Director of Funding

Barbara V. Powell, Jr. is the youngest child of Barbara Verice Powell, Sr., an artist and civil rights activist, and renowned jazz legend Seldon Powell.  Bobbie, as she is popularly known, was born and raised in Hempstead, NY in a household dedicated to public service, education, and the upliftment of the Black community. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Shaw University, and at a very young age her mother taught her to work for a better America and to always have a heart of empathy for the socially oppressed and underserved. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she currently serves as the President of the Hempstead Branch of the NAACP where her mother previously served for 25 years.  

Bobbie is the Director of the Empire State After-School Program for the Hempstead Public School District where she oversees programs that expose children to activities and experiences beyond their academic curriculum and introduces them to areas where they may find opportunities to grow such as STEM, debate, and culinary arts.  Prior to her role at Hempstead Pubic Schools she served as a community outreach director for the Nassau County Comptroller’s office.  While Bobbie has worked in public service for some time, her passion lays in advocacy and political engagement.  She has served as the public policy chair for the LI Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and is a member of the Incorporated Village of Hempstead’s Community Benefits and Police Reform Committees. While Bobbie’s efforts have been documented with many awards and accolades, she draws her spiritual strength from her Christian faith and is a member of The Lutheran Church of the Epiphany where she sits on the church council.  In her past time, Bobbie enjoys, couponing, swimming, traveling, shopping, and spending time with family especially her daughter, Barbara V. Powell, III.