California Black Media

BWOPA, on the Frontline of Black Politics in California for 55 Years

Founded in 1968, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians. BWOPA originated as an extension of a group known as Bay Area Women for Dellums, under the leadership of Edith M. Austin.

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2023

Oakland Post

LaNiece Jones, Dezie Woods-Jones, State President, BWOPA. Photos by CBM

By Edward Henderson
California Black Media

Founded in 1968, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.

BWOPA originated as an extension of a group known as Bay Area Women for Dellums, under the leadership of Edith M. Austin.

Starting with 12 politically active women from various Bay Area cities, the group grew to over 200 Black women working to elect former U.S. Rep. Ron V. Dellums to Congress.

After raising $75,000 and successfully helping to elect Dellums, the original group members continued to meet and work on other political causes.

BWOPA’s political influence and involvement has 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; Doris Ward, San Francisco Board of Supervisors and former County Assessor for the City and County of San Francisco; former Congressmember Diane Watson, who represented California’s 33rd Congressional District; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris; Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) and Congressmember Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) are among the powerful elected representatives who received early support from BWOPA.

California Black Media spoke with LaNiece Jones, executive director and chief operating officer of BWOPA, about the organization’s impact, challenges and successes during the last year.

What does your organization do to improve the lives of Black people in California?

We believe African-American women should be included within the top ranks of corporate executive leadership and at all levels of elected or appointed political decision-making to positively influence policies affecting the African-American community.

Our core issue areas are health, education, criminal justice reform and economic security.

What was your greatest success over the course of the last year?

BWOPA/TILE (Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment) in partnership with WeVax (Human Services Association), Sierra Health Foundation and the California Department of Health, rolled out the statewide “Black & Vaxxed” campaign to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and to empower the Black community to make informed decisions about vaccines.

This past May, BWOPA/TILE hosted its annual Legislative Learning Day in Sacramento at the State Capitol. There were close to 100 attendees. Every year, high school students, young leaders, and BWOPA chapter members have a chance to meet with their state representatives and learn how the State Legislature works.

Also, in May of this year, 13 emerging leaders matriculated through the 7th session of the Dezie Woods Jones (DWJ) Public Policy leadership program. Launched in 2015 and named after founding member and state President of BWOPA, Dezie Woods-Jones, the fellowship program aims to assist aspiring young Black women between the ages of 25-45, to become thought leaders, subject matter experts, advocates, and innovators of public policies who positively impact their communities.

In your view, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?

We’ll start with health equity. This holds especially true for the working class and lower income individuals in our community. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), health equity is achieved when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.

What was your organization’s biggest challenge?

There is a lot of work that needs to be done to improve the quality of life for Black people in California. To that end, it can sometimes be challenging to orchestrate and juggle the time, manpower and finances around the most actionable and advantageous programs, initiatives, and collaborations that address our core issue areas of health, education, economic security, and criminal justice reform.

Does your organization support or plan to get involved in the push for reparations in California?

First, BWOPA created its own Reparations Now Task Force led by Rita Forte (Oakland). Several BWOPA Reparation Now Task Force members attended the California reparations task force statewide hearings for the past two years.

Last year, we also partnered with California Black Power Network to host reparation listening sessions with our members and other Black residents in California.

How can more Californians of all backgrounds get involved in the work you are doing?

BWOPA welcomes anyone who is interested in helping us fulfill our mission to build Black power. Visit our website at www.bwopatileleads.org.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

CA/Hawaii NAACP Conference: “Dismantling Racism and Disrupting Inequality”

Don't Miss

Book Review: “Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement”

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

Published

2 days ago

February 9, 2025

Oakland Post

Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) expressed deep gratitude to her constituents and marked the end of her 26-year career in public service.

Lee, who is succeeded by Lateefah Simon, a civil rights and racial justice activist, praised people in her community for their support. She also highlighted her dedication to promoting peace, justice, and equity.

Throughout her tenure, Lee earned a reputation as a principled lawmaker known for taking bold and sometimes unpopular stances. One of her defining moments came in 2001 when she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in response to the September 11 attacks. This decision led to death threats but ultimately cemented her legacy of courage.

Lee’s leadership extended beyond her district, where she fought for social justice, the rights of low-income communities, and global health initiatives. She was a key figure in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She was a vocal critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services.

The Congresswoman also faced significant challenges in her career, including a failed Senate bid in 2024. Yet, Lee’s efforts have paved the way for more excellent representation, with more Black women now elected to Congress. She worked closely with organizations like Representation Matters to encourage more women of color to run for office.

Lee says she looks to the future, confident that the next generation of leaders will continue her unfinished work, particularly on issues like military force and reproductive rights.