Our Board
Founder & CEO
Elaine Brown
Elaine Brown, a former leader of the Black Panther Party, is founder and CEO of OAW. A social activist for over 50 years, Ms. Brown is author of A Taste of Power, her autobiography, slated for film production.Read More
Treasurer
Hyacinth Ahuruonye
Hyacinth C. Ahuruonye, managing principal, certified public accountant, and chief strategist, is the founder of HCA & Co.Read More
Board Member
Dr. Mark Alexander
Dr. Mark Alexander, Epidemiologist. Dr. Alexander is committed to improving health outcomes of marginalized communities, his research focused on cardiovascular disease, geriatric epidemiology and child health.Read More
Secretary
Deborah Mathews
Deborah Matthews, Secretary. Ms. Matthews is a real estate broker in Berkeley who has overseen many of Berkeley’s housing and commercial projects as former Vice Chair of the Berkeley’s Planning Commission, Chair of the Zoning Adjustment Board, Chair of the Housing Commission.Read More
Board Member
Zack Wasserman
Zack Wasserman is a retired Partner of the Wendel Rosen Black & Dean law firm, Oakland, and has provided pro bono legal consultation to OAW.Read More
Advisory Board
Gordan Baranco
Retired Alameda County Superior Court judge who is Vice-Chair of the California Judicial Council Access Fairness Committee.
The Late Nell Barnett
A retired senior aide to Congressman Ronald V. Dellums.
Keith Carson
Alameda County Supervisor who represents the Fifth District, which includes the cities of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and the West Oakland.
Annette Darnes
Retired banker who worked with three nationally-known banks and a nationally-known investment banking firm and specialized in providing capital.
Christopher Perryman
An Oakland realtor and board member of the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area.
Wilson Riles Jr.
CEO of Generations Consulting Company, and former Oakland City Council member. He is a founding member of Community Bank of the Bay.
Steve Wright
Current Director of The Resilience Exchange. Formerly serving as Director of the Social Performance Management Center of the Grameen Foundation, as well as their Director of Innovation.