
02/09/2021
#thinkbig
Mary Wilson, Founding Member Of The Supremes, Dies At 76
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965713448/mary-wilson-founding-member-of-the-supremes-dies-at-76
BIG's goals are to promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans. 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.
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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.
Mission: *Be an advocate of equal opportunity *Eliminate practices of racism and racial discrimination *Promote professionalism among Blacks in government *Develop and promote programs to enhance ethnic pride and educational opportunities *Establish a mechanism for the gathering and dissemination of information *Provide a nonpartisan platform on major issues of local, regional, and national significance affecting Blacks in government *Establish a mechanism for the gathering and dissemination of information *Provide a nonpartisan platform on major issues of local, regional, and national significance affecting Blacks in government
Operating as usual
#thinkbig
Mary Wilson, Founding Member Of The Supremes, Dies At 76
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965713448/mary-wilson-founding-member-of-the-supremes-dies-at-76
#thinkbig
FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government
Register today for the upcoming Project BIG Vote presents a Virtual Forum - The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity on Friday, February 26, 2021 7PM EST.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sfu-prz8qHdT-k46H6ocg5hdUyZbzKIOF
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
Project BIG Vote presents a Virtual Forum - The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government
Please save the date for two upcoming NOW Generation Events. Go to BIG National webpage for more information at http://www.bignet.org
NOW Generation Committee Meeting: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 7:30pm EST.
Black History Month Social in collaboration with YGL Atlanta: Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 7pm EST.
We look forward to seeing you!
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#thinkbig
FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government
Project BIG Vote presents a Virtual Forum - The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity on Friday, February 26, 2021 7PM EST.
Go to BIG National website for more information and/or copy and paste this zoom link to register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sfu-prz8qHdT-k46H6ocg5hdUyZbzKIOF
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#thinkBIG
FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government
SUBJECT: Washington Post Interviews BIG National President for Susan Rice Article
Last week Washington Post Columnist Joe Davidson reached out for a statement from BIG on the importance of President Biden’s new Executive Order on Racial Equity. As the spokesperson for BIG, I jumped at the opportunity to do so and a portion of those comments were graciously included in Mr. Davidson’s article over the weekend entitled Susan Rice wants every federal agency to focus on racial equity. The article is attached here in this tweet from Mr. Davidson. Please share it broadly as we seek to expand BIG’s reach.
Here’s the tweet with the link: Susan Rice is the energy behind turning @JoeBiden’s #racialequity words into results. He wants to move the WH from one that coddled white #racism under #Trump into an engine targeting systemic racism.
wapo.st/3owRBDv @POTUS
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
In 200 days, each agency is required to review certain programs and report to Rice on systemic barriers hampering access to benefits, services and procurement.
Blacks In Government (BIG)'s cover photo
Blacks In Government (BIG)'s cover photo
#thinkBIG #blackhistory365
The killing of Fred Hampton, the FBI — and our nation’s long fight for police reform | Editorial - Chicago Sun-Times
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/1/24/22244731/new-fbi-records-black-panthers-police-reform-fred-hampton-mark-clark-editorial
Newly released documents shed disturbing light on the FBI’s involvement in a 1969 police raid that resulted in the deaths of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark.
#thinkbig
FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government
SUBJECT: Reminder: NOW Generation Committee Meeting Today
As we begin our journey into the new year, the NOW Generation is looking for members to join our committee. The NOW Generation focuses on programming for young professionals of BIG under the age of 40 looking to enhance their success and become leaders in the workplace.
If interested, please join us for our first committee meeting of the year today, January 27, 2021 at 7 p.m. EST.
Time: Jan 27, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85414819908?pwd=VTdpeWo0VzBLVm1XUHc1RWhmTzdpdz09
Meeting ID: 854 1481 9908
Passcode: BIGNOW
If you are unable to attend and are interested in joining the committee, please contact us at [email protected].
Thank you,
Alesia Smith
NOW Generation Coordinator
[email protected]
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#thinkBIG
Rittenhouse's Bail Terms Amended After Footage of Him at Bar
https://www.theroot.com/kyle-rittenhouses-bail-terms-amended-after-pictures-of-1846118434
A judge in Wisconsin has amended Kyle Rittenhouse’s bond conditions to bar the 18-year-old from drinking or associating with known white supremacists and other bigots.
