Carole Ward Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carole Ward Allen
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| Director of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit from the 4th district | |
| In office December 8, 1998 – December 2, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Margaret Pryor |
| Succeeded by | Robert Raburn |
| 51st Oakland Port Commissioner | |
| In office April 20, 1987 – June 5, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Christine Scotlan |
| Succeeded by | Ada C. Cole |
| Member of the California Commission on the Status of Women | |
| In office March 14, 1980 – August 20, 1985 |
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| Governor | Jerry Brown George Deukmejian |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Carole G. Allen
Phenix City, Alabama, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Relatives | Joyce Bryant (cousin) |
| Residences | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | San Jose State University (B.A.), (M.F.A.) Nova Southeastern University (Ed.D.) |
| Occupation | Professor, Politician |
Carole Ward Allen is an American politician, professor, and political consultant. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She also leads CWA Partners, LLC, a consulting company.
As a leader in mass transportation in California, Ward Allen served on the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors. She was elected for three four-year terms, from 1998 to 2010. She represented the 4th district in Alameda County, California.
Before working in transportation, Ward Allen was appointed to the California Commission on the Status of Women in 1980. This was by then-Governor Jerry Brown. In 1983, she became the first African American to lead the commission. She served there until 1985.
In 1987, she joined the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. She was appointed by Oakland's Mayor Lionel J. Wilson. From 1990 to 1992, she was elected as the board's president. She was the first African American woman to hold this position. Her time at the Port of Oakland ended in 1993.
In 1998, voters elected Ward Allen to the BART board. She helped secure $4 billion for system improvements. She also supported projects like the Fruitvale Village and earthquake safety programs. In 2005, she became BART's president. This made BART the first major transportation agency led by two African American women. In 2010, she helped approve the Oakland Airport Connector project.
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Early Life and Education
Carole G. Allen was born in Phenix City, Alabama. Her mother was Nell G. Allen. Her father, Claude O. Allen, was a World War II veteran and a lawyer. He was one of the first African American lawyers in Oakland, California. He also ran for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
After finishing Castlemont High School in 1960, Ward Allen went to college. She earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from San Jose State University. She also has a Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She studied abroad at places like the Sorbonne and universities in Africa.
Peralta Community College District
In 1970, Ward Allen started teaching Fine Arts at Laney College in Oakland, California. This college is part of the Peralta Community College District. Later, she became the assistant vice chancellor for urban development for the district.
Ward Allen retired from Peralta in 2005. However, she continued to teach as an adjunct professor until 2017. She taught African American history and was part of the ethnic studies department.
California Commission on the Status of Women
Her Work on the Commission
On March 14, 1980, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ward Allen to the California Commission on the Status of Women. In 1983, she became its first African American chairperson. Her time on the commission ended in 1985.
Policies for Women's Rights
Ward Allen worked on policies to help women. She focused on supporting women in small businesses and large companies. She also worked to improve conditions for military wives. A key focus was fighting for women to return to their jobs after pregnancy.
As commission chair, she pushed for policies like paid maternity leave. She worked with Assemblywoman Maxine Waters on this issue. She also supported women getting equal pay for equal work. Ward Allen believed women should not have to choose between working and having children. She said, "In essence it says women have a choice: You can choose to work or you can have children. But you can't have both."
Oakland Board of Port Commissioners
Her Time as Commissioner
In 1987, Oakland's Mayor Lionel J. Wilson nominated Ward Allen to the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. The Oakland City Council then appointed her. From 1990 to 1992, she served as commission president. She was the first African American female to lead the port. At that time, Oakland's port was one of the top ten in the country.
During her six years, Ward Allen managed transportation, business, and financial plans for the port. This included maritime facilities, the Oakland International Airport, and commercial real estate. She approved port rules and guided the chief executive officer. She also managed a budget of $100 million. The port created over 44,000 jobs, directly and indirectly.
Ward Allen worked with port authorities worldwide. As president, she expanded shipping and aviation activities. In 1991, she helped the City of Oakland with its money problems. She authorized $5.2 million from the port to help balance the city's budget.
Amtrak to Oakland
Ward Allen and her board helped bring Oakland - Jack London Square (Amtrak station) to Oakland. This happened in the early 1990s after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The Amtrak station officially reopened in 1995. The Port of Oakland owned the facility.
Jack London Square Re-development
Ward Allen strongly supported the Jack London Square Re-Development project. This was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1989, the Port's headquarters moved to Jack London Square. Her name was engraved on the building.
Dredging Projects
In July 1991, Ward Allen pushed for permits to allow dredging at the port. Dredging helps keep shipping channels deep enough for large ships. She stated that "Dredging is already needed . . . the port is the shallowest on the West Coast."
