Carole Ward Allen

Carole Ward Allen
Born	Carole G. Allen Phenix City, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Political figure, academic, advisor
Years active	1970–present
Known for	BART Board of Directors member; Chair of California Commission on the Status of Women; President of Oakland Board of Port Commissioners; CEO of CWA Partners, LLC

Carole Ward Allen is an American political figure, academic, and advisor. Affiliated with the Democratic Party, she currently acts as the chief executive officer of CWA Partners, LLC. Ward Allen served three consecutive four-year terms on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors, representing the 4th district from 1998 through 2010.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, she was featured in Jet Magazine for her groundbreaking achievements in state and local government. In 1980, Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the California Commission on the Status of Women, where she became the first African American to chair the commission in 1983, a position she held until 1985.

In 1987, Mayor Lionel J. Wilson appointed Ward Allen to the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. By 1990, she was elected board president, becoming both the first African American woman and the longest-serving female leader in that capacity with two one-year terms, completing her service on the board in 1993 after six years.

Ward Allen’s election to the BART board in 1998 saw her champion efforts that secured $4 billion for system upgrades, transit-oriented development at Fruitvale Village, and seismic strengthening projects. In 2005, she was chosen as BART board president with Lynette Sweet as vice president—the first occasion a major U.S. transit agency was led by two African-American women.

In 2010, Ward Allen played a pivotal role in approving the $484 million Oakland Airport Connector project and successfully obtained federal funding during President Barack Obama’s tenure.

Early life and education

Born Carole G. Allen in Phenix City, Alabama, she is the daughter of Nell G. Allen and Claude O. Allen, a World War II veteran and criminal law attorney. Her father was among Oakland’s earliest African American lawyers and notably the first African American to run for a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

After completing her studies at Castlemont High School in 1960, Ward Allen earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from San Jose State University. She later obtained a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education from Nova Southeastern University located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Additionally, she pursued postgraduate coursework at prestigious institutions including the Sorbonne, Fourah Bay College University (Sierra Leone), University of Ile-Ife, Nigeria; University of Kumasi in Ghana; and University of Nairobi in Kenya.

Peralta Community College District

Ward Allen’s professional journey began in 1970 at the Peralta Community College District, where she served as a Fine Arts professor at Laney College in Oakland. She progressed to assistant vice chancellor for urban development following her tenure as director of community relations and marketing at Laney College. Although she retired from Peralta in 2005, she remained active as an adjunct professor until 2017, educating students on African American history within the ethnic studies program.

Tenure

On March 14, 1980, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ward Allen to serve on the California Commission on the Status of Women. In 1983, she made history as the commission's first African American chairperson. Her service concluded in 1985 during the administration of Governor George Deukmejian.

Commission Policies to Advance Women's Rights

Ward Allen prioritized the advancement of women in small businesses and within Fortune 500 companies, sought improvements for military spouses, and advocated for policies supporting women's reentry into the workforce after pregnancy. As chair of the commission, she was a leading advocate for workplace reforms that ensured paid maternity leave, working alongside Assemblywoman Maxine Waters, who introduced pertinent legislation in 1984. Allen also campaigned vigorously for equal pay for equal work. She underscored the critical necessity of maternity leave, criticizing California’s absence of such protections as forcing women to make difficult choices between their careers and motherhood:

Allen collaborated extensively with California legislators Diane Watson and Waters on issues concerning women's rights. During her tenure, she served alongside future state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson and Irene Inouye, who would later chair the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees.

Tenure

In 1987, Oakland Mayor Lionel J. Wilson nominated Ward Allen to join the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners, a nomination that received city council approval. From 1990 through 1992, she held the position of commission president, becoming the first African American woman to lead the port while it was ranked among the top ten ports in the United States. She was also only the second African American woman and third woman overall to be appointed to this board.

Throughout her six-year tenure, Allen managed oversight of transportation systems, business growth initiatives, financial planning, and political strategies affecting maritime operations, Oakland International Airport, and commercial real estate ventures. Her responsibilities included enacting ordinances, directing policy for the CEO, approving funding for economic development projects, and supervising a $100 million budget that supported more than 44,000 jobs.

During her presidency, she enhanced maritime and aviation activities by fostering partnerships with international port authorities. In 1991, she appointed Charles Roberts as port CEO. That same year, she led a contentious decision by the board to allocate $5.2 million to assist Oakland in addressing a fiscal emergency and achieving budgetary balance.

