about us
Welcome to
the Blacks In Government (BIG) Region III website. Region III
consists of Delaware,
Maryland (except Charles County, MD, Montgomery County, MD, Prince Georges County, MD), Pennslyvania, Virginia
(except Alexandria City, VA, Fairfax City, VA, Falls Church, VA, Arlington City VA, Loudon County, VA, Prince Williams County, VA), and West Virginia.
Blacks In Government® (BIG) was established in 1975 and incorporated in 1976 by
a small group of African Americans at the Public Health Services which is a part
of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in the Parklawn building in
Rockville, Maryland. The organization was viewed as essential to the Black civil
service employee, based on a wide assortment of racially motivated problems
faced by the HEW Black employees in Rockville. Initially, it was thought that
the umbrella organization would address only the problems at the Federal level.
However, it was soon determined that State, County, and Municipal Black
employees were faced with the same general type of employment problems.
Nonetheless, Blacks In Government was organized in 1975 and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the District of Columbia jurisdiction in 1976. BIG has been a national response to the need for African Americans in public service to organize around issues of mutual concern and use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG's goals are to promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans.
MISSION
BIG is committed to serving our members and the community. We encourage our members to actively participate in the decision-making process and to treat their activism as an opportunity for self-development.
BIG is committed to supporting the goals of equality, excellence and opportunity by building a membership base that reflects every level of government: local, state and federal.
BIG GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1) To be an advocate of equal opportunity for Blacks in government.
2) To eliminate practices of racism and racial discrimination against Blacks in Government.
3) To promote professionalism among Blacks in government.
4) To develop and promote programs which will enhance ethnic pride and educational opportunities for Blacks in government.
5) To establish a mechanism for gathering and disseminating information for Blacks in government.
6) To provide a nonpartisan platform on major issues of local, regional, and national significance that affect Blacks in government.