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FUTURE LEADERS IN AMERICA'S GOVERNMENT

PURPOSE

Purpose:  To create a formal youth structure within BIG to include into its membership young people who BIG will prepare as the new generation of American leaders to act as advocates for the employment and general welfare of Blacks employed by Federal, State, and local governments.

Objectives:

 

The youth program will:

  • Inspire, motivate, and generate interest in a career as a civil servant.

  • Serve as a training ground for future government leaders and BIG leaders.

  • Focus on the needs, aims, and achievements of Black youth throughout the country.

  • Add the Black youth voice to the major concerns and issues within BIG.

  • Prepare youth to take leadership roles within their communities.

  • Train the youth to address the major concerns and issues faced by government employees.

 

Parameters:

The Junior and Senior FLAG programs will work within the following structure:

  • Chapters and/or BIG members have oversight for the FLAG programs and meet with the youth at least monthly.  BIG members assist youth in conducting organizational meetings to serve a variety of purposes including:  educating youth on history/structure of BIG and purpose/focus of the FLAG program.

  • BIG members will serve as mentors to student members and actively work with them as they progress through the five tiers of the FLAG program.

  • Junior and Senior FLAG programs should have a minimum of five youth participants. A ratio of 1 BIG member to every 5 students (1:5) is recommended to ensure that every student receives adequate mentorship.

  • Each chapter can focus areas of interest on the local needs of the community in line with the National activities provided by National BIG (such as equal educational opportunities, equal economic opportunities, civil liberties, etc).  Junior and Senior FLAGs select areas of interest.

    • Voting Rights

    • Seminars on Inequalities in public education, Pre-SAT/ACT preparation, leadership development, etc.

                 

Membership Focus: 

The following sources will be used to recruit youth members:

  • Youth college memberships can come from a variety of sources including Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as Hispanic Serving Institutions.

  • Youth in junior high and high schools and in community outreach programs.

The BIG College Initiative
Careers in Government
A Partnership with the Tom Joyner
Foundation
MENTORSHIP

 

Blacks In Government members serve as mentors to youth participating in the FLAG program. Mentoring provides success among youth by providing a stable, guiding force in transforming the lives of youth.  BIG members selected to serve as mentors will receive an orientation to the FLAG program prior to implementation.  Mentees will also have the opportunity to shadow BIG members.

PRE-PROFESSIONAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (INTERNSHIPS)

 

This area will match our students to internships in government, businesses, agencies and organizations.  Matching students to career opportunities will give corporations the opportunity to develop diverse talent.  Pre-professional internship opportunities will enhance the quality of the American work force. The mission is to develop talented youth in government, business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership. Internships provide students “real-life, hands-on” experiences and opportunities in challenging work environments.

TRAINING ACADEMY

 

Training areas will consist of financial literacy and leadership training.  Youth receiving information on financial management will give them the advantage in understanding, establishing and maintaining good credit and making sound financial decisions.  Leadership training will prepare youth to acquire essential skills to be competent leaders as they progress throughout life.

CAREER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

 

This track will assist youth in understanding our government structure in order for them to navigate through our system.  It will also cover vital skills employers’ value.  Career topics such as information on financial aid, resume writing, interview techniques, and writing cover letters and thank you memos are areas to be included.  Also, topics on how best to prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Test (ACT) are very important for college admission. Plan college tours for youth participants.  Coordinate with your local schools and partner with other organizations to organize college tours.

Practice Areas

Message from the National FLAG Coordinator

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Greetings,

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We have a boatload of exciting and engaging programs for our youth and I encourage your participation. We have designed the program around five critical areas that will help prepare our youth to reach their full potential—mentorship; financial literacy and leadership training; career training and education; pre-professional career opportunities; and scholarship opportunities. BIG has partnered with colleges, community organizations, government agencies, corporations, businesses, and other stakeholders who lend resources to provide youth with opportunities that foster academics, leadership development, personal growth, and life skills.

