Ronald V. Dellums
- Chairman of the International Government Affair Board
A life-long advocate of peace and social justice, Ron Dellums served for 27 years as an outspoken and highly respected member of the US House of Representatives. Initially seeking a life in education, community activism and social work, Mr. Dellums was called to public office in 1967. His tenure in politics has been defined by a strong adherence to the principles of social justice, community activism and peace as viable and necessary national and international pursuits. In 2007, Mr. Dellums returned to public office as the Mayor of Oakland, California.
Born in Oakland, Mr. Dellums served in the United States Marine Corps, before going on to earn an AA from Oakland City College, a BA from San Francisco State University, and a MSW in psychiatric social work from the University of California, Berkeley. After completing his degrees, Mr. Dellums worked as a psychiatric social worker and in various anti-poverty programs. He served on the Berkeley City Council from 1967 until 1970. He then went on to win a seat to the US Congress, serving from 1971 until 1998.
Throughout his career, Mr. Dellums has brought parties together, removed obstacles, and gotten things done. He has advised world leaders on sensitive matters of global peace and national security in the Middle East, Cuba, South Africa, Haiti, and Bosnia, achieving important outcomes for the international community. At a local level, when the Port of Oakland dredging was stalled, he brought the parties together and found solutions acceptable to the previously warring interests of the Port, the environmental community, labor, and the Corps of Engineers. Similarly, Mr. Dellums was instrumental in resolving countless labor disputes, including an intractable garbage dispute between Waste Management and the Teamsters, as well as a threatened strike of 1,000 Port truck drivers.
Mr. Dellums is currently the President of The Dellums Institute: Partners for Global Health and Justice, an “action tank” to train the new generation of social justice leaders and convene non-traditional partners to work together on tackling major world problems of climate change, youth disenfranchisement, health disparities, and poverty. He also serves as Chair of the Dellums Commission on the Status of Boys and Men of Color, reconvened by the National Collaborative on Health Equity.