Oakland Aviation High School
Ward Allen supported creating Oakland Aviation High School. This charter school was adopted by the Oakland Unified School District. The Port of Oakland became a partner. She continued to support the school even after joining the BART Board.
BART Board of Directors
Her Time on the Board
Voters first elected Ward Allen to the BART Board of Directors on November 3, 1998. BART manages the transit system in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties. Ward Allen represented the 4th district, including Oakland and Alameda. She was re-elected without opposition in 2002 and 2006.
During her time, she changed policies and operations. She also helped reform the BART Police. She worked with the California State Legislature and the public.
She also supported hiring Dorothy Dugger as the first female general manager or CEO of BART. Ward Allen also pushed for transit oriented development. This led to affordable housing and better communities in areas like Fruitvale and Lake Merritt. She helped minority- and women-owned businesses.
Her biggest achievements were building the Oakland Airport Connector project. She also pushed for civilian oversight of the BART Police Department. She served as vice president in 2005 and President in 2006. She managed BART's $672 million budget.
Oakland Airport Connector Project
Since 1998, Ward Allen worked hard to create job opportunities. She wanted to help small, minority- and women-owned businesses. She often worked with local unions to create jobs. The Oakland Airport Connector project created about 2,500 to 5,200 jobs. She also helped create BART's first committee for small businesses.
On October 20, 2010, Ward Allen held a groundbreaking event for the project. Many important people joined her, including Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Mayor Ron Dellums. The high-tech Oakland Airport Connector started running in November 2014.
Supporting Diverse Communities
As chairwoman of the Oakland Airport Connector Committee, Ward Allen sought input from many communities. This included non-English speaking and low-income groups. She was the first BART director to ask for multi-lingual signs and documents. This helped ensure diverse populations understood how to evacuate train stations in emergencies. She also made sure live translators were available at community meetings for the first time in BART's history in 2009.
Civilian Oversight of BART Police
On July 15, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the BART Accountability Act AB 1586 into California law. Ward Allen had strongly urged the California State Legislature to pass this law. She worked with Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, who wrote the law. This law created civilian oversight of the BART Police Department. It also created an independent auditor's office to investigate issues.
Ward Allen supported the family of Oscar Grant after a tragic incident. She was the only BART director to attend his trial. She also spoke at a vigil honoring him. She apologized on behalf of BART for his death.
BART Police Department Reform
In 2009, BART hired two independent groups to review its police department. These groups investigated issues and made recommendations. Ward Allen recognized that the BART Police Department needed changes. She told the public, "We must learn from our mistakes and we must make sure [the killing of an unarmed passenger] never happens again. I want to hear everything you have to say. You have every right to hold us accountable."
Ward Allen then created and led BART's first Police Department Review Committee. As a result, BART made many changes to its security measures and policies. All officers received new training on use of force and diversity. Ward Allen also hired Kenton Rainey to lead the police force as Chief of Police.
Coliseum Intercity Rail Station
On May 25, 2005, Ward Allen joined Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown and others at the grand opening of the Oakland Coliseum Intercity Rail Station. She supported building this $6.6 million facility. It provides more public transportation options for people in Oakland and the Bay Area. Ward Allen also served on the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority board.
Fruitvale and Coliseum Transit Villages
Ward Allen worked to create more eco-friendly areas around BART stations. This led to the largest BART bicycle station being built as part of the Fruitvale transit village. The Fruitvale transit village is a national example of transit oriented development. It was built with the Spanish Speaking Unity Council. Phase I was finished in 2004 and included 94 rental units, mostly affordable housing. This was a big win for residents in BART's 4th district.
She also worked on the Coliseum transit village for over ten years. She approved building homes, shops, and restaurants there. Some homes were set aside for low- and moderate-income residents.
Supporting Small and Minority Businesses
In 2009, Ward Allen created BART's first Small/Minority/Women-Owned Business and Bonding Committee. This committee helped minority- and women-owned construction businesses. It aimed to give them timely information and help them qualify for contracts. Ward Allen pushed for BART to set aside part of its budget to support these businesses. This resulted in BART investing up to $45 million into the local economy between 2009 and 2014. Much of this money went to minority- and women-owned businesses.
Public Service Recognition
In March 2011, Ward Allen was honored in the Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame for Education. She has taught over 100,000 students in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many students say she made a big difference in their lives.
The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) gave Ward Allen the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. This was for her dedication to public service in transportation. They recognized her work on the Oakland Airport Connector.
In 2008, Laney College President Frank Chong gave Ward Allen the President's Award for her leadership in higher education.
In 2005, she received the Pioneer Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. This was for her expertise as a leader in public transportation. At that time, Ward Allen was the Vice President of the BART Board of Directors.
See also
- African American firsts
- Bay Area Rapid Transit
- Port of Oakland