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As stated by FLAG creator and former BIG National President-- The Honorable President J. David Reeves, “As BIG members, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that we introduce youth to the many career opportunities that exist in the government workforce—at the federal, state, and local levels.  Ensuring that our youth are prepared to take our place and progress to high levels in government is in our country’s best interest. Also, we must continue to prepare our youth to become future leaders in Blacks In Government. “

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I encourage each of you to actively engage in the FLAG program. There are numerous opportunities for involvement.  I proudly serve as the National FLAG Coordinator.  If you are interested in volunteering, creating a FLAG program, or sharing resources, please contact me at: kathybigboston@gmail.com.

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Sincerely,

​

Kathy

                                                                                                                   

Kathy K. Best                             

National FLAG Coordinator

Blacks In Government

FIVE TIERS

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

 

College scholarships will be provided to students who participate in the FLAG program. In order for students to apply for any available scholarships at the National level, they must be a regular or associate BIG member.  Scholarships are already provided by many chapters.

OUR VISION

To establish programs that will expose pre-college and college students to careers in government and develop future leaders.

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Message from the FLAG Founder - The Honorable J. David Reeves

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Greetings BIG Members

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Blacks In Government’s FLAG program will provide opportunities for youth to grow socially, intellectually, and emotionally.  The program is designed to successfully meet developmental needs of youth and help them become productive citizens.  The FLAG program utilizes the talents and skills of BIG members as mentors to help youth transition from adolescence to adulthood. In line with BIG’s preamble, this program will help ensure that our youth will have the opportunity for full, complete and equitable access to jobs, education, advancement, housing and health services.

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We have designed the program around five critical areas that will help prepare our youth to reach their full potential—mentorship; financial literary and leadership training; career training and education; pre-professional career opportunities; and scholarship opportunities.  BIG partnered with community organizations, government agencies, corporations, businesses, and other stakeholders to provide youth with opportunities that foster academics, leadership development, personal growth, and life skills.

As BIG members, we have a responsibility to ensure that we introduce youth to the many career opportunities that exist in the government workforce—at the federal, state, and local levels.  Ensuring that our youth are prepared to take our place and progress to high levels in government is in our country’s best interest. Also, we must continue to prepare our youth to become future leaders in Blacks In Government. The need for an organization such as BIG, is as important today as it was when our founders established BIG.  It is still necessary to develop a mechanism for inclusion, growth and power for all present and future Black employees in Federal, State, and local governments.

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I challenge each of you to become involved in the FLAG program. There are numerous opportunities for involvement—start a Junior or Senior Flag; recruit undergraduate students in our associate membership category; volunteer to be a mentor; present workshops on leadership, financial literary, and other life skills areas; include local youth as part of outreach programs for internships and student summer hires in your agency; and make a commitment to volunteer your time on a monthly basis to work with FLAG students.

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As Immediate Past National President of this great organization, one of my visions was to increase youth involvement in Blacks In Government—to motivate and encourage youth to become part of the BIG experience centered on equity, excellence and opportunity. The FLAG program will accomplish this with BIG members’ commitment to this program. I challenge each of you to become involved in ensuring BIG’s legacy for our future generations. was to increase youth involvement in Blacks In Government—to motivate and encourage youth to become part of the BIG experience centered on equity, excellence and opportunity. The FLAG program will accomplish this with BIG members’ commitment to this program. I challenge each of you to become involved in ensuring BIG’s legacy for our future generations.

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Our Vision

STUDENT MEMBERSHIPS

The National Delegates Assembly approved a constitutional amendment to create student members as a sub-category of Associate Membership in August of 2009.

Any undergraduate student who is enrolled in an accredited college or university who is in accord with the principles, policies and objectives of the organization and is not qualified as a regular member, may become a student member by paying the student membership fee of $20.00 (refer to BIG National Constitution). These undergraduate students can establish a Senior FLAG.

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Youth currently enrolled in Junior High or High School who agree to participate in the FLAG program.

Junior FLAG and Senior FLAG programs can be established throughout the country by BIG chapters and/or BIG members.

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Senior FLAG will be for college level students with a membership fee of $20.00. Chapters will work with the NAFEO to encourage student associate memberships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  BIG will establish Senior FLAG programs on college campuses throughout the country.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Our Attorneys

National FLAG Summit

View the 2019 National FLAG Summit Video Below

View the 2019 FBI Director's Community Leadership Awards - Boston Recipient, Kathy Best

Ms. Kathy Best

FLAG Program Coordinator

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Contact Us

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