ABOUT US

Our Mission

The Greater Kansas City Chapter of Blacks in Government (GKC BIG) seeks to advance the interests of Federal, State, and Local governmental employees.

Our Values

We value our members, the national organization of BIG, and excellence in public service.

Our History

The Greater Kansas City Chapter of Blacks In Government, Incorporated was conceptualized January 10, 1980. The need for the organization grew out of concerns expressed at the First National Conference held on October 18-20, 1979. That conference provided a forum for discussing major problems Black Americans face today. The GKC chapter was organized in response to BIG’s national call, “Unite for Action,” an idea born out of a need to combat the forces of apathy, lethargy, and negativism that were eroding the foundation of our many hard won gains.

The chapter was formed April 10, 1980 and incorporated in December 1980. The organization started out with a small nucleus of approximately 20 individuals that were willing to work to give Blacks in Government a stronger voice in planning, developing, and executing policies and programs that affected their jobs and lives.

The year, 1980, marked the beginning of the local chapter working as one overall body with elected officers making decisions. The highlight of the year was the laying of the administrative foundation and the development of goals and objectives for the chapter.

MEMBERSHIP

If you care about making a difference in your workplace or in your community, and if you want to develop yourself personally and professionally, then BIG is for you. There are 3 ways to be affiliated with us:

· As a regular member – any employee or retiree of Federal, State, or Local government;

· As an associate member – any person who is in accord with the principles, policies, and objectives of the organization. You receive all rights & privileges of membership except those of voting and holding office; and

· As a life member – any person who is in accord with the principles, policies, and objectives of the organization, but must be a qualified regular member to vote and hold elective office.

Membership in BIG keeps you connected to other public servants similarly situated and provides a chance for you to step up and take your place in the fight for equality, excellence and opportunity in Government. Take a minute to sign up and join today. (Printable application)

Please contact Pinkie Mason, Membership Chair at 816-926-7349 for additional information about membership.

Chapter Programs

The Greater Kansas City’s Chapter Programs are true to “Keeping the BIG Commitment.” In developing programs that promote Leadership, Service, and Excellence, opportunities are created by the chapter to strengthen our members, our workplaces and our communities. The Program and Planning Committee is responsible for implementing chapter programs that promote ethnic pride and educational opportunities.

One of the chapter’s oldest events is the annual Awards Ceremony and Training Seminar held in February each year. For decades, this event has provided excellent training opportunities for public service employees through workshops, seminars, and nationally known speakers that share the chapter’s vision of Leadership, Service, and Excellence.

The annual awards presented recognize outstanding achievements: (1) by an individual in Education, Medicine, Religion, Law, Business/Governmental, and Civic/Cultural activities; and (2) by an agency/employer who has demonstrated “above and beyond” support of African Americans and other minorities. In addition, our Youth Scholarship rewards promising leaders of tomorrow with support to offset the costs of higher education and career goals.

Other chapter programs include a Community Fair, a Networking Event, several leadership and development programs, and various community service events.

The purpose of the Community Fair is to break down barriers to information that could improve and enrich the lives of minorities by bringing national & local government information to the community level. Information is provided in such areas as health, employment, finance, and education.

Like the annual awards and training seminar, the Greater KC chapter’s annual Networking Event is one that area professionals look forward to in order to make new business contacts, turn acquaintances into friends, and renew old friendships.

The leadership and development training sessions provide members with skills to lead the organization as well as enhance their personal development.

Programs that support the Greater Kansas City Community play a pivotal role in members’ fulfillment. The chapter regularly participates in voter registration, philanthropies during the holiday seasons, as well as youth training & mentorship. The chapter also provides support for public housing elections, and partners with and supports other minority organizations in the community.

Scholarships

The BIG Greater Kansas City Chapter is committed to empowering the youth of tomorrow. The annual scholarships being awarded to promising students in the Greater Kansas City area is just one initiative by the chapter to give back to the community and support future leaders. The purpose of the scholarships is to recognize outstanding achievement in areas of academics, community service, and leadership. In addition, the applicants are evaluated on their goals, character, and financial need.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have maintained a 2.5 or better GPA on a 4.0 scale in high school.
• Applicants must have applied to or be enrolled at an accredited institution of higher learning.
• Applicants must submit a printed copy of his/her latest transcript.

