Rooted in Oakland, Driven by Community

The story behind The Olive Street Agency

The Olive Street Agency

Our Story and Mission

The Olive Street Agency is a boutique marketing and creative services organization based in Oakland, California, rooted deeply in community, storytelling, and impact. We specialize in helping our clients share who they are—through decorated merch apparel, intentional design, and professional project support. Our goal is simple: to help people, organizations, and ideas be seen, understood, and celebrated.
Founded in 2012, The Olive Street Agency has spent over a decade collaborating with nonprofit organizations, schools, small businesses, artists, educators, and political leaders across the Bay Area and beyond. We've supported initiatives ranging from community programs and fundraising campaigns to branded merch, and large-scale events and efforts.
The agency was founded by Rita Forte, whose 20+ year background in psychology, music, communications, and project management has shaped the foundation of our work. Rita's leadership brings a unique blend of creativity, structure, and community awareness, allowing us to navigate both artistic vision and operational execution with equal strength. Her lived experience, rooted in East Oakland and shaped by decades of working in diverse, people-centered environments, guides our approach to every project.

Why The Olive Street Agency?

Rita Forte of Olive Street Agency

Our name reflects deep roots and meaningful symbolism tied to community and hope.


The story of Noah's Ark features a dove returning with an olive branch, representing hope, peace, help, and better days ahead.


Together, these meanings form the heart of who we are: a beacon of hope and a source of support—always extending our olive branch to those we serve.

At The Olive Street Agency, we are a collective of experienced, creative, and detail-driven professionals who guide our clients through every stage of the merch and design process.

We bring years of hands-on expertise in apparel decoration and production management, supporting your project from initial concept to final product with clear communication and collaboration.

We prioritize local and virtual client communication, treating each project as a partnership by listening closely, sharing ideas openly, and ensuring high-quality results that reflect your vision.

Rita Forte, Owner/Founder

Strategy & Operations
E: rita@theolivestreetagency.com

Rita Forte grew up on Olive Street in deep East Oakland and spent most of her youth pursuing a music career as DJ BackSide. Forte produced a slew of mixtapes during the Hyphy era of the 2000s, played at house parties, and worked as a DJ for the hip-hop radio station KMEL. 


Forte also had a side business making graphic tees, which included a “Got Bay?” t-shirt mirrored after the well-known “Got Milk?” ad campaign. Forte initially saw this as just another side hustle. 


“I definitely didn’t think I was a small business owner. I was just doing it for the love of the culture“, Forte said. “And I thought I could make a living off it, which I did for many years.” 


Fast forward roughly a decade, Forte owns Olive Street Agency, a screen printing shop and a marketing agency on MacArthur Boulevard near Mills College. She named the business after the street she grew up on, an homage to her East Oakland roots. 


Aizaiah Aquino, Creative Director

Branding & Design
E: aizaiah@theolivestreetagency.com

Oakland based Graphic Designer with 15 years of experience in logo design, illustration, web and print design. Skilled in merchandise and decorating with 10 years of specialized expertise. Interests include fitness, bodybuilding, sports, gaming, and cooking.


Hobbies include model building, building PCs, and LEGOs.

Marc Allen

Client Advisor + Production
E: marc@theolivestreetagency.com

Creative artist, fashion designer, photographer, and musician from Oakland with 10 years of customer service experience. Joined The Olive Street Agency in 2022. Founder of Marc Allen Designs.


Interests include trivia and singing.

Luz Azevedo

Screen Printing Specialist

E: info@theolivestreetagency.com

Description TBD

Mary Forte

Administration

E: admin@theolivestreetagency.com

Mary Forte is an Oakland native with 30 years of experience at Chevron Information Technology Company, 8 years as the owner of a coffee franchise, and over 25 years of volunteer community service. At The Olive Street Agency, Mary is responsible for counting in merchandise upon receipt, matching merchandise to invoices, performing quality checks on completed orders, and packing orders for pickup or delivery to customers. Mary's longevity in the Oakland community brings in potential new customers to The Olive Street Agency.

At The Olive Street Agency

We love communications, we build relationships, uplift community voices, and help bring visions to life with care, creativity, and purpose.

Olive Street Agency Custom Merch