Honoring John George

On January 3, 1989, Ward Allen authored a resolution expressing condolences for Alameda County Supervisor John George. George had been a law partner of Allen’s father and a longstanding family friend; Allen had worked in his law office during the 1960s.

Amtrak to Oakland

In the early 1990s, following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Ward Allen and fellow board members secured funding to establish the Oakland - Jack London Square Amtrak station. This effort marked Amtrak’s second service arrival in Oakland. The station property, owned by the Port of Oakland, officially reopened in 1995. As port president from 1990 to 1992, Allen oversaw much of the contracting and legal processes related to this project, coordinating closely with Mayors Lionel J. Wilson and Elihu Harris.

Jack London Square redevelopment

Ward Allen played a pivotal role in advocating for the redevelopment of Jack London Square during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Serving as vice president of the Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners when the Port headquarters moved to Jack London Square in 1989, her efforts were commemorated by engraving her name on the building.

Dredging initiatives

As President of the Board of Port Commissioners in July 1991, Ward Allen actively sought permits to conduct dredging operations at the port. Highlighting the port’s status as the shallowest on the West Coast, she collaborated with labor leaders and relevant agencies to underscore the importance of this essential infrastructure enhancement.

Oakland Aviation High School

Ward Allen was a strong proponent for establishing Oakland Aviation High School, which was adopted by the Oakland Unified School District with partnership from the Port of Oakland. She maintained her support for this charter school throughout her service on both the BART Board and the Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners.

1998 election

In 1998, Ward Allen contested for the District 6 seat on the Oakland City Council, challenging incumbent Nathan Miley. Garnering significant endorsements from local elected officials, she secured 42% of the vote compared to Miley’s 52%. Despite mounting a formidable campaign, she was unable to unseat the sitting councilmember.

2001 special election

Ward Allen pursued the District 6 council seat once more in a 2001 special election, receiving endorsements from councilmembers Larry Reid and Dick Spees. In a tightly contested race, she narrowly lost to union leader Moses Mayne by just 129 votes.

Service period

On November 3, 1998, Ward Allen was elected to serve on the BART Board of Directors representing Alameda County’s 4th district, which includes Oakland and Alameda. She was re-elected without opposition in both 2002 and 2006.

Throughout her service, Allen spearheaded reforms in BART Police policies and operations, leveraging support from the California State Legislature and public feedback. She advocated for Dorothy Dugger’s appointment as BART’s first female general manager/CEO, initially backing Beverly Scott before reaching a consensus.

Allen promoted transit-oriented development initiatives aimed at creating affordable housing and vibrant communities in areas such as Fruitvale, Coliseum, and Lake Merritt. She championed minority- and women-owned business participation and worked to expand employment prospects for residents within her district.

Among her notable policy accomplishments are securing approval for the contentious Oakland Airport Connector project and advocating for civilian oversight of BART Police, pressing for prompt legislative measures.

Allen held leadership roles as BART board vice president in 2005 and president in 2006, managing an agency budget totaling $672 million.

Oakland Airport Connector Project

From 1998 onward, Ward Allen prioritized creating contracting opportunities for small minority- and women-owned enterprises. Her commitment to job creation for Oakland and Alameda residents involved collaboration with local unions to foster employment and aid economic recovery following the Great Recession. The Oakland Airport Connector project alone is estimated to have produced between 2,500 and 5,200 direct and indirect jobs. Allen sponsored key BART initiatives including its inaugural Project Labor Agreement featuring zip-code preferences for disadvantaged communities, as well as establishing a small business and bonding committee designed to address economic challenges faced by minority-owned firms.

On October 20, 2010, Allen presided over the groundbreaking ceremony at Oakland Coliseum Station, joined by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Mayor Ron Dellums, Assemblywoman Sandre Swanson, Councilman Larry Reid, Port officials, union leaders, and community representatives. The automated Oakland Airport Connector—spanning 3.2 miles and recognized for its advanced technology and eco-friendly design—commenced service in November 2014.

Title VI

As chair of the Oakland Airport Connector Committee, she actively involved a wide range of communities—including those with limited English proficiency and economically disadvantaged groups—after a civil rights complaint was filed concerning the Oakland Airport Connector construction project. She became the first BART director to mandate multilingual signs and materials, ensuring all community members could comprehend emergency evacuation instructions. This initiative was especially critical for Oakland’s Chinatown and Fruitvale neighborhoods, which primarily consist of Asian and Latino populations. Furthermore, in 2009, she pioneered the introduction of live interpreters at BART community forums and town hall meetings, marking a historic first for the agency.

