Activism

The Divine 9 Educate Voters at Vote Smart Summit

Oakland, CA – Recognizing that the upcoming election will be one of the most crucial of our lifetime, the San Francisco Bay Area National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), in collaboration with Oakland District 7 Councilmember Treva Reid, 100 Black Men of Oakland, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Krisspi and Soulbeat hosted The Vote Smart Summit on Sept. 21 at Oakland City Hall.

Published

1 year ago

October 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Panelists at the San Francisco Bay NPHC Vote Smart Summit , from left to right : Dr. Joseph Marshall, Owen Knapper Jr., Solano County Supervisor Wanda Williams, Hon. Elihu Harris and Hon. Lynette McElhaney. Soulbeat photo.

By Brigitte Cook

Special to The Post

The information provided at the Summit is intended to educate voters about proposed measures and voting options in an accessible way so that they can make informed decisions for themselves and their families. SF Bay Area NPHC President Erika Albury said, “From ranked-choice voting to local and state ballot measures, we wanted voters to feel confident that they understand the impact of their selections.”

Residents from Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties heard the presentation from Champagne Brown on behalf of BWOPA, explaining the various state measures.

Student leaders from the Oakland Youth Commission educated attendees on the historic upcoming Youth Vote and how to engage young voters.

A panel discussion featuring past and current leaders like former Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris, Dr. Joe Marshall, founder of Street Soldiers Radio – Alive and Free, Solano County Supervisor Wanda Williams, former Oakland City Councilmember Lynette McElhaney, and UC Berkeley ASUC Senator Owen Knapper Jr. focused on the importance of this election cycle and the ramifications of not exercising your vote.

Breakout sessions for each county were held to discuss local measures and the ranked-choice voting process.

A replay of the Summit will be shown on Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. on the City of Oakland television channel, KTOP Cable Channel 10 or it can be viewed online at https://oakland.granicus.com/player/clip/6361?redirect=true.

The San Francisco Bay Area NPHC joins thousands of Divine 9 chapters and members across the country in an unprecedented voter registration, education, and mobilization campaign to ensure strong voter turnout in the communities we serve.

This nonpartisan, coordinated effort builds on our shared legacies and service to our communities. The Divine 9 stands in unity to Get Out the Vote!

NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL

The National Pan-Hellenic Council is currently comprised of nine historically Black national sororities and fraternities – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.

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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.