Business

Rep. Barbara Lee Welcomes Kamala Harris Back to Oakland for First Time as VP

“I was honored to welcome back a daughter of Oakland and Berkeley, and a woman warrior for equality and justice, Vice President Kamala Harris,” said Lee. “I had tears in my eyes watching Air Force 2 land at the airport in Oakland. She brings us hope and shows us the American dream is real. It is so inspiring for young people in this community, and frankly for everyone else here, to see her in the White House helping lead our country through this very difficult time.

Published

5 years ago

April 9, 2021

Kiki

Vice President Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Photo Courtesy of Barbara Lee's office

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris back to her hometown of Oakland on Monday for the first time since taking the office of the vice presidency.

Lee greeted Vice President Harris on the tarmac of Oakland International Airport alongside Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis.

They traveled to Red Door Catering, a local business that prepares fresh, local ingredients for diverse events and dining experiences. While there, they discussed the impact the pandemic has had on small businesses and the importance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Notably, Red Door Catering received both financial and technical support from two Bay Area Community Development Financial Institutions: Action Opportunity Fund and ICA.

“I thank Vice President Harris for her leadership helping small businesses, especially in communities hit hardest by this pandemic. It was a privilege to have her travel to our community today to lift up the important role of CDFIs as an economic engine for businesses and communities like ours. CDFIs are not just about access to capital – they are also about economic justice for people and communities that have long been denied equal opportunities.

“The vice president also has been a great partner to Congressional Democrats as we worked to pass the American Rescue Plan, which invests $60 billion in our nation’s small businesses.

“This is just the beginning of what we have to do to rebuild our economy, address economic and racial disparities, and respond to the other major challenges facing our country. I look forward to continuing to work with Vice President Harris and the Biden Administration to build back bolder.”

Alex Katz is a district communications manager in Barbara Lee’s office.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

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5 days ago

March 7, 2026

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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

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2 weeks ago

March 1, 2026

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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

3 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.