What’s BIG Doing Now?

Blacks In Government (BIG) is a national organization of African American government workers at the Federal, State and local levels committed to promoting excellence in government service through equity of opportunity. Following are highlights of recent National BIG activities:

BIG is a partner and member of the Black Leadership Forum (BLA), an organization consisting of the leaders of the major African-American organizations throughout the United States, including the N.A.A.C.P., Urban League, National Council of Negro Woman, Operation Push, etc.  Recently BIG and the BLA National Presidents met with Nanci Pelosi, Speaker of the House to discuss various issues related to Education, Health Care, the Environment and other issues related to African-American experience.  The BLA also meets monthly with representatives of the Obama White House.

BIG has been listed for the past several years as one of Ebony Magazines 150 Most Influential Black Organizations in America

BIG met with President Barack Obama and discussed the challenges related to diversity within Federal Government agencies.  Many of these challenges related to the fact that on average African-Americans are generally two grades lower in the federal grade structure, and the fact that senior leadership has African-American representation of only 7 percent.

BIG is an annual participant and recipient of funding through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).  Funds received through the CFC are utilized to provide funding to various BIG Youth Programs, scholarship programs and membership programs which support the base membership of BIG.

BIG has initiated the Future Leaders In America’s Government (F.L.A.G.) Program, a Youth Program initiated through BIG Chapters nationwide to provide guidance and mentorship to middle school and high school students throughout the nation, as well as provides college scholarships to graduating high school seniors annually.

BIG, through our partnership with the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Program (FEEA) provides scholarships annually  to the children and grandchildren of BIG members, ensuring our continued support of education for our Youth.

BIG host the largest minority-based National Training Conference in America specifically tailored to support government workers. Each year, thousands of government employees from the Federal, state and local government convene to be trained, address issues related to the African-American experience and promote equity, excellence and opportunity at all levels of government service.

BIG annually trains its members through the Darlene H. Young Leadership Academy, an intense leadership development program co-sponsored by the Graduate School (USDA)  in which participants are trained in the core Executive Competencies of executive government leadership using interactive workshops, seminars and shadowing techniques to prepare them for leadership and management in government service.

BIG is listed as a Professional Development Association in the African American Yearbook, published by TIYM publishing from McLean, Virginia as well as listed in the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies National African American Directory.

BIG was a panel participant in the EEOC’s annual EXCEL Conference in which EEO professionals throughout the Federal government are trained annually on the new direction and procedures of Equal Employment Opportunity in the government workplace.

BIG has testified before Congress on a number of issues, the most recent being the Senate Government Affairs Committee on Civil Service on the Federal Employee Fairness Act and the NO FEAR Act.  BIG also recently testified before Congress on the lack of minority representation in the Federal Senior Executive Service.  Such testimonies have been successful in changing federal law as well as enlighten the Congress on issues related to African Americans in the government workplace.