Draft:Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA)

Overview
The Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA) is a political, non-partisan organization that was incorporated in 1977 by thirteen Black female community activists. The founders envisioned the CBWPA as a vehicle to effect meaningful participation in the political process for all Black people living in Colorado, but particularly for Black women. Moreover, it involves Black women on boards and commissions, builds coalitions with similar organizations, provides job information, and brings about political awareness in Colorado. Ways CBWPA has historically worked to engage people were thorough targeted engagement activities including:

Encouraging involvement in the total political process

Facilitating educational activities to help the electorate be informed in community, local, and national issues

Sharing ways that community members can fully utilize governmental programs

Initiating accountability and oversight in governmental agencies and elected officials

Actively participating in voter education, registration, and participation.

Mission, Purpose, and Strategic Foci
Mission: Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization impacting the community since 1977.

Today, the organization’s steadfast commitment to the vision of its founders is evident through its programs and services. Its members seek, daily, to infuse Colorado politics with the strength and perspective of the Black woman.

CBWPA’s efforts are focused on:

Educating our community on issues and how to organize

Bringing important issues to the forefront

Training future leaders

Collaborating to generate forward-looking ideas

Ensuring that positions relevant to our community are heard

Getting results by active participation in the process

Providing a voice for the African American community

Founding and the Early Years
The founders were the Honorable Rosemary B. Marshall, Angie Barrett Andoin, Warrie Duncan, the Honorable Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Fannye Belle Evans, Senator Gloria T. Tanner, Glenda Barry, Shirley Sims, Cleo N. Breeze, Mary “Lea” Singleton, Wilma M. Taylor, Glenda Swanson-Lyle, and Agnes Hart-Combs. They adopted a motto of “Political Maturity: The Key to Political Power”.

CBWPA was the "brainchild" of State Senator Gloria Tanner, and she sought out women who were major names in politics in Colorado to form the organization in 1977. CBWPA founders had a strong desire to have a more consistent presence with the Colorado political landscape. The founders wanted to establish a systematic approach to citizens understanding political systems and Black women embracing their positions as organizers and active participants in the political process in the interests of Black women specifically and the Africana diaspora. Senator Gloria Tanner had run multiple campaigns for Blacks in Denver including Regis Groff, and wanted to teach other women to not only be the backbone of campaigns, but to envision themselves as holding political office. The founders expressed a heavy emphasis on members' participation on boards and commissions and improving Black representation in congress.

The founders also wanted members to be in service to the community through impacting policy and laws through active training in understanding how to run for office, suggest laws, lobby for laws with lawmakers, and serve as witnesses for law testimony. Additionally, the organization wished to conduct a “blind” endorsement process and raise money to support prospective candidate training.

Organizational Initiatives Includes: Education and recruitment for appointment to boards and commissions

Emphasizing Black women’s position as a “political force” and forcing politicians to pay attention to the needs and interests of Black women and Black people through a common voice

Supporting Black women across the state of Colorado and being “seen”

Advocacy

Making room for new generations to express their needs and interests through opportunities for education and partnership

Executive Board Members are nominated in November and once elected serve two year terms. Chairwomen serve one year terms and are either elected or appointed depending on the position. Offices were located at 2841 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80207 through the 1990s. CBWPA conducts an active membership drive yearly and includes activities geared toward recruiting new members that encompasses membership teas and other social events.

The bi-monthly newsletter, Catalyst (1981-current), shared information on meetings, but also larger community issues such as reapportionment (redistricting), employment opportunities, legislative session meeting dates and minutes, CBWPA endorsed candidate profiles, birthdates, and celebrations, school board policy updates, city task force updates, health department updates and everything else concerning Black life in Colorado including Miss Black Colorado pageants, protests, community marches, and ways people can get involved with CBWPA or other Black organizations in the area. The newsletter also featured letters written to CBWPA from legislators updating members and providing information about initiatives and ways the community can be involved. Catalyst was operated by an elected editor that worked with an editorial board through the 1990s.

CBWPA continues to educate the community on social issues affecting Black people in an effort to uphold its founding principles through email newsletters, social media posts, and during general meetings. Due to the COVID pandemic of 2020, all CBWPA meetings have been virtual with opportunities for in-person events bi-monthly. CBWPA works to partner with Black organizations and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) businesses to present events and activities.

Past Presidents
Hon. Gloria T. Tanner  1977-1981

Hon. Rosemary Marshall 1981-1983

Cleo N. Breeze         1983-1985

Linda Gibson           1985-1987

Jennie Davis           1987-1991

Wilma M. Taylor        1991-1995

Vel Garner             1995-1999

Donna L. Murray        1999-2001

Wilma M. Taylor        2001-2005

Geri Grimes            2005-2008

Hon. Leslie Herod      2008-2009

Elma Joyce Hairston    2009-2014

Maya Wheeler           2014-2016

Halisi Vinson          2016-2019

Tamara DeBrady         2019-2021

Bianka Emerson         2021-2025

Colorado Springs Chapter Presidents
Janelle Caperton              1979-1983

Michelle Drew                 1983-1985

Faye Wilson                   1985-1987

Historical Organizational Events
General Meetings- Emphasis on Community Education

Regular community events including Talking Politics Happy Hours, Book signings for authors, Crawfish Boils, or other events at Black businesses or Blair-Caldwell African-American Research Library

CBWPA Day at the Capitol

Candidate Bootcamps

Community Marches including MLK Day Marade, Juneteenth Parade

Advocacy for those formally incarcerated to have voting rights and Reproductive rights] and Women's Equal Pay Day Demonstrations

Endorsement Process for general elections

Voter Mobilization Activities

Candidate Speed Dating

Canvassing, Mailers, Postcard Writing, etc.