Applicants will be judged on the following:

• Involvement in civic, social or volunteer activities
• Education and/or work experience
• Financial need
• Goals
• Evidence of leadership and character

Process

1. Applications should be mailed to Blacks In Government, Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 15251, Kansas City, MO 64106.
2. Applications must be received or postmarked by mid-January of each calendar year. Consult the web site in December of each year for the precise January deadline.
3. The scholarship committee will evaluate the applications and interviews will be conducted for finalists.
4. The Scholarships will be presented at the annual Greater Kansas City Chapter Awards Luncheon held each February.
5. Funds will be sent directly to the institution to be applied toward the cost of tuition and/or books.

To apply, please click here for a printable application.

For additional information, contact Wesley G. Buckner, Scholarship Committee at 913-758-6960.

Strategic Plan

Greater Kansas City Chapter

Blacks In Government

2002-2007

“Keeping the BIG Commitment”

Mission: To enhance and improve working conditions for Blacks at all levels of Federal, State, and Local government.

The Goals of BIG

Ø To eliminate practices of racism and racial discrimination against Blacks in government.

Ø To develop and promote programs which will enhance ethnic pride and educational opportunities for Blacks in government.

Ø To promote professionalism among Blacks in government.

Ø To be an advocate for equal opportunity for Blacks in government.

Ø To establish a mechanism for the gathering and dissemination of information to Blacks in government.

Ø To provide a non-partisan platform on major issues of local, regional, and national significance that affect Blacks in government.

Introduction

Blacks in Government (BIG) is rooted in the belief that African Americans who work in government should have the opportunity for full, complete, and equitable access to jobs, education, and advancement. And, that it is necessary to develop a mechanism for inclusion, growth and power for all present and future African American governmental employees. This strategic plan embraces this philosophy.

The themes of this plan are Leadership, Service, and Excellence. These themes are conceptual threads that weave their way through the plan and form the base for the strategic goals and objectives.

§ Leadership

This word represents a commitment to our members and reflects our intention to provide the best in program management. It is meant to convey that we will operate in a manner that permits us to keep the pulse of our constituency.

§ Service

This theme is truly a central piece of our strategic vision. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of our members and our business partners as well. We will focus on issues that promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans.

§ Excellence

BIG has always been an organization that strives for excellence in the programs we offer and the development of our membership. We will keep the BIG commitment by vigorously pursuing the objective of excellence in public service.

Strategic Vision

For this plan period, our vision encompasses the following areas:

• Infrastructure Development
• Member Services
• Fundraising
• Community Outreach

The plan that follows will outline the objectives for each of these program areas.

Infrastructure Development

OBJECTIVE:

To build a strong, viable infrastructure

In order for the Greater Kansas City Chapter to accomplish its mission, it must be an organization that runs efficiently and effectively. As we move into the next millennium, it is imperative that we have leadership that demonstrates courage, commitment, emotional intelligence, and wisdom.

This objective encompasses all of the elements of organizational development; i.e., those things that make an organization run efficiently and effectively. It includes leadership training and development, business and/or marketing plan development, communications and public relations, policy & procedure development, and acquisition of assets (real property, volunteers, equipment).

How We Will Accomplish

¨ Develop a comprehensive training program with continuing educational

opportunities for Board of Directors, Officers and all Committee Chairs. This program shall include a strategy for BIG Officers to sit on other Boards and Executive bodies.

¨ Develop a structured marketing plan to sell BIG to its constituency and other community partners. The marketing plan is to include an internal communications piece and a public relations piece, to include a media plan. (This plan could also be used to solicit grants to assist the chapter in program development.)

¨ To the extent practicable, develop a business plan to assist in acquiring materials, equipment, and other resources needed to meet the organization’s goals.

¨ Redevelop and update organizational policy and procedure that govern operations.

¨ Explore new ways to strengthen membership commitment to the organization so that the chapter has the human resources it needs to carry out its mission

¨ Expand our membership base so that it is representative of the constituents we serve: State, local, and federal employees. As part of the marketing plan, we will develop a strategy to recruit new members from all levels of government and engage them in the organization.

Member Services

OBJECTIVES:

To value and invest in each member;

To deliver responsive, world-class service.

Through these objectives, we will focus on improving the identification of member needs and the access of members to our services.

How We Will Accomplish

¨ Develop a comprehensive instrument for gauging members’ needs and evaluating how well we meet those needs.

¨ Establish a process for strengthening member understanding of the goals of the organization and workplace issues that affect their well being. Our ultimate aim is encourage members to act in their own best interests.

¨ Use the information obtained from the membership assessment instrument to establish an education program for members.

¨ Establish a new member orientation program.

¨ Establish partnerships with other organizations to deliver responsive programs to our members.

¨ Update the design of our house organ to strengthen the awareness of the chapter’s services. The audience is members, agencies, and other business partners. As noted in the section on Infrastructure Development, our internal communications instrument should be a part of the overall marketing strategy for the organization.

¨ Develop an audit trail for all programs offered by the chapter so that documentation exists to support our 501©-(3) status.

¨ Expand and strengthen our advocacy role by speaking out on issues affecting the government workplace. Renew our efforts to mentor and advise employees with workplace problems.

Fundraising

OBJECTIVE:

To build a strong Treasury

Funding for our chapter is much like fingers are to a hand—one doesn’t function well without the other. We will seek funding opportunities that will allow us to effectively carry out our mission.

Our strategy for fundraising will include the following elements:

· Opportunities that require minimal or no overhead;

· Opportunities which project a positive image for the organization; and

· Opportunities that allow the chapter to give back to the community.

We will involve the entire membership in our fundraising activities.

How We Will Accomplish

¨ Establish annual fundraising goals.

¨ Develop a written fundraising plan that is communicated to all members.

¨ Seek to reestablish ourselves as a Combined Federal Campaign member organization.

¨ Through the marketing and business plan process, seek corporate donations.

¨ Devise a strategy to increase member gifts to the chapter.

¨ Identify potential sources for grants and their requirements.

¨ Explore the feasibility of engaging the services of a professional fundraiser.

Community Outreach

OBJECTIVE:

To make a significant contribution to the betterment of the community in which we work and live.

The health and vibrancy of the communities in which we live are important to the life and liberty of each of us. We are important links in the community infrastructure, and as the community prospers so do we.

Confronting problems such as drugs, education, homelessness, and voter participation in the political process serve to bind us together. These endeavors will move us ever closer to making significant contributions to the socioeconomic, political, and cultural well being of Blacks.

How We Will Accomplish

¨ Develop an outreach plan that has children as its centerpiece because they are our future.

¨ Identify and form partnerships with various community organizations to facilitate our outreach efforts.

¨ Forge new relationships with local financial institutions for the purpose of ensuring that they invest in minority communities and provide financial services that meet the needs of their members and/or customers.

Board of Directors

The affairs of the Chapter are governed by a Board of Directors. The Board establishes and directs the policies of the Chapter, which are implemented by the Executive Committee. The implementation of the strategic themes of Leadership, Service, and Excellence are reviewed in the beginning of each calendar year.

Board members serve a 2-year term and meet monthly.

Regional Representatives

David Hampton

816-997-7005
dhampton@kcp.com

Patricia M. Hawkins

(913) 551-7379

hawkins.patriciam@epa.gov

Alternate Regional Representatives

Pinkie Mason

816-926-7349

pinkie.mason@gsa.gov

Terri-Michelle Lewis

(816) 926-1268

terri.m.lewis@dfas.mil

The Regional Director represents our 4-state region on the National Board of Directors. The National Board sets policy for the National Organization of BIG.

Volunteer Opportunities

You are what the Greater Kansas City BIG chapter is all about—lifelong relationships. Our chapter successes are wholly because of people like you who volunteer to help us in countless ways. You make a difference in what we’re doing—our mission accomplishment, our values, and our vision.

There are many ways in which you can volunteer.

…If you like working and assisting the youth, then consider service on our scholarship committee.

…If fundraising is your middle name, our finance committee anxiously awaits you.

…If writing, speaking, and “meeting & dealing” is your forte, then perhaps the communications and public relations committee is for you.

…If you have an eye for detail, are innovative, results-oriented, and just plain good at wheeling & dealing, the program & planning committee definitely wants you!

…If you are concerned with how public policy is made and its impact on you, then perhaps the legislative review committee is the place for you.

…And if you enjoy meeting constituents in other governmental agencies and encouraging them to join you on your path to personal and professional growth, the membership committee will be ecstatic to hear from you!

If you want to meet people who can help you in your workplace and community, and if you, in turn, want to make a difference in your workplace/community, consider volunteer service in our chapter.

You may volunteer to serve on any committee by contacting the chairperson of the committee that interests you. Just click here Chapter Officers and scroll to Committee Chairpersons.