Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Launches Oakland XChange For Underrepresented Entrepreneurs
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown announced his latest initiative, Oakland XChange, which will support underrepresented business owners and creators in Oakland. This initiative follows the success of his nonprofit Boston XChange (BXC), where he also created similar opportunities for underrepresented business owners, according to Boston Celtics.
What is Oakland XChange?
Similar to his first nonprofit, Oakland XChange will provide underrepresented creators in Oakland with $100,000 in grant funding, workspaces, and business services valued at more than $150,000. The entrepreneurs will also be offered three years of coaching and receive assistance with creating projects in numerous fields, such as design, arts, media, entertainment, fashion, and culinary arts.
Brown will launch the initiative with the JLH Fund and the help of Dallas Mavericks and former NBA player Jason Kidd.
Helping the Black community in Oakland
Like many other Black communities in the US, Oakland has experienced disparities in wealth and access to resources. Black people in Oakland have dealt with systemic barriers that block economic mobility, like lack of access to education, mentorship opportunities, and lack of finances.
Oakland XChange will help give people from historically marginalized communities significant opportunities to expand and scale their businesses.
“I’m very excited to announce that we are shedding light on what’s going on in Oakland. “We don’t want things to be forgotten about, me using my platform to continue to bring awareness, continue to bring light and attention to Oakland, because we know what happens when it’s forgotten about,” Brown said.
Image: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
