FORUM 2023 Registration
FCCMA Onsite Training
Veteran Spotlight Leadership Summit Highlight Rising Star Mentor Program
Members on the Move
40th Founding Chapter Gala
Early Bird Registration is OPEN for FORUM 2023
Celebrating 40 Years of Inspiring Excellence
The National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) will celebrate “40 Years of Inspiring Excellence” in Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 26 - April 30, 2023
During the past 40 years, FORUM has evolved into the shining star of the public sector’s event calendar The National Forum for Black Public Administrators’ annual conference is known for its lineups of timely, inspiring, and insightful speakers as part of an engaging, relevant program. FORUM 2023’s conference experience will also call on the best and brightest minds in the field to offer creative and, crucially, proven solutions to the most relevant issues facing local, state, and federal governments.
And now, in our 40th year, we believe there’s no time like the present to come together, support a nation of colleagues, and engage with the challenges at hand so the years ahead are the brightest ones yet.
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
The National Forum for Black Public Administrators Leadership Summit convened over 200 registered attendees at Gehring Group Headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. This year’s Leadership Summit theme “Ready Set RESET” focused on Redefining, Empowering, Strengthening, Educating, and Transforming Leadership. Public Administrators, Elected Officials, Students, NonFor-Profit leaders, and Private-Sector leaders were able to network during the networking lunch and engage in the learning experiences within the workshops. The leadership summit created a space for learning new skills, sharing best practices, engaging with subject matter experts, and most of all networking.
The event started with a dynamic panel discussion around Public Safety with moderator Reginald Duren. Panelists in the law enforcement and fire rescue space were able to share leadership experiences and best practices with the attendees. Thereafter, nine workshops unfolded within the three tracks Public Policy 101, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, and Leadership Development. The Public Policy track covered the role of the City Clerks, which featured Maylee DeJesus, Elizabeth Garcia-Beckford, Venice Howard, and Vanessa Joseph. The dynamics of Elected Officials from local to State government featured Commissioner Mack Bernard, Senator Dr. Rosalind Osgood, Commissioner Daniela Jean, and Commissioner Shalonda Warren. Lastly, the Differences between Advocacy and Lobbying with Daphnee Sainvil and Katia Phillipeaux. The Diversity Equity & Inclusion track covered a wide range of subject areas. From Being to Doing focusing on Overcoming Challenges of Creating an Antiracist Workplace and Building a Culture of Belonging featuring Dr. James Green and Marsha Guthrie. Next, Advancing Equity Through Community Engagement with Dr. Keisha Grey. Women in Leadership with Dr. Natasha Hampton. And Boosting Public Sector Recruitment and Retention with Workforce DEI initiatives with Dr. Rivka-Liss Levinson.
Finally, The Leadership Development track highlighted Transformational Leadership in the DEI space with Dr. Carleen Vincent Robinson and Resume Building/ Dress for Success with Tarlesha Smith. The Summit was capped off with a scholarship award presentation by the Programs Committee to Florida International University Student Taisha Pierre. Overall, The Professional Development committee wants to THANK all the volunteers, moderators, vendors, NFBPA members and committees, and ho Group for making this summit a SUCCESS SoFloStandard Style.
2022 NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS
MEET RISING STAR NATASHA HAMPTON
Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Hampton. Hi Natasha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. Thank you for the opportunity to reintroduce myself. I am Dr. Natasha Hampton, ICMA-CM, a highly driven woman, self proclaimed re-engineerer of thought and an unapologetic phenom who was born to break barriers. Something many may not know about me is, I was very unintentional in my start. I was a young single Mom with a family to support. One day while sitting in Red Lobster, I’d get a beep (yes on a beeper, lol) that would change the trajectory of my life and shape my career. I couldn’t and didn’t imagine at the time the birth of High Heel Leadership had begun.
I started my public sector career in 1997 and stomped my way through the ranks in 5 sometimes 5.5-inch stilettos to lead local governments in the states of Florida and North Carolina. However, and, what’s paramount to recognize is there would be no start without incredible women along the way that groomed, encouraged, cheered, assisted, and advocated for me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road? My cobbler was able to retire from all the soles he’s had to repair because of steep cracks, nails, blades, and uneven pavers I’ve walked. So no, the road was certainly not a smooth one. Of course, you have the good ole boy’s club, single parenthood, and, financial struggles.
But then you have those struggles that cut deep like same-sex sabotage or the S factor as I’ve coined, being looked over for promotional opportunities, sexual harassment, fighting rumors, and self-doubt. This, all while trying to maintain me as a person and a woman; because life, self, and hormonal changes are continuous.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on? Today I am thrilled to earn a living providing profitability strategies, human asset management, and business operation solutions to local governments as a Senior Consultant with Imagine That Performance, LLC, and as CEO of HHL Management and Consulting, Inc. I’ve also crossed over from developing current leaders within organizations to developing future leaders in universities as an adjunct professor in the schools of Business and International Business Management at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens and Atlantis University in Miami.
I’m also in the start-up stages of developing a nonprofit to address and bring awareness to the rise of suicides by women in executive leadership. Specializing in leadership and process-driven profit solutions, I’m most proud of the great teams I’ve been able to build and be a part of. To have reached the levels of success I’ve been able to achieve is only because of the relationships built with co-workers, colleagues, staff, and mentors.
I’m known for the power I walk in and the accessory called red bottoms primarily featured to adorn that power. What sets me apart from others? We are all uniquely and wonderfully made first and foremost. The difference between myself and others however is I, with absolute fierceness, boldness, style, and passion, own mine! And that’s #highheelleadership.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why? My mental health, spiritual growth, and my children matter most to me. When my father passed in 2019, I was confused, scared, and unprotected for the first time in my life. This period was the most difficult because it seemed everything was beginning to become unhinged. Then, I lost my mother in December 2021 and it was as if I had come face to face with my mortality. I at 51 years old felt absent of direction.
Only then did I realize how much my life depended on a deeper spiritual connection with the Highest and selfcare above all else. Today my mental health and spiritual growth are literally how I manifest the strength to tackle the day. Moreover, being able to talk with and see my children makes it all make sense. Nothing matters to me more!
NATASHA HAMPTON
on-one with an experienced mentor from NFBPA’s pool of highly successful black public officials eager to share their experience, insight, and wisdom with younger, career-minded professionals.
The South Florida Chapter has seven members participating in the 2022-2023 mentor program. protégés from left to right
Claude Hazel- City of Ft. Lauderdale Khaedeen Boulin-Palm Beach County Dr. Shirely Sims- M.I.T. Tanya Bostic- Palm Beach State College Vanessa Joseph- City of North Miami DeAndra Watson- Student Cynthia Lamar- City of Ft. Lauderdale (not pictured)
The NFBPA Mentor Program is designed to identify aspiring public managers who show great promise of achieving executive positions in public service. During the course of the program, participants (protégés) will be paired one-
MENTOR CLASS 2022-2023
