This month’s IMPACT newsletter is dedicated to celebrating the inauguration of President Barack H. Obama and many of the leaders he has called upon to assist him in redirecting the United States through the next four years and beyond.  This issue has been written by young professionals to provide our peers with critical information about the people, issues, and agencies that will work with Capitol Hill to shape federal policy impacting public schools and public housing; energy and voting rights; and everything in between.

While acknowledging the accomplishments of our President it is also important to highlight young professionals who are making strides to achieve professional excellence while making a positive IMPACT in the community.  This month’s IMPACT leader Jennifer Stewart, Senior Vice President at Bryan Cave Strategies, has developed a reputation as a remarkable young leader whose professionalism and expertise far exceeds her years. 

Celebratory inaugural activities were designed to harness and sustain the momentum developed throughout President Obama’s historic campaign.  Recent activities and events were successful in bringing together millions of Americans, both in Washington and throughout the world, to celebrate accomplishments and prepare for the work . 

President-elect Obama has called on Americans to honor the legacy of Dr. King by committing to a Call to Service. As the President said during his inaugural address, “for as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.”  We must ensure that as we rise professionally we ensure that those around us are also lifted, the communities from which we come improved. Individuals are encouraged to post the details of their community service project or search for projects to join by visiting http://www.USAservice.org/. You can also search for events in your neighborhood by checking out www.volunteermacch.org or www.bethechangeinc.org.

We look forward to an exciting year that will surely bring change to Washington, D.C. and throughout the United States. Please share with us the exciting work that you and your colleagues are doing to make a positive impact both at work and in your community.

This month’s newsletter will be updated frequently as we highlight additional cabinet picks and the work that lies ahead.

FEBRUARY 2009 IMPACT LEADER

Jennifer Stewart

As Senior Vice-President at Bryan Cave Strategies, Jennifer Stewart brings more than seven years of public policy and government relations experience to the firm. Her expertise on such issues as health care, education and trade are invaluable to the firm’s clients. Prior to joining Bryan Cave, she served as a Senior Manager in the federal government affairs department at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (AZ) where she also ensured proper reinvestment in underserved communities. Stewart also worked on Capitol Hill, serving as Legislative Director to Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and as a Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX).  In these capacities Stewart became known for effectively working with colleagues of both sides of the aisle and served as a key point of contact for congressional committees, constituents and advocacy groups.

CHANGE AGENTS

Eric Holder, Department of Justice

By Mia Woodard

Poised to inherit the recently scandalized Department of Justice, Eric Holder, once confirmed, will be the first African American appointed to the position of Attorney General.  He will surely have his work cut out for him.

Though not directly on the heels of Bush-appointee Alberto Gonzales, who resigned the post in 2007 after sweeping allegations of impropriety, Mr. Holder will begin his term in the midst of the Department’s post-scandal ruins – one casualty of which is the loss of faith in the Department’s ability to carry out its prescribed duties.  Accordingly, in the wake of an election that revived the call to civic participation for so many Americans, especially in the African American community, Eric Holder’s first mission is to restore the American citizens’ faith in the fairness of our judicial system. 

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Tom Daschle, Department of Health and Human Services

By Virgil Miller

Tom Daschle, President-elect Obama’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has one major task: reform our nation’s healthcare system so that it provides quality, efficiency, and covers the nation’s 47 million uninsured.  Health reform was a major point of discussion during the presidential campaign, and has caught the nation’s attention and certainly the attention of President-elect Obama, who has also asked Daschle to lead a new Office of Health Reform in the White House.  Both Democrats and Republicans agree that Daschle has the subject matter expertise and political skill to accomplish the great task before him.

 

Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security

By Hope Goins

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is tasked with securing America's borders, assisting citizens in the wake of disaster, and ensuring safe travel within our country. Janet Napolitano is the first woman to serve  as Secretary of Homeland Security.  She previously served as Arizona’s third female governor and was the first woman to win re-election. As governor of a border state, Napolitano recognizes the importance of the federal government's operational control of a secure border. She also realizes that intelligence and information sharing are essential in the effort to curb terrorism.  With this in mind, she established the Arizona Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center, which created a cross-jurisdictional partnership integrating federal, state, and local intelligence data, analysts and investigations.

Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture

By Karis Gutter

As our nation grapples with the most difficult economic challenges it has faced in 80 years, as well as a need for deep introspection about our overall approaches to energy, food, and agriculture – the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is likely to be the federal agency with the greatest impact on the black community. USDA affects more than rural America and farmers.  USDA works in food assistance programs (food stamps and WIC); USDA supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and USDA also funds economic development and healthcare programs and activities in rural minority communities. For these reasons, it is important that young professionals of color work to ensure that those working at the Department work more closely with members of our demographic to better address the needs of our extremely diverse country.  

Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative

By Lanier Avant

In his most famous opus, economist Adam Smith famously observed that “when the produce of any particular branch of industry exceeds what the demand of the country requires, the surplus must be sent abroad, and exchanged for something for which there is a demand at home.”  No nation produces a supply of goods and services in perfect proportion to its citizens needs.  Instead, each nation struggles with the need to satisfy the economic demands of its citizens through manipulation of import and export markets. President-elect Barack Obama has selected former Dallas, TX mayor Ron Kirk as the nation’s sixteenth Trade Representative. With offices in Washington, D.C., Geneva (a one-time home to Smith) and Brussels, the Office of the United States Trade Representative negotiates directly with foreign governments to facilitate international trade, resolve disputes and participate in global trade organizations.

Shaun Donovan, Housing and Urban Development

By Edward "Ted" James II

Today, the American Dream is officially in foreclosure as the Obama administration has inherited a mortgage crisis that has transformed what was once a primary source of economic empowerment.  The Federal Reserve estimates that lenders are on track to initiate 2.25 million foreclosures this year.  Historically, too many African Americans have been locked out of the American Dream, a challenge only exacerbated by the current crisis, and it is time to take back the key.

IMPACT Launches IMPACTConnection.com
To address the ongoing issues of the lack of diversity on Capitol Hill and in the private sector as well as to provide an entrée to the incoming Administration for young professionals of color, IMPACT launched www.IMPACTConnection.com.  The website has the following capabilities:

• Customizable Profile Pages
• Ability to dislpay a personal Video Introduction
• Interactive Web Chat Interview for Employers
• Forum Discussion on Current Issues

Don’t delay, upload your bio, resume, and profile TODAY!

 

IMPACT Your Community
"Renew America Together"

President Barack Obama called on the nation for a national day of service, and on January 19th, 2008, IMPACT was among the estimated 500+ non-profit organizations that answered the call. In each of the last 14 years Congress has encouraged Americans to observe the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday as a national day of service. 2009 marked a historic level of participation. More than 13,000 projects took place this year, more than doubling last year’s record of 5,000 projects. Whether Americans were delivering meals, refurbishing schools, reading to children, signing up to mentors, or planting trees they were participating in all 50 states.

While King Day 2009 and President Obama’s - Renew America Together: A Call to Service was a tremendous success and proof that with collective effort and sacrifice we solve many of our challenges. In many ways our work as a community work has just begun. If we want to continue to continue to fulfill Dr. King’s dream we must commit to continued service. IMPACT encourages everyone to answer the call to service by becoming a mentor, promoting nonviolence, feeding the homeless, joining a national service program, or finding a volunteer opportunity in your community.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, continue reading our monthly newsletters or email us at impact@impact-dc.com.