Business

Malia Cohen Keynotes the OAACC Annual Business Luncheon

Published

6 years ago

October 31, 2019

It takes an extraordinary person to pick up the pieces and run for city council of one of the most powerful cities in the state right after losing a home to foreclosure and shutting down a small business.

But that is what today’s high-powered elected official Malia Cohen did when she won two terms (2010 and 2014) in the city of San Francisco before ending as president of the council.

To the packed-to-capacity audience, Cohen spoke of the resilience it took to run for office at that time in her power packed keynote speech at the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce’s 16th Annual Business Luncheon at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Jack London Square.

Currently the California State Board of Equalization Chair, Cohen is the first African American woman to lead in the Department’s 140-year history. In her role, Cohen represents the 2nd district covering 23 counties in California, overseeing 58 county assessors and the state’s $70 billion property tax system that funds public schools and local government services.

“I put everything on the table when running for city council (and started a whole new path). I knew my enemies during the campaign would use the experience of my losing my home against me,” she said. “And they did.” Yet she persevered.

“I came back with an unwavering understanding of predatory loans and predatory lending. Not only did I lose my home, but that year, 1,400 others in the Bay View Hunter’s Point lost their homes. So when we talk about home ownership and finance, this is incredibly personal. And when I’m at work and I’m at the table, I’m thinking of you because I drawing upon my personal experience and I know my experience is not unique.”

According to Cohen, home ownership among whites is 61% and for African Americans, 31.2%. African American home ownership fell by 6.7% during the great recession.

“As African Americans, we have paid taxes for a long time, with homes as our largest asset. I am reminded of the lack of prosperity that has been historically denied to so many African Americans community members.

So much has been tied up in small business and our homes.”

Cohen urged attendees to play to their best strengths economically and share their stories so that others can learn and grow. She also acknowledged that many smart and savvy entrepreneurs are investing in the Black community and resisting gentrification by providing services, opportunities and mentorship.

While commending the honorees of the luncheon, Cohen urged the audience to draw on the support of community and stay unified and learn from the business owners who launched their business in spite of obstacles or barriers. “We are here to honor the self-motivated and those that block out the negative talk that they are not enough.

Luncheon honorees included Rev. Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., senior pastor of Beebe Memorial Cathedral, who was presented the Chairman’s Award. Hames and his wife, Michelle, have led Beebe Memorial for 13 years. Hames says his faith in God, love of Christ and belief in biblical scripture Ephesians 3:20 are foundational tenets he lives by.

The Small Business of the Year Award was presented to Chris Rachel, owner and operator of Liege Oakland and Slice Oakland. Rachel turned his passion for DJ-ing into businesses that employ more than 30 people.

Start Up Business of the Year award went to Iguehi E. James, owner and chief designer of Love Iguehi. The designer traded in her career in public health and created her clothing line after teaching herself to sew with YouTube tutorials. Iguehi infuses the dynamic designs of her Nigerian heritage and colorful flowing fabrics to produce looks for women to; “Love the way you look. Love the way feel.”

The Oscar Coffey Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented to Sherri McMullen, founder and CEO of McMullen. For 11 years, McMullen has showcased both established and emerging global designers offering luxury women’s wear. She has styled celebrities including Ayesha Curry.

Saskia Hatvany

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC