Bobbie Paul  served as the first Executive Director of Georgia WAND (Women's Action  for New Directions)  from 2002-2013. Prior to coming to Atlanta in 1981  she worked as a professional theatre director  in Washington DC and  St.  Petersburg, Florida where she co-founded what is now American Stage  Company.

Bobbie's  political and environmental activism began in Atlanta in 1982 fighting  the Georgia Dept, of Transportation's plans to build the Stone Mountain  Freeway.  She organized hundreds of neighborhood volunteers and  designing theatrical events  try to halt the construction a major 6-lane  highway that would cut through eight historic Intown neighborhoods and  parks.  This marked the beginning of Bobbie's long association with  Congressman John Lewis, an ally in the fight. fortifying her commitment  to 'getting in the way', risking emotional pain to build partnerships in  order to advance Dr King's vision of the beloved community.

Bobbie  spent 25 years watch dogging the Savannah River Site (a major US  nuclear weapons Superfund complex located in South Carolina across from   Waynesboro, Ga) and fighting to protect vulnerable Georgia communities  from nuclear contamination.

In  2010, Bobbie led Georgia WAND efforts to win Senator Johnny Isakson's  leadership and support for Senate passage of a nuclear non-proliferation  treaty with Russia called NEW START. Bobbie  has served on the boards of Arbor Montessori and Paideia Schools, Theatrical Outfit, Dad's Garage Theatre, GreenLaw, the Advisory  Committee of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda.  She's been  recognized for her grassroots activism by the Alliance for Nuclear  Accountability, Eckerd Alumni Association, Metro Atlanta Democratic  Socialists of America, the Atlanta City Council and the State of Georgia for her service to the community.

She was honored to be chosen to receive the Ebon Dooley Bridge Builder Award by the ArtsXchange in 2018. Bobbie  is a founding member of Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace and is still  active with that group.  She is currently working on Run With Her, a  creative fundraising campaign to help elect seven Metro Atlanta women to  the the Georgia House of Representatives in November.

She is married to filmmaker Rod Paul.  They have two adults sons and two grandchildren – also of Atlanta. Bobbie is a longtime member of Central Presbyterian Church. In  addition to Georgia WAND, Bobbie is a supporter Georgians for Gun  Safety, Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Planned  Parenthood,  the Equal Justice Initiative, Abuelas Responden, Nuclear  Watch South, and several environmental organizations.

* Barbara Seifer Paul – born July 11, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pa.

Bobbie Paul

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