Our Beginning

Leave no one behind. That was the challenge left to us over 70 years ago by Mary McLeod Bethune. Born of slave parents in 1875, Mary McLeod Bethune was a noted educator, humanitarian, and an advisor to four U.S. Presidents. In 1935, Mary McLeod Bethune had a vision. With a simple goal of using the collective power of African American women, Dr. Bethune created the nation's broadest based advocacy organization. Her vision was powerful and a clear change in our communities would be generated by bringing women together with a united mission of purpose and action. Our unified voices would lead to great influence in the advancement of social and human rights.

Our Mission

The Orange County Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (OC-NCNW) is a volunteer service organization with the mission of promoting education, ethnic pride, self-development, achievement, and cultural enrichment for African American women, their families, and communities.

Our Vision

NCNW-OC is committed to serving the community. We will sponsor and support programs that provide human care and educational services to African Americans and other underserved persons. We will implement programs that reflect culture and ethnic diversity and respond to the social needs of families. OC-NCNW is committed to sustaining a volunteer program that maximizes our members' capacity to be loving, caring, creative, morally, and spiritually sensitive to all persons.

Who We Are
​Orange County Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW-OC) is a volunteer organization chartered on November 9, 1988 in Orange County, California. Our service area includes all cities within Orange County, California.​

Our Core Four Focus

• Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship - We seek to empower women of African descent, their families and communities. One of the ways that we do this is by presenting information that is designed to help women and their families achieve their economic and financial aspirations.​
• Health Equity - In this area, we focus on six health targets. This includes but is not limited to Breast Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Affordable Health Care, Mental Health, Maternal Health, and COVID-19.
• STEAM and Education - We seek to establish a more comprehensive, integrated response to the need for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics education for communities of color.
• Social Justice - We provide a framework for local sections to promote civic engagement in our communities, and advance public policy that improves the conditions of women and families of African descent. ​

Our Programs​ ​

• ​Annual OC Black History Parade and Unity Fair - Family and community event hosted by OC Heritage Council to celebrate Black History Month
• Crittenton Services for Children and Families - Serving the most vulnerable system-involved children, youth, and families
• Good Health Wins - Making good health a priority in our community
• Great American Write-In - Hosted by the League of Minority Voters, this event provides community members with the means to influence policy decisions by writing letters to their legislators.
• Joanie's Purse Project - Outreach program that provides purses and bags filled with personal care items to the underserved. We are currently collecting large purses, note pads, pens & pencils, band aids and non-alcoholic wipes. 
• Saving_Our_Sisters - Outreach program for women and their children who need assistance due to transition and homelessness
• Social Justice Committee - A committee that promotes efforts to empower individual and communal action in supporting historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups.

"The true worth of a race must be measured by the character of its womanhood."
​​-Mary McLeod Bethune

Join Us Sisters!