Youth Mentorship or Engagement including bootcamps or political training events or supporting youth organizations and legislation they are supporting

Annual Luncheon-- "A Tribute to Black Women"
CBWPA began hosting its annual fundraising luncheon, “A Tribute to Black Women” to bring the community together to celebrate the accomplishments of Black women in Colorado in the areas of service and activism] in 1980. Starting as a main membership drive and fundraiser for the year, the luncheon evolved into a well-known event attended by up to one thousand Black Coloradans.

The program includes keynote speakers who are influential Black women political figures. Important women in media usually serve as MC of the festivities including Colorado’s news anchors, radio personalities, and journalists. Beginning in 1993, the event was considered the yearly tribute to the accomplishments of Black women with specific themes for each luncheon].

The awards presented at the luncheon include recognition of Black women in business, education, politics, community service, the arts, and human rights. A committee of CBWPA members volunteer to review applications to determine recipients. For a short time, scholarships were also awarded to students attending local colleges.

Luncheon themes:
1980-1992: A Tribute to Black Women

1993: The Time Is Now: Recommit

1994: Proud and Determined

1995: African American Women Millennium Year 2000 and Beyond

1996: Echoes from your Own Background

1997: Tribute in Jazz

1998: Defining the Future to Maintain the Legacy

1999: Reclaiming Our Sisters

2000: Continuing our Journey

2001: Honor, Celebrate and Thank Colorado Black Men

2002: Black Women Continuing to Change Our World for Tomorrow

2003: Sharing Our P.R.I.D.E

2004: Program "Vote 2004. Your Future Depends on It!"

2005: Political Maturity: The Key to Political Power

2006: Knowledge, Information, Power, Media, Make the Connection

2009: Continuing to Celebrate Black Women

2010: Commit Now!

2012: Anniversary Celebrating thirty- five years 1977-2012

2013: Amplifying and Expanding Partnerships

2014: Securing Our Future

2015: Leaders of the Past, Legacy of the Future

2016: From Eve to Today, Celebrating Generations

2017: Courageous Women: A Call To Activism

2018: Economic Liberation

2019: Reclaiming Our Time: Women Who Slay

2020: Was the first year since 1980 that the luncheon did not take place due to heavy restrictions during the 2020 COVID pandemic

2021: Holding Up Democracy

2022: Black Women Lead

2023: Embracing the Past to Shape Our Future

2024: Keep Rising to The Top

Notable Luncheon Speakers
1980: First Annual Luncheon. Honorees: Dorothy King, Sr; Delecia “Dee Dee” Reed; Sarah Cousins Sims; Gloria T. Tanner; June C. Waller; Mildred Pitts Walter. The first keynote speaker was Juerta P. Smith who was serving as Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission.

1981: Hon.Maxine Waters was the keynote speaker for the 2nd annual luncheon. Congresswoman was serving in the California Assembly and was serving as Majority Woman at the time. Her article in Fortune Magazine, “In Search of a Liberal Agenda” was released that August propelling her into political stardom.

Shirley Franklin(2012), former mayor of Atlanta

Hon. Nina Turner (2016), former Ohio State Senator

Maggie Anderson(2018), author of Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy

Rev. Leah Daughtry (2022), Political Operative, former CEO of the Democratic National Convention (2008, 2016).

Congresswoman Johana Hayes (2023), Educator and Current Congresswoman from Connecticut.

Notable Luncheon Awardees
Distinguished Award Recipients:

Dr. Sharon Bailey (multiple years)

The Honorable Leslie Herod

Cleo Breeze (multiple years)

Dr. Evie Dennis

Mildred Taylor

Cleo Parker-Robinson (multiple years)

Rosalind “Bee” Harris

Dr. Syl Morgan Smith

Rachel B. Noel

Allegra “Happy” Haynes

The Honorable Wilma Webb

Khadija Haynes

The Honorable Elbra Wedgeworth

The Honorable Rosemary Marshall

Maisha Fields

Anna Jo Haynes

Omar D. Blair

Jeff “Brother Jeff” Fard

Regis Groff

Mayor Michael B. Hancock

Chief Roderick Juniel

The Honorable Penfield Tate

The Honorable Mayor Wellington Webb

Notable Members
Senator Gloria Tanner (1935-2022)-- CBWPA founder and public political activist; the first Black woman to serve as a state senator in Colorado.

The Honorable Wilma Webb-- former representative for the Colorado House of Representatives from 1980-1993, former first lady of Denver; the first woman to serve as First Lady and Elected Official in Colorado.

The Honorable Rosemary Marshall- CBWPA founder and former elected member of the Colorado General Assembly in 2000. Pioneering advocate for financial literacy courses in schools.

Cleo Breeze (1935-2022)- CBWPA founder, Educator and political advocate and winner of numerous community awards

The Honorable Allegra “Happy” Haynes-- CBWPA founder and former Denver City Council elected official and aide to multiple elected officials.

Khadija Haynes-- Political strategist and community activist

The Honorable Leslie Herod-- Former CBWPA president and elected representative of House District 8

The Honorable Elbra Wedgeworth-- Only person to serve in all three branches of Denver's city government.

Rev. Dr. Regina Groff-- Community advocate and minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Dawn Bookhardt-- Attorney and community advocate; Chair of the Board of Trustees of Metropolitan State University