Business

Opinion: The Time is Now to Invest in Black Women in California

California prides itself on its progressive values and its commitment to diversity and inclusion. However, the economic disparities that Black women face in the state present a troubling contradiction to this self- image. With more than 1 million Black females living in the golden state, which is the 5th largest population in the country, it is important to cast a light on the inequities that we face. The data speaks volumes: Black women are systematically underserved and undervalued, challenged by wealth gaps, high poverty rates, and substantial economic burdens.

Published

2 years ago

July 8, 2024

Oakland Post

President and CEO Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute Kellie Todd Griffin.

By Kellie Todd Griffin, Special to California Black Media Partners

With more than 1 million Black females living in the golden state, which is the 5^th largest population in the country, it is important to cast a light on the inequities that we face. The data speaks volumes: Black women are systematically underserved and undervalued, challenged by wealth gaps, high poverty rates, and substantial economic burdens.

Consider the stark wealth gap: Black women hold a mere 10% of the wealth of their White male counterparts, with a median wealth of only $6,000. This is the lowest among all racial and gender groups in California. Moreover, when it comes to earnings, Black women make just 57 cents for every dollar that White, non-Hispanic men earn, according to the Status of Women in California report produced by Mount Saint Mary’s University – Los Angeles. Black Women would have to work an additional 30 years (91 years old) to make what a White man makes at the age of 64. It will only take White women 10 additional years. This disparity is not just an injustice but a stain on our state’s reputation, reflecting a gap as severe as those seen in the most economically divided regions of the country.

The economic obligations that Black women shoulder are overwhelming. They spend up to 50% of their income on housing and nearly 30% on childcare, far more than any other demographic. This dynamic is elevated with 67% of Black Californian households being headed by single mothers, which is highlighted in the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute’s Pay Me What I Am Worth, Black Women’s Wages Report.

Despite educational achievement, Black Women still find themselves making less than their White and Asian female counterparts with the same education. These expenses cripple their ability to save, invest, or gain economic stability, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and financial insecurity.

The Federal Reserve Bank states homeownership rate among Black Californians is notably lower than that of other racial groups. As of the latest data, it stands at approximately 36.8%, which is significantly below the rate for White households in the state. And Black women in California face significant housing challenges, particularly in the rental market. They are disproportionately impacted by high rental costs, which often leads to a higher likelihood of facing eviction and an increased experience of being unhoused with their children. In fact, 60% of Black women renters are cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least a third of their income on housing.

Black women in California face the highest unemployment rates among women at over 6%. They are also disproportionately represented in low-wage service jobs and markedly underrepresented in managerial or professional roles, compared to their White and Asian peers. Black Women only represent 4% of executive positions in the top 100 companies in California.

Educational attainment further complicates this picture, with only 13% of Black women holding a least a bachelor’s degree, which only represents 4% of all women. According to a projection by the Public Policy Institute of California, by 2030, about 38% of jobs in the state will require a bachelor’s degree.

The entrepreneurial landscape is no more encouraging. Black women own just 7.7% of women-led businesses in California, and these are predominantly micro-enterprises, which limits their economic impact. It is harder to secure financing and investment from traditional and non-traditional avenues.

Healthcare access is yet another hurdle. One out of three Black women delays medical care due to the prohibitive costs, and a majority report significant challenges related to inflation and systemic discrimination.

Economic disparities significantly impact the health of Black women. Many Black women are employed in low-wage jobs that do not offer employer-sponsored health insurance, which exacerbates their health vulnerabilities. This lack of coverage often leads to skipped medications and unmet medical needs.

In addition, Black women often face barriers that complicate their pregnancies and birthing experiences resulting in a three times higher mortality rate when trying to have children.

The picture is not always gloomy. Black Women have seen thrives in the political front. We have more than 100 Black Women serving in elected office throughout the state and at various levels. California leads the nation with four Black Women in Congress (although that will change after the November elections).

The roadmap to improving the lives and health of Black women must include closing the wage and wealth gap; supporting entrepreneurship with tailored financial and mentorship support to foster scalable, sustainable business ventures; expanding educational opportunities through scholarships and targeted support programs to address the unique challenges faced by Black females from Pre-K to higher education; improving health access by focusing on barriers to access to high quality care without causing financial hardship; and addressing housing affordability with specialized housing assistance programs particularly for single income families.

The time for real change is now. The state of California, along with its educational institutions, businesses, and community organizations, as well as policymakers, philanthropy and labor must collaborate to dismantle the barriers that Black women face. Investing in Black women is investing in the future of California, promoting a prosperous, fulfilling life for all its residents.

About the Author

Kellie Todd Griffin is the President & CEO of the California Black Women’s Empowerment Institute, which manages the only policy think tank in the nation that focuses exclusively on Black Women and Girls. To find out more about its work, go to www.CABlackWomenCollective.org.

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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

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.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026

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

Published

1 week ago

February 20, 2026

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III

WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

Published

1 week ago

February 20, 2026

Oakland Post

PROJECT NO. 2020.0050

BID NO. 25-26.011

BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III/PROJECT NO. 2020.0050 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14^th Street, 2^nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.
WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.
OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at:https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Public Works Department Engineering division at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website. A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive.Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book from East Bay Blueprint & Supply Co., at 1745 14^th Street, Oakland, CA 94606; Phone Number: (510) 261-2990 or email: ebbp@eastbayblueprint.com.
PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM and on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM as follows:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM
Zoom Meeting ID: 883 8752 6074
Passcode: 502955
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/88387526074?pwd=hZ5rjB8AWdLAUem3CtByFiZxqKarHj.1
And
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 2672 0472
Passcode: 091848
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/89826720472?pwd=JgZX2nXMpLSRM5xDPr7EJUxl7QIznr.1The information presented at the conferences will be identical, all bidders must attend one of the pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. A firm that didn’t attend the pre-bid conference isn’t qualified to bid on the project.Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.
VALUE OF WORK: The Engineer has estimated that the value of work is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.
SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License
SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.