#thinkBIG
From Slave Songs to Hip Hop: National Museum of African American Music Finally Opens in Nashville (Video) | EURweb
https://eurweb.com/2021/01/19/from-slave-songs-to-hip-hop-national-museum-of-african-american-music-finally-opens-in-nashville-video/
National Museum of African American Music in Nashvile *A sweater owned by Nat King Cole , the bass guitar played by A Taste of Honey's Janice Marie Johnson on t
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FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government
SUBJECT: Reflections on A Dream - Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. Both his father and his grandfather before him were pastors of the renowned Ebenezer Baptist Church, a church known for civil rights activism that is currently shepherded by a very familiar name, Senior Pastor Rafael Warnock. Preaching was in Dr. King's blood and so was standing up and speaking out about the inequities faced by black communities. And, to honor his legacy we must do the same. In fact Dr. King said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Equality matters.
Dr. King also famously said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?” And, it is that quote that I believe epitomizes Dr. King’s legacy and that also speaks to who we are as public servants. That quote tells me that Dr. King would be happy that the day we dedicate to his memory has been given the tag line “A day on, not a day off. While Dr. King never held public office nor was he a public servant as we are, we know he dedicated his life for the public good.
For all the good he did, we know he is more than deserving but, I have often wondered how he would feel about having a day in his honor and even all of the streets and schools that are named after him. While we can guess that he would be flattered, I believe he would be pleased only if these honorariums lead to lasting change for racial equality. And, I hope we will keep that purpose in mind as we honor him here today – the need for lasting change towards racial equality in all aspects of life. Because if a pandemic alone wasn’t bad enough, it has also served to highlight continuing inequities in heath, economics, housing, and indeed in policing. It shows that we still have work to do to bring his dream to fruition.
As we reflect on his legacy today and listen to recordings of his speeches, we will all be reminded of Dr. King's dream, " a dream rooted in the American dream". Speaking about inequality in allegories, we will be reminded that he dreamed of that day when "every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places shall be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight". Like the kid in the back seat on a road trip asking "are we there yet?", we know that we are not. But, like Dr. King, we must be collectively committed to equality and we must have faith that we will be able "to transform the jangling discords of our nation" which we indeed recently saw at our nation's Capitol into a "beautiful symphony of brotherhood". May God bless you all on this day of service.
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#mlkday2021 Celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. who sowed the seeds of hope and healing in America. DREAM.BELIEVE.UNITE.DO #thinkbig
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FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government
SUBJECT: The U.S. Capitol Incident Begs the Question Is Our Country Better Than This?
Is this country better than this is the question we must all ask ourselves. If it is, then why did we see the U.S. Capitol overrun by violent intruders bent on insurrection in a disgusting display that went far beyond anyone's definition of peaceful protest? But, if that display was not representative of who we want to be, what do we need to collectively do about it?
It starts by recognizing that January 6, 2021, is a day that should be so troubling for all of us that it will be a day that will live in infamy. The scenes that unfolded are being played in a continuous loop all across America and indeed all across the world. And, we should be collectively mortified by it all.
We should also be troubled by the loss of life. As we head towards the commemoration this month of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we must remember his commitment to nonviolence while speaking truth to power and collectively send up prayers for the families of those who perished.
But, those images should be particularly troubling as we consider this country's pledge of equal treatment under the law which mandates that individuals who are similarly situated be treated equally by law. It is that pledge that has led so many of all races to be reminded of how dissimilarly this situation was handled in comparison to the Black Lives Matters and other protestors who were tear gassed, beaten with clubs, and blocked with barricades in the aftermath of the senseless deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and others around this country. Where were the barricades and tear gas yesterday during this insurrection that put in danger the lives of not only politicians but every day public servants trying to make an honest living?
If this country is better than this, we have a lot of work to do. And, our Blacks In Government organization stands in solidarity with our fellow public servants and the American people to get it done.
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#thinkBIG
FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government, INC (BIG)
Dear President-Elect Biden & Vice President-Elect Harris, we have some concerns.
