Activism

Oakland Council Leadership Call for Pay Equity, Investigation of DVP Deputy Chief’s Termination

Councilmember At-Large and Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan stated, “It is essential to end all acts of discrimination by this administration – and these allegations of misconduct and pay disparity – and alleged retaliation – warrant a direct response, investigation, and remedy. The decisions that are the subject of this alleged misconduct never came to the City Council. Since the City Council voted to fund a Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention, and never authorized eliminating that position. I urge that we schedule this issue to Council directly. We must take action to undo inappropriate actions and take further steps to ensure that race and gender discrimination are not tolerated.”

Published

4 years ago

April 3, 2022

Oakland Post

Dr. Sarai Crain, former deputy director of Oakland’s Dept. of Violence Prevention.

By Kimberly Jones

In collaboration with Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, President Pro Tem Sheng Thao, and Councilmember Carroll Fife, Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan is calling for Pay Equity in the City of Oakland. Vice Mayor Kaplan has submitted two scheduling requests to ensure that the City Administration investigate and rectify the abrupt termination of The Violence Prevention Department’s deputy chief.

The public’s comment and committee member’s concerns raised for the DVP Item #7b, at the Monday, March 28th Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Oversight Commission (SSOC) indicates a need to investigate the elimination of a high-level position from the Council-budgeted roster of personnel in the Department of Violence Prevention (DVP).

Members of the Oversight Commission expressed deep concern with what appears to be an abrupt termination of Dr. Sarai Crain from her deputy chief of Violence Prevention position from the City of Oakland. In the meeting, the Commission Chair stated that there was no conversation with the SSOC about this major shift and that this matter would have to go before the City Council as the Commission has no jurisdictional authority to impact the decision.

Crain personally participated in the meeting saying that her termination was not based on performance, rather it was related to her push for equitable compensation in the DVP. This assertion was presented to the City Council and Administration in a letter sent Friday, March 25, 2022, by attorneys retained by Crain.

In a statement addressing the letter and public outcry, Fife said, “It’s important to look into the claims being made in this matter so we avoid perpetuating a practice of diminishing talented, experienced women, particularly women of color, in leadership positions. It is International Women’s History Month and gender equity should be the bare minimum of what we aspire to at the City of Oakland.”

“Every day, not just during Women’s History Month, it’s absolutely urgent to ensure pay equity and a workplace free from gender discrimination,” said Bas. “These claims are deeply troubling and must be investigated and resolved immediately. Dr. Sarai Crain is a well-respected advocate against gender-based violence. Her departure has been deeply felt by those of us working to end human trafficking, which is centered in my district in the San Antonio neighborhood. Having championed last year’s investment in expanding the Department of Violence Prevention, I want to ensure we have strong leadership to implement Oakland’s vision for community healing and safety.”

Thao states, “These allegations are incredibly serious and must be investigated thoroughly. The gender pay gap is very real and persistent in this country. In Oakland, of all places, one of the most progressive, forwarding-thinking cities in America, it is unconscionable that this discriminatory practice would be allowed to go on. We must do all that we can to ensure equal pay for equal work. Equity is an Oakland value. Equity is an American value. It is my hope that this matter can be settled quickly, and Dr. Crain can return to the critical work of violence prevention in Oakland.”

Kimberly Jones is the chief of staff to Vice Mayor Kaplan.

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Activism

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

1 week 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.