Activism
Webinars to Inspire Women Entrepreneurs Offered by OAACC and Working Solutions
Covering topics ranging from wellbeing, self-confidence, and lessons learned, webinars can be attended individually or as part of the series. Attendees will hear from guest speakers, who are experienced professionals committed to health, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.
![Top Left, Sandra Varner, Councilmember Treva Reid, Center: Dr. Carole Dorham-Kelly, Ph.D., Top Right: Carolyn “C.J.” Johnson, Cathy D. Adams](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/womens-history-month-seminar-series-featured-web.jpg)
The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Working Solutions CDFI, is hosting a webinar series in honor of Women’s History Month to inspire, encourage, and enlighten women in business.
Called ‘Permission to: Breathe, Believe, Succeed,’ the free webinars will take place on March 23, March 28 and March 30, 2022, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Click HERE https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcscOCvqDIoGdB2JHXHZwMe6Ppno0RkFcyI to register for “Permission to Breathe,” Dr. Carole Dorham-Kelly, PhD
Click HERE https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtfuutpzopGtW8pKneas6yciITLqPOIGiC to register for “Permission to Believe” Councilwoman Treva Reid, Oakland-District 7
Click HERE https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtcu-rqzMjG9KtbYS9TRCUp_vz1M5sfwL6 to register for “Permission to Succeed” Cathy Adams, President & CEO, OACC, Sandra Varner, Owner, Varner PR Agency, Carolyn Johnson, CEO, Black Cultural Zone
Covering topics ranging from wellbeing, self-confidence, and lessons learned, webinars can be attended individually or as part of the series. Attendees will hear from the following guest speakers, who are experienced professionals committed to health, advocacy, and entrepreneurship:
- Cathy Adams, president and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, is a community organizer, activist, entrepreneur, and founder of CDA Consulting Group, an events management company.
- Dr. Carole Dorham-Kelly is a psychologist and President and CEO of Rubicon Programs, a nonprofit organization fighting poverty via workforce and economic mobility programs in the East Bay.
- Councilwoman Treva Reid, representing Oakland’s District 7, is an ardent activist, community leader, proponent of social justice, and mayoral candidate for the City of Oakland.
- Sandra Varner, CEO and founder of Varner PR & Community Engagement, is an acclaimed and adept professional who designs and implements effective strategies from concept to completion.
- Carolyn Johnson is a seasoned real estate broker, advisor in small business management and finance, and CEO of Black Cultural Zone—a collaborative building power, securing land, and directing more dollars to community-driven projects in East Oakland, allowing families and neighborhoods to thrive.
- Moderator: Anita Russell, Business Development Officer for Working Solutions CDFI, is an experienced facilitator who is committed to supporting and empowering diverse entrepreneurs.
Working Solutions CDFI, a nonprofit organization, is the First to Believe in start-up and early-stage businesses by providing diverse entrepreneurs with affordable capital, customized business consulting, and community connections to increase economic opportunity in Northern California.
The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit organization with a mission to advance economic opportunity and strengthen Oakland’s Black business community, providing a number of services for business associates and members including workshops, business development opportunities, and advocacy.
For more information, contact: Cathy Adams, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (510) 268-1600 | office@oaacc.org
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of September 4 – 10, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 4 – 10, 2024
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Activism
Oakland Post: Week of August 28 – September 4, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of August 28 – September 4, 2024
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Activism
A New Coalition Says: ‘Respect Our Vote – No Recalls!’
Opposing the recalls of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and labeling the efforts as a new form of voter suppression, the coalition, “Respect Our Vote – No Recalls!” kicked off its organizing efforts last Saturday, Aug. 17, with a mass, public meeting, attended by over 100 people in East Oakland at At Thy Word Ministries Church, 8915 International Blvd. in East Oakland.
