and architects directly, ensuring the final design reflects the community’s needs and aspirations, particularly for our valued seniors,” added Johnson.

A complimentary dinner will be served, and attendees will be entered to win gift cards!

Visit www.77thandbancroft.com for more information and to RSVP for the workshop.

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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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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.