Bay Area

COVID-19 – Symptoms and Guidelines to Combating the Virus Spread

Published

6 years ago

April 23, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique health and economic challenges for individuals and families, especially in communities of color where people are disproportionately affected by the virus and have a higher risk of contracting the disease.

To assist those communities of color, the following list of social services agencies have available resources for individual and families impacted by the coronavirus.

In Alameda County:

Emergency Food – The Alameda County Community Food Bank can be reached at (510) 635-3663 and its Emergency Food Helpline is 1(800) 870-3663.

Housing – Alameda County’s homeless shelter program includes supportive housing, halfway housing, transitional housing, day shelters, low-income housing and residential alcohol and drug treatment centers. For more information, visit shelterlistings.org or homelessshelterdirectory.org.

If you are experiencing domestic violence issues at home, contact, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-(800) 799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224. The hotline is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week. If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911.

In San Francisco-Marin County:

Emergency Food — The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is making sure vulnerable neighbors get the food they need. The food bank has put into place solutions to be able to continue providing food and helping the community prepare for whatever challenges the COVID-19 presents. Call (415) 282-1900 for more information.

Emergency Housing – If you are in need of immediate emergency shelter and housing assistance, please contact Eden Information & Referral at (510) 537-2552 or the Bay Area Helpline at 1-(800) 273-6222.

In Contra Costa County:

Emergency Food — The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano distributes food directly to people in need through a variety of programs including their produce, senior food, and food pantry programs. For more information, call (707 421-9777.

Emergency Housing — The County also offers temporary and permanent housing opportunities to homeless and low-income families and individuals. To request assistance, call (925) 338-1038.

Solano County:

Emergency Housing — SHELTER Solano serves Solano County residents. If you are seeking emergency shelter and homeless services or needing to refer someone, please call the Solano County Coordinated Entry System, Resource Connect Solano at (707) 652-7311.

Catholic Charities are open to respond to the needs of its neighbors and the COVID-19 pandemic. Call (707) 644-8909 for food, housing, immigration and family assistance.

The Solano County Behavioral Health Dept. reminds us that the COVID-19 pandemic can be a stressful time for individuals and communities. It is not uncommon to feel anxious or worried while listening, reading or watching the news.

It’s important during times like these to monitor our own physical and mental health, as well as safely say connected to your community. Know the signs of stress and when and how to seek help for yourself, as well as loved ones.

Practicing social distancing does not mean we have to be socially isolated. Stay in touch with friends, family and co-workers by texting, sending emails, talking on the phone, and video chatting. Some people have even had online hangouts or streamed online movies as a group.

Let people know how much you care for them. Reaching out to others is an important part of staying both mentally and physical healthy. During this stressful time, it is vital to practice self-care.

Clifford L. Williams

Posts by Clifford L. Williams

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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

Published

1 week ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

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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.

Published

2 weeks 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.