Activism

The Greenlining Institute Appoints Max Vargas as the New CEO and President

Published

5 months ago

September 21, 2025

Oakland Post

Photo courtesy of The Greenlining Institute.

By Carla Thomas

The Greenlining Institute’s Board of Directors has appointed Max Vargas as its new President and CEO, effective September 15. He succeeds Olga Talamante, who has served as Interim President and CEO since February and will now return to her role on the Board.

Vargas most recently served as Vice President of Economic Justice at the Latino Community Foundation, where he built a portfolio focused on unlocking Latino economic power through entrepreneurship, worker advancement, cooperatives, and climate justice. His career also includes leadership roles as Deputy Director at First 5 California, Senior Policy Advisor to former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, and posts within the California State Legislature, local workforce and transportation agencies, and the National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS).

A former unaccompanied minor from Peru, Vargas sought political asylum in the United States and later became a naturalized citizen, an experience that has shaped his lifelong commitment to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for communities historically excluded from power.

“Max embodies the very spirit of Greenlining,” said Board Co-Chairs Noemí Gallardo and Tunua Thrash-Ntuk. “His vision, lived experience, and record of bold, strategic leadership will ensure communities of color are not only at the table but leading the solutions for racial, economic, and climate justice.”

For more than three decades, The Greenlining Institute has worked to move beyond resisting redlining by creating pathways toward inclusive investment and prosperity in communities of color. At a time when systemic racism, economic inequity, and environmental injustice continue to plague society, Board members expressed confidence that Vargas will position Greenlining to redefine how equity and justice drive systemic change.

“We are thrilled to welcome Max as he guides Greenlining into its next chapter and building a future where communities of color thrive,” said Talamante.

In accepting the role, Vargas reflected on both the organization’s legacy and its future impact. “I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to grow The Greenlining Institute’s legacy of racial, economic, and environmental justice,” he said. “It is an honor to join a team of community champions committed to matching policy with action. While the challenges our communities face are great, our commitment and the investments our communities deserve are greater.”

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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

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.