Bay Area

The 100 Black Men 35th Annual Scholarship Benefit and Awards Gala

The 100 Black Men of the Bay Area hosted their 35th Annual Scholarship Benefit and Awards Gala at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on Saturday, Dec. 9. Themed “Making a Change 100 at a Time,” the event was headlined by singer Chanté Moore with performances by 16-year-old saxophone jazz musician Ayo Brame.

Published

4 months ago

December 26, 2023

Oakland Post

100 Black Men of the Bay Area Gala Chair/Vice Chair Danny L. Williams with singer Chanté Moore and 100 Black Men of the Bay Area president, Chuck Baker at the 100 Black Men Scholarship Benefit and Awards Gala at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. Photos By Auintard

By Carla Thomas

Community service award recipients included Alton Management Corporation, Roots Health Center and Bay Area broadcaster Dave Clark.

Maxine Reynolds, the widow of Alton Management Corportion’s late principal Al Reynolds, who passed away in April, graciously accepted the award. Over 31 years ago her husband and his business partner, Billy Hutton joined forces to form Alton Management Corporation with the intent on training and hiring young brothers and sisters in the housing industry. The property management firm worked with housing cooperatives and other organizations specializing in affordable housing throughout the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Atlanta recovering financially troubled properties.

“Many families have access to safe and affordable housing because my husband and the company are committed to serving clients in a dignified manner,” said Reynolds. “Billy Hutton carries on the company’s legacy.”

Kevin Mitchell, Director of Resource Development for the Roots Community Health Center in Oakland accepted the organization’s award. “There is a life expectancy difference of 15 years for individuals living in the hills as opposed to the inner-city flatlands,” he said. “We are changing the narrative because we are not fighters, we are healers.” Roots, through its medical and behavioral health care, health navigation, workforce enterprises, housing outreach and advocacy supports of those impacted by systemic inequities and poverty.

Beloved KTVU Channel 2 broadcaster Dave Clark was also honored for his community coverage. Clark spoke from the heart about his pursuit of reporting the good news in the Black community in the midst of the often negative news of the world. Originally from Philadelphia, Clark said he was determined to be a broadcaster and his parents supported his dream of trailblazing. Clark went on to win awards for reporting on the landmark O.J. Simpson trial and the Northridge Earthquake. “I’m able to stand before you today because of the support from my amazing wife Lucretia,” said Clark. Lucretia was Clark’s classmate in the 3rd grade.

Alameda County Supervisor (D-1) Keith Carson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Carson, though not in attendance, was recognized for his ability to bridge the gap between resources and disparities in the community representing District 1 and roles chairing the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, the Alameda County Budget Work Group Committee, the Alameda County Personnel, Administration and Legislation Committee, and the Alameda County Health Committee.

“Our mission is to improve the quality of life within the Bay Area and beyond by advancing the social, economic, health and educational progress of African Americans,” said 100 Black Men president Chuck Baker. “We focus on the low to moderate income community, and offer programming and resources to support wise financial, health and lifestyle choices that can lead to family-sustaining wages and long-term career and life success.”

“Our motto, ‘What They See Is What They’ll Be’ refers to a ‘lead by example’ approach that resonates with our youth who often lack the exposure or positive behavior modeling from caring and successful African American men,” said 100 Black Men board member, Dr. Lawrence VanHook, pastor of The Community Church.

Gala Chairman Danny L. Williams, was excited to celebrate the occasion with singer Chanté Moore performing. “Moore is a class act,” he said. “She performed for our 25th gala and we are proud to have her 10 years later at our 35th year gala.”

Young adult speaker, Ricky Jackson said because of the mentoring of the organization he went from a troubled teen to a dual degreed student in his twenties.

Joseph Simmons, Pastor of Greater St. Paul in Oakland was awarded as 100 Black Man of the Year. “He embodies our brotherhood creed and is all about the work to be done,” said President Chuck Baker.

For more information visit: www.100blackmenba.org

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

6 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”