Activism

Who Made the List? See Housing & Climate Progressive Democratic Endorsements for AD-18 ADEM Elections

Organized as the “Housing & Climate Progressive Democratic Slate,” the team of 13 is running in an election happening right now that often flies under the radar – the California Democratic Party’s Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs). Normally ignored by most voters, this year’s ADEM election might carry additional weight with President Trump in the Oval Office.

Published

1 year ago

January 1, 2025

Oakland Post

Organized as the “Housing & Climate Progressive Democratic Slate,” the team of 13 is running in an election happening right now that often flies under the radar – the California Democratic Party’s Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs).

By Oakland Post Staff

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 31 at Noon

OAKLAND, CA — A diverse group of progressive, results-driven candidates running to represent Assembly District 18 in the California Democratic Party announced endorsements from a slate of local elected and community leaders, including Oakland Councilmembers Zac Unger and Noel Gallo, BART Director Victor Flores, former Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb, and former Emeryville Mayor and candidate for Alameda County Supervisor John Bauters.

“November’s election showed that the Democratic Party has been on the wrong track,” said Ben Gould, a candidate and organizer with the slate. “California has an opportunity – and a responsibility – to show the country what Democrats can achieve. It’s time for a change in leadership and a new approach to ensuring the Democratic Party can meet the needs of working families.”

The ADEM elections are grassroots elections where Democrats from each Assembly District vote for their local representatives to the state party. These ADEM representatives help shape the party platform, endorse candidates, and influence the policy direction of Democrats throughout California.

However, this election is often missed by most voters because of an elaborate registration and voting process. Unlike normal elections, in order to vote for ADEMS, registered Democrats must go online to www.ademelections.com to register for a ballot before January 31st at noon. Then, CADEM will send a special PIN via traditional paper mail, delivered by USPS, with instructions for how to go online to vote. Anyone who requests a ballot, and receives the mailed instructions, will then be able to cast their vote online before Feb. 23.

Here in AD-18, those incumbents include Kalimah Priforce, an Emeryville councilmember who was notably recently censured by his peers for ethics violations, failing to comply with campaign finance laws, and violating confidentiality. Priforce was elected in 2023, when less than 600 votes were cast despite 172,000 Democrats being eligible to vote.

The Housing & Climate Progressive Democratic Slate includes a mix of both notable community leaders, and some new names that offer a fresh perspective for the California Democratic Party. The slate members are:

Sam Davis (former Oakland School Board Director)
Nate Hanson (affordable housing developer)
Regina Chagolla (Emery Unified School District Board Member)
Cathy Adams (President of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce)
Genice Jacobs (anti-trafficking activist)
Ben Gould (environmental policy consultant)
Sam Gould (former candidate for Emeryville City Council and housing & safe streets advocate)
Lauren Wilson (transportation and urban planning advocate)
Zac Bowling (housing activist)
Bobbi Lopez (victim services deputy)
Shawn Danino (former candidate for Oakland City Council At-Large and housing/mobility policymaker)
Ashlee Jemmott (deputy policy analyst)
Arielle Fleisher (transportation policy advisor)

Democrats can vote in the ADEM election by visiting www.ademelections.com to register before Friday, Jan. 31 at noon. After registering online, voters will receive a code via USPS mail from CADEMS, which can be used to vote before Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

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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.