![Jess Inson, Rev. B.K. Woodson, Sr., Stewart Chen, and Mariano Contreras answer questions at the kickoff meeting of “Respect Our Vote – No Recalls!,” Saturday, Aug. 17, at At Thy Word Ministries Church, 8915 International Blvd. in East Oakland. Photo by Ken Epstein.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/respect-our-vote-featured-web-1.jpg)
By Ken Epstein
A broad, diverse coalition has come together to mobilize local communities to vote against the recalls of two East Bay reform-minded leaders, who could potentially be thrown out of office in November after serving less than two years in office.
The recall effort is a result of multi-million-dollar campaigns that the coalition says are fueled by fearmongering with funding from a Piedmont financier and promoted by a public relations campaign in the corporate media.
Opposing the recalls of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and labeling the efforts as a new form of voter suppression, the coalition, “Respect Our Vote – No Recalls!” kicked off its organizing efforts last Saturday, Aug. 17, with a mass, public meeting, attended by over 100 people in East Oakland at At Thy Word Ministries Church, 8915 International Blvd. in East Oakland.
Servant B.K. Woodson, Sr., pastor of the Bay Area Christian Connection in Oakland and chair of the coalition, links the surging national movement to reject the fearmongering and hateful agenda advocated by Donald Trump and the rightwing authoritarian proposals of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 to their own battle against the efforts to unseat progressive leaders in Oakland and Alameda County.
“This is a powerful moment, (and) across the nation you can feel it,” he said. “There’s joy, there’s hope, there’s expectation. We Oaklanders are at the center of the universe right now because the joy that’s bubbling up against the antipathy and the anger and the mindlessness, the battle for hope is being waged right here (against those) who profit by our poverty.”
“This is the inaugural event of ‘Respect Our Vote – No Recalls!’ because we want all people’s votes to be respected,” Pastor Woodson continued. “We are a diverse coalition, and we are open to more.”
The coalition already has the participation of the Wellstone and John George Democratic clubs, the Latino Task Force, and the Asian Americans for a Progressive Alameda, as well as active involvement of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, whites, and others, he said.
“(Together), we want to expose what’s happening,” Woodson said. “The vehicle of recall (was intended to be) a people’s device against entrenched power (but) has been co-opted by billionaires,” who have funded these campaigns.
Those attending the meeting raised concerns about Foundational Oakland Unites, a political action committee that received $605,000 from Piedmont financier Philip Dreyfuss, which contributed $480,000 to back the Sheng Thao recall.
Dreyfuss also contributed to recall Price. A political action committee, Supporters of Recall Pamela Price, which Dreyfuss helped create, received about $400,000 to pay for signature-gathering, as well as a $200,000 loan.
Other speakers at the rally included Stewart Chen, president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council; Carmen Peng of Asian Americans for Progressive Alameda; Jess Inson, lead organizing fellow for Oakland Rising Action; Chaney Turner, chair of the City of Oakland’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission; and Mariano Contreras, member of the Latino Task Force and co-chair of the African American Latino Action Alliance.
Contreras said in past decades, voter suppression was mostly designed to keep African Americans, immigrants, and poor people from being able to vote.
“(But) now we’re seeing a new type of voter suppression, the denial of our vote after we cast it,” he said.
“The recall process was (originally) designed to ensure that elected officials would represent the interests of their constituents. But the recall process has been hijacked by shadowy, conservative money that finds defeated candidates (and others) who are willing to deny you and me our vote as we originally cast it,” he said.
“This is a new, dangerous voter suppression that exists right here in our city,” he said, adding that: “We are seeing the use of fear and misinformation to attract spokespeople to promote attacks and charges that are nothing more than smokescreens to roll back progressive alliances that have been built in our local government.”
Chen said that there has been a “false narrative” about rampant crime, which is a “bunch of baloney.”
There have long been problems with crime in Oakland, and the recalls against Price and Thao began shortly after they were elected and before they had a chance to do much, he said. “Unequivocally, the people who lost wanted their candidates to win. These are sour grapes.”
“This is undemocratic. We have to stand together, unite together,” Chen said. “That’s why I’m here.”
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