African American Employment Program
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proudly leads the effort to build a
diverse workforce and cultivate an inclusive work environment. We do this by
developing and implementing policies and programs that promote diversity and
inclusion in our workplace as we strive to ensure that VA’s workforce is drawn
from the broadest segments of society so that it is poised to meet the present
and future needs of our Nations Veterans, their families, and survivors.
The African American Employment program was strengthened through
Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal
Government, which established the Equal Employment Opportunity Program. It is
the policy of the Federal government to provide equal opportunity in employment
to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin,
disability, or age and Management Directive 715, which provides policy guidance
and standards for establishing and maintaining effective affirmative programs of
equal employment opportunity under Section 717 of Title VII (PART A) and
effective affirmative action programs under Section 501 of the Rehabilitation
Act (PART B).
The purpose of the African American (AA) Special Emphasis Program is to conduct
on-site technical assistance reviews at VA facilities to determine the overall
effectiveness of the program and to ensure that EEO Program self-assessments are
accomplished as reported in Annual EEO Program Status Report submissions.
In addition, the AA Special Emphasis Program identifies and eliminates actual
and perceived recruitment and employment inequities (if any exist), which may
adversely affect AA employees and applicants, and to identify areas with less
than expected participation and under-utilization of AA’s in VA’s workforce.
See 29 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 1614.102(b)(4) for additional
information.
Within this framework, some of the specific program objectives include:
- Identify and address barriers to the hiring, development and advancement of
AA’s.
- Assist to develop and implement special program initiatives that will enhance
the employment and advancement of the AA program.
- Identify ways to ensure equal consideration for promotions, training, and awards
for AA.
- Monitor separation and disciplinary actions for AA’s.
- Serve as liaison between recruiters and internal/external organizations which
can assist in recruitment efforts and activities.
- Develop and maintaining positive working relationships with community,
professional and national organizations, college and universities.
For more information, contact the
program manager, or for additional resources, visit the Black History Month page.
Explore VA Careers
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Veterans Employment
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Career Advancement Tools
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State of African Americans at VA
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Resources
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Executive Orders
-
Executive Order 13583 – Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide
Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce, August
18, 2011
-
Executive Order 13562 – Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates,
December 27, 2010
- Executive
Order 11478 – Equal employment opportunity in the Federal Government
- Executive
Order 13532 – White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Promoting Excellence, Innovation and Sustainability at
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, March 2010
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African American Congressional Medal Honor Recipients
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VA Annual Reporting Requirements
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VA PowerPoint Presentations
- Presentation prepared by Trina Faison, VA National African American Employment
Program Manager, for VACO Blacks in Government Chapter, State of African
Americans at VACO, on January 2012,
- Presentation by Georgia Coffey, Deputy Assistant Administrator, ODI, for the VA
Agency Forum held in Detroit, MI, August 2012
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Program-Related Links
