Emma Odessa Young, a realtor from New York City

and member of the New York Club of Business

and Professional Women, conceived the idea of

a national organization of business and

professional women in 1934. In July of 1935,

Mrs. Ollie Chinn Porter, president of the New York

Club, extended an invitation to local clubs, organized as Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, to join and form a national organization. The Founders were Emma Odessa Young, Ollie Chinn Porter and Effie Diton of New York City; Bertha Perry Rhodes, Josephine B. Keene and Adelaide Flemming of Philadelphia; and Goldeana Pearle Flipping of Atlantic City.

After a year of meetings, the first convention was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 9-11, 1936, at the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church on Artic Avenue. Elected as the first national president was Mrs. Ollie Chinn Porter.

The aim of this newly formed national organization was then, as it is today, to attract women of high caliber to organize similar clubs within their communities in support of a core mission and pledge:  to share their experiences and exchange information; to protect their interest and to encourage and develop opportunities for black women in businesses and professions. A provocative aspiration for their time. The Founders were owners, managers, college graduates, and other professionally licensed women, who had managed to realize some measure of personal success, at a time when there was not a national movement to improve the lot of black Americans; where there was no black capitalism program, nor any black studies curricula. Still, these women felt prepared to offer leadership.

Over the years, NANBPWC, Inc. has grown in numbers and scope, consisting of clubs across the United States and Bermuda, benefitting countless Business & Professional Women. Additionally, our organization is devoted to the elevation of Youth in our communities and through our Youth Clubs and Scholarship programs, to empower and support youth interested in business and the professions.