Events

Charlie Wilson’s “In It to Win It” at the Paramount Theatre, April 13

Published

8 years ago

April 5, 2018

With a long list of number one singles, sold out tours and a best-selling memoir, Charlie Wilson has more than proven that he’s “In It to Win It,” the title of his latest album. Prior to having his twelfth number one single, Charlie Wilson gave fans “Burn Rubber on Me,” “Outstanding” and “Early in the Morning,” as the founder of the Gap Band. Nowadays as a solo artist, the hits keep on coming with “There Goes My Baby,” “I’m Blessed” and “Chills”.

Having survived addiction, homelessness and prostate cancer, Wilson says, “You can do anything in life; just keep it simple, believe in God and make God your first love,” he said.

In his darkest moments Wilson said he simply asked God to preserve his life and give him a chance to make music. “God is amazing—ask, trust and believe,” he said

Often referred to as Uncle Charlie, the solo star has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, T.I. and says he hopes to work with John Legend one day.

“I was actually with John one day and mentioned working with him. All of a sudden he pulled up an entire file labeled Charlie Wilson,” Charlie added.

“In It to Win It” was nominated for three 2018 NAACP Image Awards, Outstanding Male Artist, Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration and Outstanding Album. The set boasts the Billboard number one lead single “I’m Blessed” featuring T.I., which was one of the fastest rising top ten singles on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart and was Wilson’s first number one on the Gospel Singles chart.

Wilson was recently honored at the 2018 NAACP Image Awards with the first ever Music Makes A Difference Award, a tribute to his 22 years of sobriety, assisting the homeless and educating the African-American community about prostate cancer. “It was truly an overwhelming experience to receive this award,” stated Wilson.

“Early detection is key in the fight against cancer and I urge men to be your brother’s keeper and encourage one another to see a doctor regularly,” he said.

“’I’m Blessed’ says exactly where I am in my life, blessed to still be making music that people want to hear,” says Wilson. “2017 was a tough year for so many people around the world, so I was proud to release a song to remind us that we can all find some blessings in our lives.

As far as 2018 and the future, Wilson says he’s going to continue making great music. “I love performing for people – it keeps the little boy inside of me alive.”

“In It to Win It” features songs with Pitbull, Wiz Khalifa, Robin Thicke, Lalah Hathaway and Snoop Dogg. True to his faith and life testimony, Wilson unleashes his powerful tenor on the uplifting track, “Amazing God” and romance songs “Precious Love” and “New Addiction.”

Before launching his solo career in 2000, Wilson racked up a string of hits in the late ‘70s and ‘80s as front man with the Gap Band. He chronicled his odds-defying life and career in his 2015 best-selling autobiography, “I Am Charlie Wilson.” On April 13, Wilson performs at the Paramount Theater in Oakland.

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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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February 21, 2026

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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.

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.