Blacks In Government (BIG) is a national organization of African American government workers at the Federal, State and local level 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 (BLF), an organization consisting of the leaders of the major African American organizations throughout the United States, including the NAACP, Urban League, National Council of Negro Women, Operation Push, etc. Recently, BIG and BLF 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 experiences. BLF 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 has a weekly radio broadcast entitled "The BIG Experience" on WTOP Federal News Radio which is designed to inform the general public on a wide variety of issues that affect government employees as well as discuss upcoming activities within the African-Americancommunity which are of interest to
our listening audience.
BIG is an annual participant as well as a recipient of funding through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Funds received through the CFC are utilized to provide funding to various BIG youth, scholarship, and membership programs which supports the base membership of BIG.
BIG has inititiated the Federal 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, provide 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 children and grandchildren of BIG members, ensuring our continued support of education for our youth.
BIG hosts 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 level of government service.
BIG is listed as a Professional Development Association in the African American Yearbook, published by the 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 EEOC's annual EXCEL Conference in which EEO professionals throughout the Federal Government are trained annually on the new direction andprocedures of Equal Employment Oportunity 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 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 testomonies have been successful in changing federal law as well as enlightening the Congress on issues related to African
Americans in the government workplace.