Our Vision

The vision for Oakstop Alliance stems from our years of community-focused arts programming and our recognizing that artists, community thought leaders, creative curators and small business owners often overcompensate to fill educational, economic and cultural voids in community of color. Ironically these practitioners tend to be severely under-resourced, lacking the mentorship, technical assistance and capital funding necessary to deliver essential programs and experiences to their communities in a sustainable and healthy manner.

our Mission

Recognizing that arts programming led by local creatives has a profound community benefit, Oakstop Alliance works directly with cultural practitioners to:

Empower creatives to curate experiences

  • Enabling curation of culturally relevant & robust events
  • Significantly reducing program overhead for artists
  • Leverage a portfolio of black-operated creative venues (featuring a full recording studio, 10+ gallery spaces & 2 event halls) to host progressive artists

Provide business mentorship to creatives

  • Promoting economic viability for entrepreneurs who pursue careers in the arts & humanities fields
  • Investing in arts projects and endeavors that present a clear community benefit to low-middle income communities
  • Developing partnerships with progressive corporate & financial entities to enhance core financial skills & competencies for creative entrepreneurs.
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Our People

Our programs are effective in supporting underfunded artists and entrepreneurs because our peer to peer services are relevant and our team is composed of artists and creative entrepreneurs. Much of what we provide is support, networking, research, technical assistance, and funding preparation to artists and entrepreneurs who need some development in order to qualify for the next phase of programming, funding, incubation, or educational programming.
An important facet of this methodology is providing one on one advising to build rapport and trust, warm introductions to clients who might not otherwise have an “in'' at various funding organizations, and regular follow up to ensure that clients are fully and deeply supported.
In Silicon Valley, warm introductions are both priceless and, for those without well-connected networks, prohibitive. Our work aims to create a Bay Area Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in which anyone with a desire to start their own business can thrive, creating wealth for generations to come.

Board

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Shawnee Keck

Economic & Workforce Development - City of Oakland
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Hao Lam

Accountant
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Ernst Valery

Fellow at Mel King Community Fellow Program

our HIstory

Oakstop Alliance was established in 2020 to curate experiences for communities of color in the East Bay. Our evolution to serving black artists, small businesses and entrepreneurs was informed by theCOVID-19 and the state-sanctioned murder of George Floyd.

Learn more about our journey below!

January 2020

Oakstop Alliance is established in Oakland, CA.

February 2020

OA launches its first series of curated programs ranging from community dance and yoga classes to youth STEM events and poetry workshops.

March 2020

All programs are halted due to the global pandemic and local shelter-in-place order. OA begins partnering with organizations providing essential services and community relief like Meals on Wheels Alameda County and the Shield the Bay PPE initiative.

June 2020

Amidst the civil unrest in Oakland due to the state sponsored murder of George Floyd, the Oakland Black Business Fund is established to assist black-owned small businesses repair their damaged and defaced storefronts.

December 2020

After expanding the service offering for the Oakland Black Business Fund to offer technical assistance services to non-brick and mortar businesses as well, OBBF ends the year with a volunteer team of over 70 and $200,000 granted to small businesses in Oakland.

May 2021

Oakstop Alliance is a founding partner of the Black Culinary Collective in East Oakland, a 4 month cohort for food startups to accelerate their brand growth and operate in a professional kitchen.

December 2021

At the end of 2021, OBBF celebrates over $600,000 granted to over 150 black-owned small businesses while still remaining 100% volunteer operated.

February 2022

Oakstop Alliance launches the Sounds of Oakland initiative, a residency program for touring artists to collaborate with musicians in Oakland to create progressive work that will expand the visibility and economic opportunity of our arts scene.

April 2022

Oakstop Alliances celebrates its first anniversary of mentorship/partnership with Gold Beams, a cultural events curator and advocate for young black arts entrepreneurs in the Bay Area.

June 2022

OBBF celebrates its 2nd anniversary and relaunches the offering, focusing on providing businesses essential start-up services that enable them greater business security and the ability to pursue larger funding opportunities.

August 2022

Oakstop Alliance is awarded the Oakland A’s Social Impact Award for its work operating the Oakland Black Business Fund.

December 2022

Oakstop Alliance releases “Royalty Summit,” its first album from the Sounds of Oakland music initiative. The 12 track album was recorded over 3 days in Oakland as a residency collaboration between independent hip-hop artist, Homeboy Sandman, and over 20 Oakland musical artists and professionals.

    Get Involved

    Your support means the world to us and to our partners.

    First and foremost, click on our program pages and learn about each and every artist we support. We promise you’ll love one (all) of them!

    Check out opportunities to come hold space with us… we have a robust events calendar.

    And of course, if you can support our efforts with a one-time or recurring donation, you will be investing in the black small business/arts community of Oakland and have our forever gratitude!

    1

    Make a donation

    Private or Organizational
    Your tax deductible donation will support us in this mission and will be applied to our greatest organizational need whether it be staffing or programming.
    Learn More
    2

    Become a Partner

    Our growing resource network
    We appreciate and applaud their commitment to our creative and economic communities of color in the Bay Area!
    Learn More
    3

    Hire a Black Artist

    Let us connect you
    What what type of project are you seeking creative help?
    4

    Patronize a black-owned business

    Let us connect you
    What good/service are you looking for?

    When you’re an entrepreneur, you don’t have all the answers and you may be navigating a new industry or field by yourself. Damon and Oakstop Alliance make you feel like family…your story is important, your business is important and even if you don’t know something, you still are important.

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    Princess & Brownie Sims

    The Final Sauce

    Oakstop Alliance is a major resource for Black businesses. Their services and their mission provides real, tangible and necessary support to the community. On top of that, their Oakland venues are incredibly beautiful.

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    Tayleur Crenshaw

    Gold Beams

    We need you!

    Together we do really great things for the Oakland Community. Your tax-deductible donation goes a very long way to changing lives.
    Donate Today

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