BWOPA's Mission

BWOPA's History

Board of Directors

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Membership

Training Institute for
Leadership Enrichment (TILE)

Black Women Organized for
Educational Development (BWOED)

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It was Paul Cobb, political activist, running for Oakland City Council, who labeled the group Women Organized for Political Action.

The small group grew to over 200 black women from throughout the Bay Area - all
diligently working to elect Ron V. Dellums to Congress.

After raising $75,000, and succeeding in electing Dellums, the original group members who included Alfreda Abbott, Margaret Amoureaux, Belva Davis, Ruth Hagwood-Webb, Aileen Hernandez, Ella Hill Hutch, Mary Jane Johnson, Dorothy Pitts, Teola Sanders, Frances Taylor and Dezie Woods-Jones, continued to meet and work on other political issues.

In April 1971, WOPA put out a call for women who were interested in political action and over 350 women convened at what then was the Bay Area's Black Culture Center, "The Rainbow Sign" to form what is now known as Black Women Organized for Political Action. To date, BWOPA is the oldest such organization in the State of California.

A strong belief in democratic leadership has existed in the organization since its inception, and the founding members governed as co-chairs until 1970.

However, in 1970, growth of the organization required more centralized leadership, and Dezie Woods-Jones was elected the first president of the organization. The organization flourished and made significant inroads during the near 30-year Woods-Jones leadership. Ms. Woods-Jones has dedicated her life to advocacy in education, youth development, women's empowerment, and matters of poverty and disenfranchisement. Ms. Woods-Jones was also elected by voters to the Oakland City Council in 1991, and served as Vice-Mayor for two years.

President Woods-Jones administration has encouraged:

- Leadership Development
- Youth Development & Involvement
- Chapter Expansion
- Membership Growth
- Building Strategic Alliance

As a result, the membership is experiencing a wonderful resurgence and revitalized sense of mission.

From the humble beginnings of twelve (12) women simply organized to elect the now retired Honorable Ronald V. Dellums to office; the organization has already created a legacy of political accomplishments.

Charter member Ella Hill Hutch, who served on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors and San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was the first African-American women elected to office in the Bay Area.

BWOPA's political influence and involvement also played a major role in the election of many other dynamic women who were the first African-American women elected in their respective areas. Women such as the Honorable Judith Ford, Alameda County Municipal Court; Darlene Lawson from the Oakland Board of Education, and Doris Ward, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and now County Assessor for the city and county of San Francisco.

Additionally, former California legislators and now United States Congresswomen Diane Watson and Maxine Waters, are among the powerful female elected representatives receiving early supported from BWOPA. These pioneers have led the way for many Black women who are in politics today.

BWOPA is a multi-faceted organization focusing not only on political representation of the African-American community, but also on education and training. Its functions are divided among three distinct branches - operations, political advocacy, and education and comprised of two major non-profit corporations.

In 1977, under the leadership of President Woods-Jones, BWOPA's executive committee established its first non-profit corporation to promote and implement "non-political" educational programs, services, and activities focusing on the special needs of African American women and youth in the Bay Area community.

Twenty years later in 1999, began a major re-organization effort this considering the special leadership needs of African-American women. The new focus gave rise to its current structure, including the establishment of its second non-profit agency, "The Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment ( TILE).

Additionally, the BWOPA-PAC came out of the restructure to continue the critically important political activities of the organization.

In recent years, BWOPA has continued to demonstrate its independent leadership while recognizing the value of building meaningful coalitions, especially recognizing the changing political landscape. Thus, BWOPA has been instrumental in the formation of Bay Area Black Women United, a network comprised of over 30 women organizations.

BWOPA has also formed coalitions and worked on special projects with such organization as:

- American Heart Association;
- Bay Area Black Women Lawyers;
- Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC);
- National Black Women's Health Project,
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women;
- Women's Economic Agenda Project (WEAP);
- National Women Political Caucus, and
- Women In Action Lobby Day

BWOPA's parent organization is chartered in California and the state office is based in Oakland, with chapters throughout the state.

In addition, networks exist in several cities throughout the United States. The organization has a strong and active membership.

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