Alice Huffman Named "Woman of the Year" by Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante

March 20, 2006

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante today honored President Alice A. Huffman of the California State Conference of the NAACP as "Woman of the Year" during a ceremony in the California State Senate.

"Alice Huffman is one of California's foremost advocates for civil rights," Bustamante said. "She has made a lifetime commitment to advancing the human condition of people of all races. And she has championed the cause of improving public education."

Since 1999, Ms. Huffman has been president of the California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the nation's oldest civil rights organization. In 2002, she was elected to the NAACP's National Board of Directors were she currently serves as Region I Board Member.

Ms. Huffman also is founder and president of A.C. Public Affairs, a firm specializing in public advocacy.

During Gov. Jerry Brown's Administration, she was chief deputy director of the State Parks and Recreation Department. Later, she served as director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.

Former Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson appointed her to his Commission on Police Conduct. Former Gov. Gray Davis appointed her to the Board of Trustees for the California State University System.

In addition, Ms. Huffman has served as associate executive director for politics for the California Teachers Association and state president of the Black American Political Association of California.

Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for Capitol Focus, which provides programs for youths interested in issues and operations of state government, and T-CAP, a consumer advisory panel for AT&T (formerly SBC).

For a number of years, the Sacramento Observer has included Ms. Huffman in its annual list of 100 influential citizens. The Los Angeles Times called her one of the most powerful people in California and the California Journal listed her as one of the top 50 individuals who had the greatest impact on California over the last 25 years

Ms. Huffman graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Social/Cultural Anthropology. She has done graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California and University of California, Davis.

"Few people in California have made such a strong commitment to the betterment of our society," Bustamante said. "I consider it a privilege to know and work with her."

Ms. Huffman states, "I am deeply honored and proud to be selected by Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante as "Woman of the Year." This award is one of the highlights of my life."

The California State Conference with its 62 local branches and more 30 youth and college units is apart of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. With more than a half-million adults and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in our communities and monitor equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.