Culture Makers: Building Community through Sports

Loss. Pity. Anger. These feelings have more or less dominated the public discourse about professional sports in Oakland, for several years now. But for one night next month, we won’t be talking about greedy owners, stadium deals gone wrong or franchises leaving town. Instead, we’ll be highlighting a few local clubs and organizations that are bringing the joy back and ushering in an exciting new era of sports and fandom in the town.

Join us on Thursday, March 13 from 6:30–8 p.m. at the New Parkway Theater for an energetic discussion with Laura Geist, General Manager of the Oakland Ballers, Tommy Hodul Vice President of Public Relations and Communications and a co-founder of Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club and Amanda Wentworth, President of The Oakland Girls Softball League who are all filling the sports void for local fans while fostering community, creating opportunities for local youth, and creating inclusive spaces where Oaklanders can cheer again.
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More about our guests:
Laura Geist is an experienced leader, currently serving as the General Manager of the Oakland Ballers. In this role, Laura is responsible for overseeing Operations and Community Development for the organization. Before joining the Ballers, Laura held key positions at major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, where she gained expertise in managing large-scale programs and driving product optimization in the tech and advertising sectors. She is a third-generation Oakland resident with a deep love for the city. She lives in Oakland with her husband and two daughters and is anxiously awaiting Opening Day on May 20th.

Tommy Hodul is the Vice President of Public Relations and Communications and a co-founder of Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club. With nearly a decade of experience in sports-related communications, he oversees all public relations, communications, and broadcasting efforts for both teams.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Tommy graduated from Skyline High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from Cal State Northridge and a master’s degree in Music Pedagogy from the University of Miami. He later returned home to help launch Oakland Roots and Soul, combining his deep love for The Town, background in music, and passion for sports to craft stories that uplift Oakland through arts and athletics.

On weekends, you can find him hiking with his dogs at Sibley and Redwood Regional Parks.

Amanda Wentworth is an Oakland native who grew up playing softball with the Oakland Girls Softball League (OGSL) and the Oakland Athletic League (OAL). With 10 years of experience coaching youth softball, Amanda has also served as an assistant coach at Fremont High School for the past two years. Passionate about youth sports, Amanda believes that creating opportunities for Oakland kids to play, compete, and grow is a collective effort that requires community collaboration. As the current president of OGSL, Amanda is committed to increasing enrollment in underrepresented communities and expanding access to the sport. She is also focused on strengthening the OAL’s high school program, ensuring that youth players have pathways to continue their softball careers, regardless of the school they attend.

is a collective of top emerging artists from Oakland dedicated to sharing the stage and honoring the city's legendary cultural legacy. Launched in October 2024 at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, their special Culturemakers performance will feature four artists: Micaiah Dempsey from the sibling band MeloDious, along with vocalists August Lee Stevens, B. Deveaux, and 15 year old NAIMA. The group was developed in partnership with music education program Follow the Music, started by a group of Bay Area music and cultural leaders who believe in the transformational power of music.

Host or Publisher The Oaklandside