“It took all of us to work out a plan: a whole team, I, my mom, and siblings, contributed in sustaining the home and maintaining the family as important building blocks. It’s exciting to know that we can have some ownership through teamwork. If you put your mind to it; then, you can do it.”
— Katherine Campbell, BPP Alumni
black panther party community survival programs
1967 - 1982*
The Black Panther Party developed many early social programs that was based off the immediate needs of the community. These pioneering acts to improve the conditions of the People are often unacknowledged by historians as being the first to inspire nationwide programs to aid various oppressed communities. Read on for full list of the Programs.
Free Food Program. 10,000 bags of groceries were given to Oakland’s community in 1972.
Children’s Breakfast Program
Free Clothing Program, Ohio, 1970
Photography by Stephen Shames and BPP resources.
Alameda County Volunteer
Benefit Counseling
Black Student Alliance
Child Development Center
Consumer Education Classes
Community Facility Use
Community Health Classes
East Oakland CIL (Center for Independent Living) Branch
Community Pantry (Free Food Program)
Disabled Persons Services/Transportation and Attendant
Drug/Alcohol Abuse Awareness Program
Drama Classes
Drill Team
Employment Referral Service
Free Ambulance Program
Free Breakfast for Children Programs
Free Bussing to Prisons Program
Free Clothing Program
Free Commissary for Prisoners Program
Free Dental Program
Free Employment Program
Free Food Program
Free Film Series
Free Furniture Program
Free Health Clinics
Free Housing Cooperative Program
Food Cooperative Program
Free Optometry Program
Community Forum
Free Pest Control Program
Free Plumbing and Maintenance Program
Free Shoe Program
GED Classes
Geriatric Health Center
GYN Clinic
Home SAFE Visits
Intercommunal Youth Institute (becomes OCS in 1975)
Junior High and High School Tutorial Program
Legal Aid and Education
Legal Clinic/Workshops
Laney Experimental College Extension Site
Legal Referral Service(s)
Liberation Schools
Martial Arts Program
Nutrition Classes
Oakland Community Learning Center
Outreach Preventative Care
Program Development
Pediatric Clinic
Police Patrols
Seniors Against a Fearful Environment
SAFE Club
Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation
Son of Man Temple (becomes Community Forum in 1976)
Sports Program
Senior Switchboard
The Black Panther Newspaper
Teen Council
Teen Program
U.C. Berkeley Students Health Program
STD Preventative Screening & Counseling
Visiting Nurses Program
WIC Program (Women’s, Infants & Children)
Youth Diversion and Probation Site
Youth Training and Development