Activism

Restore Our City’s Service (R.O.C.S) Can Stabilize Our Community

There is no reason whatsoever that our cities should be lacking so much when the system is supposed to help, not hinder progress. R.O.C.S is necessary because maintenance and solutions come from action, not words. And, with a plan of action that pushes a sustained commitment for improvement, we can make a difference.

Published

5 years ago

July 3, 2021

Isabelle Price

R.O.C.S Workers Courtesy Richard Johnson

R.O.C.S, which stands for a concept to “Restore Our City’s Service,” is derived from a position of need because somewhere along the path the ball was dropped when it came to serving the needs of the people who are struggling to survive.

I have initiated R.O.C.S as a way to help create a path of light and hope for those whose backs are literally up against the wall, with actions that lead to solutions rather than to despair or violence.

As one moves around our communities, it will become evident from observing those living on the streets in encampments that services for much needed assistance have been severely compromised to the point of being nonexistent.

We shouldn’t have to walk by the depressing conditions of homelessness, the need for mental health assistance, vocational training needs, nagging hunger and health maintenance concerns for the disenfranchised.

Regrettably this is the reality that faces far too many cities, especially Oakland. Some people have lost hope, but more importantly, some have lost faith in the powers that be to make the needed changes.

It is a horrible sight to see how our streets are littered with garbage and filth. These conditions, along with the nasty effects of living in close proximity to vermin-infested enclaves, present a dangerous health issue for those living in street encampments.

Quite naturally R.O.C.S won’t be able to address every single problem. However, what R.O.C.S can do is open the repair gates to a much better living society. Our cities have existing services, but what is plainly obvious is those services have failed and continue to fall short of their intended objective for whatever reasons.

The goal of R.O.C.S goal is to serve those in need by working in collaboration with other organizations to restore whatever is needed to improve our cities in responsible ways. By working together we can improve our schools, hospitals, city streets and make many other needed repairs for cities to function properly.

Talk is nothing without production and a plan that connect the neglected while advancing the overall agenda to make our spaces much better livable places.

Let’s not confuse agenda with progress. Progress is made when the needs of people are met and when the restorations are achieved.

After serving many years in prison where I started writing columns for the Post, I prayed often and pledged to devote the rest of my writings and my work life to restoring justice and services to those in need.

I now pray that R.O.C can be the rock that stabilizes our community in a profound way.

Isabelle Price

Posts by Isabelle Price

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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.