#thinkBIG
FROM: Honorable Dr. Doris P. Sartor, National President, Blacks In Government
As we bid farewell to 2020,
Let us remember the good times along with the bad
And pray for sunnier days in 2021.
Happy New Year!
One of America's Most Influential Organizations
"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#thinkBIG
The Trump Administration Keeps Awarding Border Wall Contracts but Doesn’t Own the Land to Build On
https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-border-wall-contracts-land-trump-administration
The government’s strategy of awarding contracts before acquiring titles to land in Texas has led to millions of dollars in costs for delays. Things could get even more complicated if President-elect Joe Biden stops border wall construction.
#thinkBIG
The Journal of Steffanie Rivers: The Black Agenda 2021 | EURweb
https://eurweb.com/2020/12/28/the-journal-of-steffanie-rivers-the-black-agenda-2021/
While other people are sitting around eating like pigs at a trough, drinking mind-altering substances and shopping for things they don’t need to impress people
#thinkBIG
How Your Digital Trails Wind Up in the Police’s Hands
https://www.wired.com/story/your-digital-trails-polices-hands
Phone calls. Web searches. Location tracks. Smart speaker requests. They’ve become crucial tools for law enforcement, while users often are unaware.
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Douglas Development Files Plans for 615-Unit Redevelopment of DC's Cotton Annex
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UrbanTurf_DC/~3/b3dfMspF2-E/17697
Douglas Development has filed plans with the Zoning Commission to redevelop the Cotton Annex in Southwest DC into a 615-unit development.
#thinkBIG
China pushes Alibaba founder Jack Ma to downsize his finance business
https://www.engadget.com/china-regulator-ant-group-jack-ma-055841293.html
China’s crackdown on Jack Ma’s empire is far from over: The country’s regulators have ordered the Ma-founded Alibaba affiliate Ant Group to scale down its business. Ant Group started out as Alipay, which became China’s largest digital payment platform, though it eventually expanded to offer ...
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White’s Ferry started shuttling passengers across the Potomac River in the 1700s. It closed Monday.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/whites-ferry-closed/2020/12/28/80ddac0e-4938-11eb-9025-57b4c8818a4a_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_local
The closure was related to a legal dispute, the ferry’s owners said.
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Schools Face A Massive Challenge To Make Up For Learning Lost During The Pandemic https://www.npr.org/2020/12/28/950814131/schools-face-a-massive-challenge-to-make-up-for-learning-lost-during-the-pandemi
Former Education Secretary John King Jr. thinks a national tutoring program would help students make up for lost learning during the pandemic. He talked with NPR about the challenges facing schools.
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How Big Tech failed to stop misinformation in 2020
http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/Z3LPoaJtbzQ/
Conspiracy theories spread rapidly in 2020 along with COVID-19.
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Happy Birthday to Denzel Washington, a Black Hollywood Legend
https://blackthen.com/happy-birthday-to-denzel-washington-a-black-hollywood-legend/
Photo credits: The Everett Collection Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. (pictured) was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. Washington grew up in a middle-class family. He was the second of three children.
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Pentagon Memo Maps Out Plan to Expand Diversity in the Force
https://blackvoicenews.com/2020/12/27/pentagon-memo-maps-out-plan-to-expand-diversity-in-the-force/
Lolita C. Baldor | Associated Press The Pentagon has endorsed a new slate of initiatives to expand diversity within the ranks and reduce prejudice, calling for more aggressive efforts to recruit, retain and promote a more racially and ethnically diverse force. Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Mi...
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For D.C. protests, Proud Boys settle in at city’s oldest hotel and its bar
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/for-dc-protests-proud-boys-settle-in-at-citys-oldest-hotel-and-its-bar/2020/12/27/0eb6afcc-3fb0-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_local
Hotel Harrington and Harry’s have faced internal and external backlash for hosting the militant far-right group.
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22 facts you never knew about Wikipedia
http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/bmbADexH8pk/
Celebrating the free encyclopedia's 20th anniversary. Did you know one incredibly dedicated editor has made over 47,000 edits to correct the phrase "comprised of"?
