Contributions and Distinctions
Barbara Lee was the first Black woman from Northern California elected to the State Senate, and the first woman elected to represent California’s 13th (formerly 9th) congressional district. She serves as the Mayor of Oakland (elected April 2025). Before becoming mayor, she represented Oakland for more than three decades as a California State Assembly Member (1990-1996), State Senator (1996-1998), and U.S. Congressional Representative (1998-2025).
Biographical Sketch
Barbara Lee is celebrated for her career fighting for justice, opportunity, and marginalized communities. After earning her BA in Psychology from Mills College, she enrolled in a graduate program in the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley. While a graduate student at Cal, Mayor Lee founded the Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education (CHANGE), a community-based mental health center.
Her long trajectory in public service—from the California State Assembly and State Senate to the U.S. Congress—reflects her deep commitment to her community and her leadership on issues such as poverty, racial equity, public health, and peace. Her election as Mayor of Oakland - the first Black woman to hold that role - continues her legacy of public service to that community.