OAKLAND, CA – City Attorney Barbara J. Parker was honored this year as a 2011 “Bay Area Achiever” by the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), a nonprofit organization with members in more than 350 jurisdictions nationwide.
Each year NFBPA gives awards each year to African American officials “who have made meaningful
contributions in the public sector for the overall good of the community and who exemplify positive role
models for young people from all backgrounds … who may be exploring the idea of a career in public
service.”
Yvonne Hudson‐Harmon, president of the NFBPA Oakland/San Francisco chapter, said she was extremely
pleased that the chapter chose to honor City Attorney Parker this year.
“I along with others in the chapter have had the opportunity to work with Barbara and find her truly
deserving of the recognition,” said Hudson‐Harmon, who serves as a manager in the City of Oakland’s
Department of Human Resources.
“It is a profound honor to win an award from an organization comprised of so many highly respected and
dedicated public servants,” Parker said today.
Brief bio: Parker has served as City Attorney since July, when she was appointed by the City Council for the remainder of the current term ending in January 2013. Since her appointment, Parker has reorganized the office to focus on priorities including public safety, government transparency and smart, effective litigation strategies that save taxpayer dollars.
Parker has served for 20 years in the Oakland City Attorney’s Office, including 11 years as the Chief
Assistant City Attorney. She has extensive expertise as an attorney in the private sector and at every level
of government – federal, state and local – including more than five years as an Assistant US Attorney for
the Northern District of California. She serves as president of the Black Adoption Placement and Research
Center and volunteers as a mentor for the East Bay College Fund. She is a longtime Oakland resident and
currently lives in the Haddon Hill neighborhood near Lake Merritt.
