Twenty Years of Advancing African Americans in Federal Government
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The prompt for this round of the FEDforum is an introduction. This week, hear from the African American Federal Executive Association (AAFEA).
The African American Federal Executive Association, Inc. (AAFEA) is a volunteer based, non-profit organization founded in February 2002, by William A. Brown (SES Retired), the first African American SES at the Army Corp of Engineers, and AAFEA’s national president for the first 14 years; the late Tracey Pinson (SES), Dr. Lenora Peters-Gant (SES) and Catherine Bland. The founders recognized that the representation of African Americans in the Senior Executive Service did not reflect the diversity of the population and committed to creating an organization dedicated to preparing and supporting African Americans for advancement into and within the senior and executive ranks of the United States Government.
The mission of AAFEA is:
To promote the professional development and advancement of African Americans into and within the senior ranks of the United States Government;
To sponsor and advocate programs, policies, practices and processes that promote career enhancing opportunities and the development of critical skills for African Americans;
To establish partnerships and alliances with other senior level associations, public and private sector organizations and academia to leverage resources to develop intellectual capital to effectively execute the business of the federal government.
AAFEA’s membership is open to federal employees at the GS-13 and above, or equivalent in the Defense and Intelligence community. Since its inception, AAFEA has created learning opportunities that enhance and enrich the leadership development of its members.
AAFEA offers several signature professional/leadership development programs. The AAFEA Annual Leadership Development Workshop, held in September, is open to federal employees, GS-13 through SES, or equivalent. This 3-day experience offers a variety of impactful keynote addresses from nationally recognized leaders and trailblazers and training sessions on a variety of relevant leadership topics to further enrich the attendee experience. The 18th Annual Leadership Development workshop will be a hybrid event, September 19-21, 2022. Visit our website at www.aafea.org for details.
The AAFEA Fellows Programs, established in 2008, provides a rigorous 12-month SES preparation experience for supervisory GS-14 and 15s (or equivalent). The program encompasses a robust curriculum, expert instruction and guidance in writing executive core qualifications (ECQ), mock interviews, and a capstone project, under the tutelage of a dedicated SES mentor.
AAFEA members enjoy the benefits of a strong network of professionals nationwide with access to current and former career and non-career members of the SES. Monthly professional development events include webinars, coffee talks, and SES Forums that equip members with valuable career insights, strategies and tools for advancement. AAFEA members are also eligible to apply for the William A. Brown, Sr. Scholarship. Scholarships of up to $2,500 are awarded annually, to selected applicants, to support external leadership/professional development opportunities.
Annually, AAFEA recognizes and celebrates the professional achievements of its members in three categories. The Ebenezer Bassett Award, the highest honor bestowed upon career and non-career members of the senior executive service, is awarded to individuals who have a distinguished career of service to our nation and whose notable leadership accomplishments have significantly advanced the objectives of AAFEA. The Tracey Pinson Trailblazer Award, named after one of the founding members, recognizes career staff persons at the GS-13 through GS-15, or equivalent, who advocate for diversity and create paths for others to pursue training and other opportunities leading toward senior level positions. The Community Partnership Award recognizes an AAFEA partner that has demonstrated consistent support, over time, of the AAFEA mission and strategic goals and objectives.
The column from the African American Federal Executive Association is part of the FEDforum, an initiative to unite voices across the federal community. The FEDforum is a space for federal employee groups to share their organizations’ initiatives and activities with the FEDmanager audience.
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