California legislation to enforce civilian oversight

On July 15, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger enacted the BART Accountability Act AB 1586 into California law, a measure that Ward Allen championed during a Senate hearing on June 15, 2010. She worked closely with Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, who authored the bill designed to strengthen civilian oversight over the BART Police Department. This legislation created the Office of the Independent Auditor within BART to address concerns raised by the civilian oversight committee.

Ward Allen was the only BART director present at the 2010 Oscar Grant trial held in Los Angeles. Earlier that year, she delivered a keynote address at the first vigil commemorating Grant at Fruitvale station, located within her district. During her speech, she issued an apology on behalf of BART and offered flowers to Grant’s family. The circumstances surrounding Grant’s death were later portrayed in the film Fruitvale Station, featuring Michael B. Jordan.

BART Police Department reform

In 2009, two independent organizations—the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and legal firm Myers Nave—conducted reviews of BART’s policies and procedures with the aim of reforming the BART Police. These reviews focused on investigating the BART Police Shooting of Oscar Grant and proposing recommendations for board consideration. Recognizing the urgent need for change, Ward Allen stated during the first board meeting following the incident:

She subsequently led BART’s inaugural Police Department Review Committee, which implemented extensive revisions to security protocols and policy frameworks. The committee’s efforts resulted in comprehensive retraining for all officers on topics such as use of force, diversity, and other essential areas. To spearhead this transformation, Allen appointed Kenton Rainey as Chief of Police to oversee BART’s 296-member force.

Coliseum Intercity Rail Station

On May 25, 2005, Ward Allen—then serving as Vice President of the BART board—joined Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, city councilmember Larry Reid, CCJPA vice chair Forrest Williams, and Caltrans Rail Chief Bill Bronte at the grand opening ceremony for the Oakland Coliseum Intercity Rail Station. Allen advocated for this $6.6 million project aimed at improving regional transit options for both Oakland residents and Bay Area commuters. During this period, she also held a position on the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority board in the early 2000s.

Fruitvale and Coliseum Transit Villages

Under Ward Allen's guidance, BART established its largest bicycle facility at the Fruitvale transit village, emphasizing sustainable transportation solutions. The Fruitvale transit village, developed in partnership with the Spanish Speaking Unity Council, completed its initial phase in 2004 and has since become a national exemplar of transit oriented development. Phase I introduced 94 rental residences, including 92 affordable units targeting low-income families, directly benefiting residents within BART's 4th district in Oakland. On July 22, 2010, Allen and the BART Board authorized the development of an additional 3.4 acres for Phase II expansion.

Over a span of ten years, Allen also championed the advancement of the Coliseum transit village, endorsing the construction of single-family homes—some designated as affordable housing—alongside commercial retail spaces. Collaborating closely with Oakland councilman Larry Reid, she supported proposals to develop roughly 100 workforce housing units on a 1.3-acre parking site located at Snell Street and 71st Avenue.

Small/Minority/Women-Owned Business and Bonding Committee

In 2009, Ward Allen founded BART’s inaugural Small/Minority/Women-Owned Business and Bonding Committee with the goal of enhancing opportunities for minority- and women-owned construction firms. This committee tackled challenges including timely dissemination of project information, improved access to plan rooms in underserved communities, expedited responses to allocation requests, and streamlined contract qualification processes. Allen was instrumental in securing a portion of BART’s capital budget to support disadvantaged businesses, resulting in investments totaling up to $45 million from 2009 through 2014 that significantly benefited minority- and women-owned enterprises within the local economy.

Public service recognition

Ward Allen was inducted into the Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame in March 2011 under the Education category, recognizing her impact on over 100,000 students throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of these individuals attribute their educational aspirations to her influence.

In 2011, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) honored Allen with their Lifetime Achievement Award for her distinguished public service in the transportation industry, particularly acknowledging her leadership in initiating the Oakland Airport Connector, a major infrastructure initiative she helped legislate.

In recognition of her contributions to higher education, Laney College President Frank Chong presented her with the President's Award in 2008.

Earlier, in 2005, Ward Allen was bestowed the Pioneer Award by the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc, celebrating her pioneering role as a senior executive within public transportation while serving as Vice President of the BART Board of Directors.

See also

• African American milestones
• Bay Area Rapid Transit system
• Oakland Port
• Oscar Grant shooting incident

External links

• CWA Partners, LLC
• Dr. Carole Ward Allen, inducted into Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame, 2011
• Testimony by BART Director Ward Allen before the California State Senate supporting Civilian Oversight