Bay Area

Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor: Closing the Equity Gap for Communities of Color

Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor are two pillars of the San Francisco Bay Area. More than this, they are visionaries who are helping construct the pathway for our nation’s economic future. The Kapors have spent the last decade developing a vision and practice to make the tech industry more diverse and inclusive.

Published

1 year ago

April 15, 2023

Oakland Post

At San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club, Mitch Kapor, Freada Kapor, left, discussed their new book and Linda Parker Pennington and Kenneth Johnson were among the attendees. Photo by Conway Jones

By Conway Jones

Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor are two pillars of the San Francisco Bay Area.

More than this, they are visionaries who are helping construct the pathway for our nation’s economic future.

The Kapors have spent the last decade developing a vision and practice to make the tech industry more diverse and inclusive.

Their new book, “Closing the Equity Gap: Creating Wealth and Fostering Justice in Startup Investing,” explains how their two institutions, Kapor Center and Kapor Capital, invest in seed-stage tech startups focused on closing gaps of access, opportunity and outcome for low-income communities and communities of color.

Their core belief is that all companies must make a positive impact.

“Loyalty to values is more important than loyalty to investors.” said Freada Kapor in her address to the Commonwealth Club of California last Monday.

The Kapors’ belief is that entrepreneurs who overcome obstacles in life are a far better predictor of long-term success than the schools they attend or the investment dollars they raise from friends and family.

“Mitch and Freada were both authentic and engaging in their presentation.” said Linda Parker Pennington, founder and CEO of Parker Pennington Enterprises, LLC. “They told us ‘how they’ve done well by doing good’ and how we can, too.” Parker Pennington continued.

“The investment work we do is what matters.” said Mitch Kapor.

“The Kapors’ investment formula is proven to help close these access, opportunity, and outcome gaps for low-income communities,” said Kenneth Johnson, videographer, community leader and Board Director of the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce. “We need to adopt their vision here in San Francisco.”

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”