Greetings from the National President

A Message from our National President Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq.A Message from our National President Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq.

Greetings, Welcome to our 43rd Annual National Training Institute Greetings, (NTI)! It is indeed my pleasure to greet you as the 15th National President of Blacks In Government (BIG), ushering our NTI back into an in-person format. Last year you helped Welcome to our 43rd Annual National Training Institute (NTI)! It is indeed my pleasure to greet you as the 15th National us make history with our first ever virtual NTI with over 700 government President of Blacks In Government (BIG), ushering our NTI employees and 180 Future Leaders of America’s Government (FLAGback into an in-person format. Last year you helped us make ) students in attendance. Of course, we are still heeding the advice of the history with our first ever virtual NTI with over 700 government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as we come back employees and 180 Future Leaders of America’s Government together for a dynamic in person event that brings together government (FLAG) students in attendance. Of course, we are still heeding Senior Executive Service (SES) members, industry leaders, and subject the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention matter experts to share a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to help you (CDC) as we come back together for a dynamic in person event navigate your career development path. And, we have the entire that brings together government Senior Executive Service (SES) Huntington Convention Center to do it! There will be ample classroom members, industry leaders, and subject matter experts to share a space and a wide variety of sessions to choose from. wealth of knowledge and wisdom to help you navigate your career development path. And, we have the entire Huntington Let me also take this opportunity to applaud each of you for Convention Center to do it! There will be ample classroom your commitment to public service. They sent us home in March space and a wide variety of sessions to choose from. of 2020, but the government never lost a step. In fact, you stepped it up! As public servants, we have always risen to the challenge, but we moved forward Let me also take this opportunity to applaud each of you for our agency missions despite facing concerns with health care, childcare, and your commitment to public service. They sent us home in March technology that has been stretched thin as it accommodated a new level of telework and our of 2020, but the government never lost a step. In fact, you stepped it up! As public servants, we home classrooms. So, I applaud your dedication as you served the American people when the American people have always risen to the challenge, but we moved forward our agency missions despite facing needed government the most. Nobody, and I mean nobody, complained about “big government” during the concerns with health care, childcare, and technology that has been stretched thin as it pandemic. In fact, many had a newfound respect for all that we do, and I applaud you for that. accommodated a new level of telework and our home classrooms. So, I applaud your dedication as you served the American people when the American people needed government the most. I close by reminding you that throughout the pandemic, with all its many challenges, our BIG organization Nobody, and I mean nobody, complained about “big government” during the pandemic. In fact, continued to move forward our mission of advocacy on all fronts! We have continued to highlight where the many had a newfound respect for all that we do, and I applaud you for that. government falls short in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and even enhanced our partnerships with agency leaders to address the gaps. Importantly, we continued to deliver on our longstanding promise to provide I close by reminding you that throughout the pandemic, with all its many challenges, our BIG educational opportunities that will help you secure the tools you need to succeed. We do this for you! From virtual organization continued to move forward our mission of advocacy on all fronts! We have in 2021 to the great city of Cleveland, OH in 2022, we deliver to you a premier government training event like continued to highlight where the government falls short in diversity, equity, inclusion, and none other. accessibility and even enhanced our partnerships with agency leaders to address the gaps. Importantly, we continued to deliver on our longstanding promise to provide educational opportunities that will help you secure the tools you need to succeed. We do this for you! From Onward and Upwards,virtual in 2021 to the great city of Cleveland, OH in 2022, we deliver to you a premier government training event like none other. Onwards and Upwards, Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq. National President Blacks In Government, Inc. Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq. National President

4