News

BWOPA Is Recruiting 2016 Leadership Fellows

Published

11 years ago

January 25, 2016

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) invites highly motivated young women who are passionate about making a difference in their communities to apply for its Dezie Woods Jones (DWJ) Public Policy Fellowship program.

Now in its second year, the DWJ fellowship initiative is designed to provide emerging leaders between the ages of 20-35 years old with the leadership tools they need to become advocates and innovators of public policies that positively impact their communities.

The objective of the program is also to develop capable BWOPA/TILE’s successors and culture-keepers that will champion a new body of policy work spotlighting BWOPA’s core issues – criminal justice reform, health, economic development and education.

Named after BWOPA’s founding member and state president, the initiative has already made an impact among its inaugural cohorts.

“Thanks to my experience over this past year, I found a greater sense of direction, empowerment and leadership for myself, as well as a deeper connection with my community”, said 2015 DWJ fellow Simone Thelemaque. “Today I am much more prepared to address and speak to the many inequalities that Black women and marginalized communities face.”

“Once again, BWOPA leads the way in innovative programming”, said senior BWOPA advisor Monica Miller. “Our community needs to support this program because it gives bright young people the tools they’ll need to become leaders within our communities.”

With support from seasoned political and private industry leaders, 2016 DWJ Fellows can expect to:

Learn how to craft policies relative to BWOPA’s core interest areas;

Participate in educational and professional development training and seminars;

Be given unique opportunities to meet with high-level elected officials and influential leaders who work within the social and political arenas of BWOPA’s core issues;

Ascertain and develop political and public service values;

Gain invaluable leadership experience by spearheading altruistic projects within California or beyond.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 cohort starting through February.

For information email BWOPA/TILE Executive Director LaNiece Jones at staff@BWOPA.org or visit www.BWOPATILELEADS.org

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of October 21 – 27, 2026

Published

1 week ago

October 25, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Community

Mayor Barbara Lee Holds Special State of the City Address in Deep East Oakland

In partnership with Rise East and the 40×40 Council, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee held a special 2026 State of the City East Oakland community conversation on Oct. 14. The purpose of bringing a State of the City address directly to the community was to celebrate East Oakland, highli

Published

2 weeks ago

October 19, 2026

Post News Group

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, left. moderated a community chat with (l.to r.) Selena Wilson, CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center; Carolyn “CJ” Johnson, CEO of the Black Cultural Zone; Dr. Noha Aboelata, CEO of Roots Health Center and Greg Hodge, CEO of the Brotherhood of Elders.

By Special to The Post

In partnership with Rise East and the 40×40 Council, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee held a special 2026 State of the City East Oakland community conversation on Oct. 14.

The purpose of bringing a State of the City address directly to the community was to celebrate East Oakland, highlight the work underway, and look ahead to what neighbors, local businesses, youth, funders, community organizations, and partners can accomplish together.

Held at the Roots Community Health/Parker Elementary School Campus at 7929 Ney Ave., the event was emceed by special guest Mark Curry, Oakland native, comedian, and actor.

Lee shared how Rise East and the 40×40 Council have brought together the knowledge, relationships, and resources of people and organizations committed to East Oakland.

Residents bring lived experience, community organizations bring trusted relationships and philanthropy, and businesses bring resources and opportunity, she said, then turned to the government’s role: public investment, services and policy.

But, Lee intoned, City Hall has a responsibility to help connect those efforts.

“I am committed to listening to residents, working across departments and sectors, and helping open doors to opportunity. We must connect neighborhood priorities to the decisions we make about housing, economic development, safety, health and our young people.

City Hall “must be accountable for the results,” Lee said. “The measure of success is what families experience: greater stability, more opportunity and a stronger sense that they belong and have a future here.

“Tonight is an opportunity to listen to the leaders doing this work, learn what is making a difference and identify where we can do more together,” the mayor said.

Lee went on to moderate a ‘fireside chat’ on the theme: Building Oakland’s Future Together — From Neighborhood Investment to Community Empowerment with: