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Family Seeks Justice for Murdered Daughter on 14th Anniversary of Her Death

Dezzy’s mother, Dru Ann Davis, said, “How could this irreversible horror, caused by idiots, have happened to my, our, Dezzy? “A soul that hurt no one and wanted to do good work with animals and people. If you can provide information on any of these killers, please be brave and contact Oakland Police. You may be the one to bring a sense of peace to the lives of Dezzy’s family.” The Family Support Advocates joins with the grieving family and loved ones of Desiree Dezzy Davis’ in their pursuit of justice. 

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Desiree ‘Dezzy’ Davis was a girl of many talents: swimmer, athlete, and writer. Photo courtesy of Dru Ann Davis.
Desiree ‘Dezzy’ Davis was a girl of many talents: swimmer, athlete, and writer. Photo courtesy of Dru Ann Davis.

By Family Support Advocates
Special to The Post

Desiree Davis was only 17 years old when she was senselessly murdered in North Oakland 14 years ago on September 7, 2009. Desiree, or Dezzy as she preferred, was a beautiful little girl that instantly liked people, adults included.

Dez was artistic, a good swimmer and athlete, an animal lover who wanted to be a veterinarian, a good writer in prose and poetry and she could rap lyrics to a great many songs. She was a naturally happy kid who loved so much of life.

When Dez started school, she was criticized for an eye imperfection, which sometimes made her sad and isolated, but it didn’t stop her from pursuing happiness.

Dez was independent and didn’t mind working for the extra things she wanted for herself. She worked three jobs by the time she was 16, and especially loved working at The Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley. As she began her senior year in high school, just before her murder, she was co-editor of the school’s yearbook, began running track and volunteered at the Berkeley Humane Society. She was gaining in self-confidence and trying new interests.

Dezzy’s mother, Dru Ann Davis, said, “How could this irreversible horror, caused by idiots, have happened to my, our, Dezzy?

“A soul that hurt no one and wanted to do good work with animals and people. If you can provide information on any of these killers, please be brave and contact Oakland Police. You may be the one to bring a sense of peace to the lives of Dezzy’s family.”

The Family Support Advocates joins with the grieving family and loved ones of Desiree Dezzy Davis’ in their pursuit of justice.

Anyone in the community with information about Dezzy’s murder is asked to contact the Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or the TIP LINE at (510) 238-7950. CrimeStoppers of Oakland is offering a reward for an arrest in this case.  #JusticeforDesiree.

FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCACY TASK FORCE

The mission of the Family Support Advocacy Task Force, a committee of the Violence Prevention Coalition, is to advocate for local, state and federal policies and legislation to enhance and expand support to families and friends of those who experienced violence; for more compassionate and transparent communication between law enforcement, the district attorney with the family of homicide victims and to push for the elimination of all violence, but particularly gun violence and homicides.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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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.

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Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.
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.

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.

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.

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