US House of Representatives District 13

Barbara Lee has long been an activist, first integrating her high school cheering squad and registering voters while in college. Barbara Lee received her master’s of Social Work degree from the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in psychiatric social work. During her graduate work, Lee founded the Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education (CHANGE, Inc.) which provided mental health services to many of the East Bay’s most vulnerable individuals. In 1975, Lee joined the staff of Congressman Ron Dellums, where she eventually rose from an intern to chief of staff. After leaving Dellums’ office in 1987, Lee founded a facilities management company that grew to employ over 500 people. As a small business owner in the East Bay, Congresswoman Lee worked with people from all walks of life.