Karen Bass has been a State Assembly Member representing Los Angeles' 47th Assembly District since 2005. In May 2008, she made history when the Los Angeles Democrat became the 67th Speaker of the California State Assembly, catapulting a Democratic woman to the post for the first time in the state's history. Along with the California political first, Speaker Bass makes national history as the first African American woman in the country to serve in this powerful state legislative role.

Bass has been a part of the leadership since her first term when she was appointed to Majority Whip. In her second term, she was elevated to the post of Majority Floor Leader, making her the first woman to hold the post and the second African American to serve in the position. Bass, who served as the vice chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, commissioned a report to research the demographic profile of Black Californians including the basic social and economic conditions. The State of Black California report included a statewide organizing effort to involve the Black community in identifying their concerns and making legislative recommendations. As the chair of the CA Assembly Select Committee on Foster Care, she led the effort to secure more than $82 million as well as to implement a host of new laws to help improve the state's Foster Care System.

Since taking office, Speaker Bass has created state laws including providing Healthy Families Insurance Coverage to help prevent children from going without health insurance; a small business policy that removes red tape by preventing businesses from filling out duplicate certification forms for the city and state; and a measure that expands the Baldwin Hills Conservancy. She has also secured more than $2.3 million to help revitalize the historic Vision Theater in Los Angeles; and more than $600 million for Los Angeles Unified School District.

Committed to serving the 47th Assembly District (47AD), Bass created the People's Council, which is made up of four Commissions (Education, Environment, Small Business and Health) in order for constituents to get involved in the political process. The Commissions also host events and activities in the district to provide information on key issues affecting 47AD residents.

Before Bass began her political career, she founded and ran Community Coalition. As executive director, she built a community based social justice organization in South Los Angeles to empower residents to get involved in making a difference. Today, the organization is considered a model to engage the community throughout the country.
Assembly Speaker grew up in the Venice/Fairfax area. She is the only girl of DeWitt and Wilhelmina Bass. Her father worked as mail carrier and her mother, who once owned her own beauty salon, was a stay at home mother. Bass grew up with three brothers - two older and one younger. She is a true Los Angelino graduating from Hamilton High School, Cal State Dominguez Hills (BA - Health Sciences) and University of Southern California School of Medicine (Physician Assistant Certificate).

Bass, who is divorced, had one daughter, Emilia Bass-Lechuga and four step children. Emilia, who grew up to be a beautiful, passionate woman, wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps and help others. After marrying the love of her life, Michael Wright, Emilia continued to study to be a civil rights lawyer. Emilia's passion for life continues to be a motivation for Bass in her personal and professional life.

Bass represents Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, the Crenshaw District, Little Ethiopia and portions of Korea Town and South Los Angeles.Karen Bass was elected to the California State Assembly in 2004 to represent the 47th Assembly District. In May 2008, Bass made history when the Los Angeles Democrat became the 67th Speaker of the California Assembly. Bass is the first African American woman and the first Democratic woman to serve as Speaker of the California Assembly. Bass is also the first African American woman in the country to serve in the role of Speaker of a state Assembly. Prior to her election as Speaker, Bass served in Assembly leadership positions beginning in her first term when she was Majority Whip and as Majority Floor Leader in her second term.

As Speaker, Karen Bass is committed to helping California weather the tough economic times brought about by the national recession and global economic turmoil. Under Bass's leadership, the Assembly has passed legislation helping California receive federal funding to extend unemployment insurance benefits, helping unemployed Californians retain access to employer-sponsored health care, and jumpstarting infrastructure projects to create good paying jobs in the state.

Bass's legislation includes bills improving conditions and services for youth in California's foster care system; helping stop predatory lending practices and ensuring real estate industry accountability to consumers; working to reduce dropouts by expanding multiple pathways in high school to prepare students for college, career and civic responsibility; establishing the Firefighter Bill of Rights, and removing barriers to allowing low-risk offenders to return productively to the community.

Bass also wrote successful legislation extending the charter for Soledad Enrichment Action, which allows these charter schools serving at-risk youth in Los Angeles County to continue for another 10 years. Bass has also worked to protect California's vital motion picture and television industries, and has played a lead role in securing funding for Los Angeles Unified School District, the Baldwin Hills Conservancy and other civic and cultural projects in the Los Angeles area.

Awards received by Speaker Bass include: Ronald H. Brown Award from the National Child Labor Committee; Phoenix Award from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Promenade of Distinction from the Trumpet Foundation; Johnnie L. Cochran Public Service Award from the Loyola Law School African American Alumni Association; California Civil Rights Hero by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing; Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; FAME Award from the First African-Methodist Episcopal Church; Woman of the Year Award from 100 Black Men of Los Angeles.
Speaker Bass has taken a unique approach to involving her constituents in the legislative process. Bass created the 47th Assembly District People's Council, which is made up of four Commissions--Education, Environment, Small Business and Health-that engage people in issues that affect their families and communities. The Commissions also host events and activities in the district to provide up-to-date information to residents. Bass, who served as Vice-Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, also commissioned The State of Black California Report, a demographic profile of Black Californians that included a statewide organizing effort to involve the community in identifying its concerns and making legislative recommendations.

Before Speaker Bass began her political career, she was a community organizer who founded and ran the Community Coalition. As the organization's executive director, Bass built a community-based social justice organization in South Los Angeles to empower residents to get involved in bringing about change. Today, the organization is considered a model for energizing communities. Prior to her community organizing, Bass worked for almost a decade as a Physician Assistant and served as a Clinical Instructor at the USC Keck School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program.

Karen Bass grew up in the Venice/Fairfax area of Los Angeles. She is the only daughter of DeWitt and Wilhelmina Bass. Her father worked as a mail carrier and her mother, who once owned her own beauty salon, was a stay-at-home mother. Bass grew up with three brothers - two older and one younger. She is a true Los Angelino, graduating from Hamilton High School, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and the University of Southern California School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program.

Bass, who is divorced, had one daughter, Emilia Bass-Lechuga, son-in law Michael Wright and four step children. Emilia wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps and help others; Emilia's passion for life continues to be a motivation for Speaker Bass.Speaker Bass represents Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, the Crenshaw District, Little Ethiopia and portions of Korea Town and South Los Angeles.


Click here to register now!