NCNW IE Section History
Image from the Bridges that Carried Us Over Project
President & Inland Empire
Lucy Haynes was the temporary president until we had our first election and Lois Carson was our first elected president. The Inland Empire territory was defined as Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino, Colton, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, and Redlands for recruitment purposes. Today we have members from Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Banning, and Chino Hills as well. |
1967: First Meeting
A meeting to organize, what was to become the Inland Empire Section was held in late 1967, at the home of Mrs. Lucy Haynes in Rialto with national officer Ann O’Farrell in attendance. The women learned that the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) was founded by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in 1935 at the Harlem branch of the YWCA. 1968: NCNW IE Charter
The group agreed to organize and support Mrs. Haynes as interim president. They set out to recruit 50 members to qualify as a local Section. The Section received its charter in May 1968 For over 50 years the organization has been actively involved in fulfilling the mission of leading, advocating for, and empowering women of African descent, their families, and their communities. |
Image from the Bridges that Carried Us Over Project
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Image from the Bridges that Carried Us Over Project
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Over 50 years Commitment to Educating Youth
1970: Youth Program Funding
Since 1970, NCNW IE Section has successfully conducted youth programs focusing on education and character building. The first initiative was Checkmates, a program to train girls to volunteer in hospitals, libraries, and offices. Later, boys were added to the target group.
National President Dorothy Height fell in love with the Checkmates program and wanted to seek funding to make it a national model.
Our second youth program was Creative Careers for Youth. We petitioned US Congressman George Brown to grant Wilmer Amina Carter a leave of absence to work for NCNW as the Executive Director of the new program. The program was not refunded under the Reagan administration, but by this time other workforce funding, known once as CETA, then JTPA, was available. Carter and Carson wrote a grant to the County of San Bernardino Investment Board to fund the Section’s third youth program, the Bethune Youth Center, which continues to this day (over 25 years). This program was led first by Deborah Cooper and then by Sandra Doyle. NCNW has been faithful to that commitment to youth for over 50 years.
Since 1970, NCNW IE Section has successfully conducted youth programs focusing on education and character building. The first initiative was Checkmates, a program to train girls to volunteer in hospitals, libraries, and offices. Later, boys were added to the target group.
National President Dorothy Height fell in love with the Checkmates program and wanted to seek funding to make it a national model.
Our second youth program was Creative Careers for Youth. We petitioned US Congressman George Brown to grant Wilmer Amina Carter a leave of absence to work for NCNW as the Executive Director of the new program. The program was not refunded under the Reagan administration, but by this time other workforce funding, known once as CETA, then JTPA, was available. Carter and Carson wrote a grant to the County of San Bernardino Investment Board to fund the Section’s third youth program, the Bethune Youth Center, which continues to this day (over 25 years). This program was led first by Deborah Cooper and then by Sandra Doyle. NCNW has been faithful to that commitment to youth for over 50 years.
Image from Bridges that Carried Us Over Project
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Image from Bridges that Carried Us Over Project
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Lois Carson Campus Center SBVC Dedication Event
The San Bernardino Community College District celebrates the dedication of the
Campus Center at San Bernardino Valley College
In Memory of Lois Carson. November 4, 2022
Campus Center at San Bernardino Valley College
In Memory of Lois Carson. November 4, 2022
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8:32 Community tribute
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46:47 Dedication Celebration
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"The community college is truly the people’s college. San Bernardino Valley College met my need at a critical time as a foundation to further my education. Later, I was afforded the opportunity to make a contribution, and return to the college and the district as a trustee. I am honored to be selected for recognition.” - Lois Montgomery Carson
© 2025 National Council of Negro Women Inland Empire Section. All rights reserved. RW