Community
CoBiz Richmond Creators Unveil STEAM Career App
A new STEAM The Streets App aims to raise awareness and access for youth to high-demand career opportunities in STEM and arts. Equally interesting? The app’s founders Ben Gilbarg and Angel Diazare work locally at CoBiz Richmond.

Caption: Ben Gilbarg and Angel Diaz, founders of STEAM The Streets App.
By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Standard
A new STEAM The Streets App aims to raise awareness and access for youth to high-demand career opportunities in STEM and arts. Equally interesting? The app’s founders Ben Gilbarg and Angel Diazare work locally at CoBiz Richmond.
The mobile STEAM The Streets App is developed for users ages 13 and older. The app aims to provide a user-friendly, self-guided way for youth to connect to career pathways in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), using real, culturally relevant stories of professionals, deep dives into careers, curated learning resources, mentor matching and more.
The app founders highlighted that the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that STEAM careers “are the way of the future,” however, Gilbarg notes that approximately 4 million STEAM jobs will go unfilled in the U.S. this year alone. “If our youth can’t see it, they can’t be it,” he said.
The founders, who say they that between them they have 40 years of experience in education, youth development and media production, assert that under-invested communities are particularly absent from the STEAM employment equation.
They pointed to a recent Pew Research study referenced in The Hechinger Report that found that Black students were underrepresented in STEAM jobs, with only 7% of Black college graduates receiving a related degree.
Together, the app founders said they are “determined to change the course of the next generation with this mobile app focusing on high school-aged teens.”
Learn more about the STEAM The Streets App at https://steamthestreets.org/, download it via iOS https://apps.apple.com/us/app/steam-the-streets/id1623550730 or Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.steamthestreets.sts&pli=1
You can also check out a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOmaQ9NXrIc
CoBiz Richmond is a co-working site and business incubator operating out of a 9,000-square-foot, technologically equipped space at 1503 Macdonald Ave. The nonprofit, which aims to strengthen community viability through wealth-building strategies, is one of the projects of eQuip Richmond, an economic revitalization initiative funded by Chevron Richmond.
For more information on CoBiz, visit its https://www.cobizrichmond.com/ or contact CoBiz CEO Wesley Alexander at wesley@cobizrichmond.com or 510-309-7107.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025

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Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress
“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) expressed deep gratitude to her constituents and marked the end of her 26-year career in public service.
Lee, who is succeeded by Lateefah Simon, a civil rights and racial justice activist, praised people in her community for their support. She also highlighted her dedication to promoting peace, justice, and equity.
“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.
Throughout her tenure, Lee earned a reputation as a principled lawmaker known for taking bold and sometimes unpopular stances. One of her defining moments came in 2001 when she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in response to the September 11 attacks. This decision led to death threats but ultimately cemented her legacy of courage.
Lee’s leadership extended beyond her district, where she fought for social justice, the rights of low-income communities, and global health initiatives. She was a key figure in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She was a vocal critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services.
The Congresswoman also faced significant challenges in her career, including a failed Senate bid in 2024. Yet, Lee’s efforts have paved the way for more excellent representation, with more Black women now elected to Congress. She worked closely with organizations like Representation Matters to encourage more women of color to run for office.
Lee says she looks to the future, confident that the next generation of leaders will continue her unfinished work, particularly on issues like military force and reproductive rights.
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Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025
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