(March 11, 2005-LOS ANGELES)—State Assemblymember Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) today announced her selection of Bettie Jo McKinney as the 47th Assembly District Woman of the Year.

Bettie Jo McKinney, owner of Bettie Jo McKinney Consultants, has been a Los Angeles area activist for more than 30 years. McKinney, who moved to Los Angeles in 1959 from Jackson Mississippi, is the mother of three children, four grandchildren and one great grand child. McKinney is a co-founding member of the Park Mesa Heights Community Council, which represents more than 45,000 stakeholders in the Hyde Park, Angeles Mesa and View Heights communities.

"I have known Bettie Jo for more than 20 years and I have always respected and admired her commitment to the community," said Bass. "Bettie Jo has the ideal qualities of an activist---leadership, creativity, strong organizing abilities and heart. She has given much of herself to the 47th AD and we wanted to give something back."

McKinney also serves on the South Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, the Crenshaw Community Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of Delta Sigma Theta Life Development, Inc. McKinney is the founding member and former Vice President of Los Angeles African American Women Political Action Committee (LAAAWPAC) and an executive board member to the New Frontier Democratic Club.

Woman of the Year is an honor that the members of the California State Legislature may bestow upon women in their districts who have demonstrated leadership and community service. Each honoree will receive recognition on the floor of the Legislature in addition to a special plaque recognizing their work.

"I am so honored and pleased to be the recipient of such a historic and wonderful award," said McKinney. "Of all the awards that I have ever received, this is the most special of all."

Karen Bass was sworn into office in January 2005 as the first newly elected African American woman to the state legislature in more than 10 years. Bass was named by Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nũńez to the Executive Leadership position of Majority Whip. A civic leader for more than 15 years and founder of the South Los Angeles-based Community Coalition, Bass was also appointed to the influential Appropriations, Business and Professions, Higher Education and Human Services committees. As a representative of the 47th District, Karen Bass serves the cities and communities of Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills Ladera Heights, the Crenshaw District, Little Ethiopia and portions of Korea town and South Los Angeles.