Empowering our youth for success

FOUNDER

A native of East Oakland who spent most of his early career in the tech industry, Courtney Smith began making his mark in sports fashion in the late 1990s, fusing his passion for music, art, and basketball with unique branding and marketing skills. Court’s enthusiasm for sports, fashion & entertainment led him to launch his first sports apparel company in 2000 when he ditched his full-time tech job to take a shot at entrepreneurship. The company quickly grew. Smith went from printing t-shirts in his garage to having his clothing donned by athletes internationally and highlighted in national publications. He also inked a licensing deal to have merchandise in big box department stores. Smith sold the company two years later focusing on honing his craft, consulting as a designer for major athletic brands, and learning from mentors in the fashion industry. In 2014, Courtsmith was born, continuing to showcase Smith’s niche for fashion, integrating the arts and basketball with the beauty and grit of the Oakland streets. Courtsmith is an athletic brand known for its edgy, artistic, and sophisticated approach to design. Driven by his deep roots in Oakland, Courtsmith brand apparel tells a story - always stylish, with modern with a meaningful message. Courtsmith reflects the brilliance, beauty & resilience of the Black culture. The Courtsmith brand’s inspirational, high-end quality clothing holds impeccable customer appeal. Courtsmith is for the people and the culture. Courtsmith reflects Smith’s vision to create a lifestyle that goes beyond the game of basketball & into brand mgmt, development and legacy building. Beyond apparel, Courtsmith continues to expand in philanthropy, branding & marketing, working with athletes to build legacies through strategic partnerships. Courtsmith collaborates with local designers and athletes, as well employs people from the local community. Courtsmith is headquartered in Oakland, CA, with showrooms in Sacramento and Los Angeles.

BOARD MEMBER

Regina Brown is a Sr. Creative Strtgy/Advisor & entrepreneur, with over 20 years of experience and a special focus on developing authentic, creative, culturally conscious connected brand strategy & marketing across disciplines with organizations such as Women for Women International, Siegel & Gale, Weeksville Heritage & Arts Center, CBSi, CDE Foundation, E! Networks, SFIAF, Presidio Dance Theatre and Blurb publishing, to name a few. She is known for her passion in developing ground breaking strategic ideas that carve out innovative paths for societal impact, growth & longevity. Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a minor in Journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and writing studies at NYU. Being a wellness aficionado & community advocate, Regina is on the Board of Directors of organizations in the Bay Area that focus on uplifting community, and often speaks on the importance of mindfulness and leads sessions inclusive of yoga, sharing the balance & focus it brings to her life with others. Lover of art, style, design & world culture.

BOARD MEMBER

Naima McQueen is a cross-sector management, strategy and convening consultant; event producer; financial empowerment curriculum designer and facilitator; business education instructor; and nonprofit executive. Her core focus is advising mission-driven, startup and growth stage organizations in the Bay Area and New York. Currently, Naima works as the Executive Director of Alliance for Community Development, a 501cf nonprofit committed to increasing access to capital for under-resourced communities through entrepreneurial ecosystem navigation and events for business owners, entrepreneurs and service providers at no cost. Alliance’s work is centered in collaboration, taking an “ecosystem” approach to addressing the barriers that entrepreneurs face. Naima holds a B.A. in Psychology and African American studies from Mount Holyoke College and an M.B.A from the Lorry I. Lokey School of Business and Public Policy at Mills College. She is also a proud alumna of the Coro New York Fellows Program in Public Affairs, Coro Northern California Adaptive Leadership program, Coro Northern California Women’s Leadership Program, and the New York StartingBloc Institute. Currently, Naima is a member of the Coro Northern California Advisory Board for the Fellows Program in Public Affairs and was recently voted on to the CAMEO (California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity).

BOARD MEMBER

A California native, VaShone Huff is a recognized leader in government affairs and community relations. After teaching in Oakland, VaShone spent nearly 20 years in government affairs working at the local, state, and national levels. Her political experience includes including work with the California State Democratic Party, California State Senate, Port of Oakland, and former Oakland Mayor Ronald V. Dellums. She has consulted with Secretary Hillary Clinton and Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaigns as well as Barbara Lee for Congress and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Her professional experience in higher education includes work with George Washington University, Texas Christian University, and Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government as a New Organizing Institute Fellow. Huff has experience with start-ups & established companies in the public and private sectors & range of industries including development, health, impact investing, sports, energy, and entertainment. Her specialties include strategic planning, comms, crisis management, and political strategy. VaShone is known for her effective engagement strategies with people of color, women, faith, college/university, and LGBTQ+ communities. Huff utilizes her diverse expertise & strong critical thinking & tech knowledge to help orgs develop and execute effective growth, public affairs strategies, programs &initiatives. VaShone is engaged in community via civic and faith institutions, being on various boards, and serving local ministries. She uses strategic thinking and hands-on experience to aid companies in creating & implementing sound public affairs strategies.

BOARD MEMBER

With almost 20 years in radio programming, marketing, events, and stage production and management, CJ Huff’s passion for music and the entertainment industry prompted him to pursue a career in radio broadcasting and programming. CJ takes pride in consistently delivering high-quality programming – whether radio, concerts or special events. Proficient in all technical aspects of radio production, including sound editing, broadcasting technology, soundboards, and more. Known for his excellent communication and production skills, CJ finds instant rapport with people from all walks of life. Organized, detail-oriented, and reliable professional. While attending Chabot College, CJ began honing his programming and production skills while working as Production Manager/ Assistant Program Director and host at KCRH (89.9 FM). After transferring to San Francisco State University’s nationally recognized Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) program, CJ became a host, producer, and programmer for the Lyrical Buffet Show on KSFS. CJ is a successful, experienced producer who played a pivotal role in producing top-rated radio shows and events in the San Francisco Bay Area. His professional career began at Energy 92.7 as a Board-Op/Promotions Assistant, then transitioned to an Internship at Clear Channel Radio’s (now iHeartRadio) WiLD949 in 2006 and has been there ever since having his hands in Programming, Digital, and Activations. Over the past 20 years, CJ has helped to plan and produce shows like Chabot College’s Cyberfest and Amplified Music Festival, as well as iHeart Media KMEL’s Summer Jam and House of Soul and WiLD949’s Jingle Ball, WiLD Jam, Boo Bomb, Comedy Jam, Wazzmataz plus dozens of pop up shows and thousands of activations.. CJ is a robust and creative thinker who generates innovative and appealing concepts with the organizational chops to ensure smooth follow-through from beginning to end. He has received several awards and special recognitions, including a National Broadcasting Award. CJ has a passion for community, youth, and social justice and volunteers and supports several non-profit organizations. In addition to his work at iHeart Radio, CJ is also a partner in MCH Strategies and is the Creative Team Producer and Production Director for Audience of One.

BOARD MEMBER

Barrissa, a Bay Area native and creator of The CourtsideMom. A organization that brings together basketball Moms with a common goal of supporting one another and one another’s children. Barrissa created TCM after spending many years on the basketball circuit with her Son, Kyree Walker. Barrissa is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and she earned her MBA from Walden University. Now residing in Phoenix, Arizona, Barrissa has worked as a real estate & legal professional and entrepreneur. Aside from her greatest accomplishment of being a full-time mom to her daughter, Morgan, and son, Kyree, she has recently added "breast cancer survivor" to her list of achievements