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Lynchburg Flyover Honors What Would Have Been Tuskegee Airman’s 100th Birthday – NBC4 Washington
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/lynchburg-flyover-honors-what-would-have-been-tuskegee-airmans-100th-birthday/2521491/
An awesome display of aircraft flying in formation over the Lynchburg home of a former Tuskegee airman was supposed to be part of a birthday celebration. Instead, the flyover took place on what would have been Alfred Farrar’s 100th birthday Saturday, instead as a memorial.
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FROM: Honorable Dr. Doris P. Sartor, National President, Blacks In Government BIG Purpose: Serves as an advocate of equal opportunity to address practices of racial discrimination against Blacks in government and promote professional development for Black government employees at the Local, State and Federal government levels and others dedicated to justice for all. BIG website: www.bignet.org
#thinkBIG FROM: Honorable Dr. Doris P. Sartor, National President SUBJECT: Postponement of National Blacks In Government's 42nd Annual National Training Institute National Blacks In Government, Inc. (BIG) is postponing its 42nd Annual National Training Institute scheduled August 24-27, 2020, in Tampa, Florida, because of the increasing risks regarding the coronavirus outbreak and travel concerns. The NTI is being postponed until 2023 or later. The health and well-being of our members, conference attendees, corporate sponsors, and partners are of utmost concern. As the coronavirus spreads and drastically affects our lives and daily routines, BIG continues to emphasize the need to adhere to the guidance of local and national health authorities, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the World Health Organization. During this critical time, we must care for and about each other. Please continue to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to travel restrictions, implementing social distances, and using healthy practices. It is not only about you; but about all of us. This is the time for us to join together for the health and well-being of ALL. One of America's Most Influential Organizations "Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#thinkBIG #kwanzaa Imani (Faith): the belief in God, family, heritage, leaders and others that will leave to the victory of Africans around the world. with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Kuumba: Creativity - To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. #thinkbig #kwanzaa
#thinkbig #kwanzaa Nia: Purpose - To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Ujamaa: Cooperative Economics - To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. #thinkbig #kwanzaa
Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility - To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and solve them together. #thinkbig #kwanzaa
#thinkBIG #kwanzaa Kujichagulia: Self-Determination - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Umoja: Unity - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. #thinkBIG #kwanzaa
Getting ready to get the organization business done just before the most anticipated training in August the National Training Institute in Dallas Texas.
#KOJO20 Celebrating 20 years of his WAMU 88.5 - American University Radio accomplishment with Lonnie G. Bunch III, Founding Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the newly-appointed Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution #NMAAHC #thinkBIG
#thinkBIG BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT, INC. The 41st Annual National Training Institute. "BIG NTI: Your Benchmark for Achieving Excellence in the Workplace" Important Notice To Register for BIG's National Training Institute You must either sign in with your User ID and Password or you must create a new account to enter BIG's Member Portal. To Register for BIG's National Training Institute (NTI) you must click on upcoming events then click on register for the NTI. To purchase any banquet ticket(s) which you did not purchase when registering for the NTI, click on-line store and then go to merchandise. If you are registering for another individual and/or individuals you must contact BIG's National Office 202-667-3280 or send an e-mail to [email protected] On-Line Registration http://www.bignet.org/index.php/2019-nti-dallas-tx/2019-hotel-information Registration Booklethttp://www.bignet.org/images/stories/2019/NTI%20Registration/FINAL%20NTI%202019%20REGISTRATION%20BOOK.pdf Sheraton Downtown Dallas Hotel 400 North Olive Street Dallas, Texas 75201 The Blacks In Government Annual National Training Institute hotel room block is Now Open, please click on the link below to make hotel reservations: Book your group rate for Blacks In Government, Inc. / Blacks In Government, Inc. 41st Annual National Training Institute We are looking forward to an educational and enlightening National Training Institute. One of the best we've ever had. We look forward to seeing you in Dallas, TX. "Thank You For Thinking BIG!"
#govote #projectbigvote #thinkBig #midtermelections2018 D.C. voters can find locations and times at earlyvoting.dcboe. org. Polls are open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. All eligible voters can register to vote and cast a ballot at any of the early-voting sites, regardless of where they live in the city. Each Maryland county has at least one early-voting site; some have as many as 11. Details about how and where to vote are available at http://elections.maryland.gov/voting/early_voting.html.
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