About BWOPA

BWOPA ONE

Leadership & Vision

LaNiece Jones
State President & CEO

In 2025, under the leadership of LaNiece Jones, BWOPA enters a new era through the BWOPA One vision—an inclusive strategy aligning all three arms of our movement:

  • BWOPA – organizing and strengthening local chapters throughout California,
  • TILE (Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment) – our empowerment and educational arm,
  • B*PAC – our Political Action Committee supporting endorsed candidates.

This unified approach ensures that BWOPA not only continues its historic mission of political advocacy and empowerment but also expands its reach, visibility, and impact for generations of Black women leaders to come.

LaNiece brings a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and intergenerational leadership development—ensuring that BWOPA remains a vital voice for equity, justice, and civic engagement.

Our Mission

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) exists to activate, motivate, promote, support, and educate African American women about the political process, to encourage involvement, and to affirm our commitment to addressing the challenges that impact the Black community.

We fulfill this mission by:

  • Providing leadership, training, and mentoring through TILE;
  • Ensuring representation of African Americans within the political spectrum;
  • Articulating collective positions on issues affecting Black communities;
  • Developing long-range strategies for power-building and representation;
  • Building collaborative linkages with other political organizations; and
  • Preserving the political history and legacy of Black women in California.

Our History & Legacy

Founded in 1968 as an outgrowth of Bay Area Women for Dellums, BWOPA is the oldest women’s political organization in California. What began with 12 women—including Edith M. Austin, Belva Davis, Ella Hill Hutch, and Dezie Woods-Jones—mobilized hundreds of women to help elect the Honorable Ron V. Dellums to Congress.

By 1971, BWOPA was officially formed at The Rainbow Sign in Berkeley, with more than 350 women joining together to build lasting political power.

Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones, a founding member, became BWOPA’s first President and served nearly 30 years, shaping the organization into a statewide force for political empowerment. Her leadership emphasized:

  • Leadership and youth development,
  • Chapter expansion and membership growth,
  • Building alliances and advancing Black women into public office.

Today, State President Emeritus Woods-Jones continues to be a guiding light, honored for her lifelong advocacy in education, women’s empowerment, poverty, and justice.

Our Impact

From its humble beginnings, BWOPA has played a critical role in the success of trailblazing Black women leaders including:

  • Ella Hill Hutch – the first African American woman elected to office in the Bay Area,
  • Doris Ward – San Francisco Assessor,
  • Darlene Lawson – Oakland Board of Education,
  • Congresswoman Diane Watson,
  • Congresswoman Barbara Lee,
  • Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and
  • Vice President Kamala Harris

Through BWOPA, countless Black women have been trained, mentored, and supported to lead as elected officials, advocates, and community change-makers.

BWOPA Today

With chapters across California and networks nationwide, BWOPA continues to be a multi-faceted powerhouse for advocacy, training, and political action. Through BWOPA One, the organization is positioned to grow stronger, deepen its impact, and continue creating pathways for Black women leaders across civic, political, and community spheres.

Signature Events

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