WOMEN VETERANS INTERACTIVE PARTNERS WITH BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT WOMEN VETERANS THROUGH OUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES

July 17, 2017 Washington, D.C.

Blacks In Government is pleased to collaborate with Women Veterans Interactive to be part of forward-thinking dialogue and actions that will enable women veterans to live full productive lives.”

There are over 2.2 Million women veterans in the United States of America and while there are services specifically designed for women veterans, to include services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), women veterans are not signing up for these services as what was expected. Women Veterans Interactive (WVI) has found that many women veterans do not know about these services or feel uncomfortable going into the VA simply because it has historically been viewed as a male dominated and focused institution.

In order to better equip our veterans, Women Veterans Interactive and Blacks In Government (BIG) have partnered and agreed to work collectively to reduce and eliminate barriers that prevent BIG’s veterans and their families from locating and leveraging the existing veteran resources, programs and services that are available within local and national entities. Additionally, both organizations recognize the need to specifically address the issues facing women veterans and have agreed to ensure that these women are treated equally and afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

“I am extremely excited about this collaboration with Blacks In Government and I look forward to both organizations collectively making a positive impact in the lives of BIG’s veteran members. As an African American woman veteran, I clearly understand the importance of ensuring minority veterans are educated, aware of resources, and take advantage of the benefits and services available to them; specifically, our women veterans,” said Ginger Miller, President and CEO of Women Veterans Interactive and White House Champion of Change for Women Veterans, under the Obama Administration.

Blacks In Government, Dr. Doris Sartor, shared the following comments, “It is important that we empower women veterans who have served our country with honor and courage and make sure they are aware of and take full advantage of existing programs that support their needs. Blacks In Government is pleased to collaborate with Women Veterans Interactive to be part of forward-thinking dialogue and actions that will enable women veterans to live full productive lives.”

About Women Veterans Interactive

Women Veterans Interactive (WVI) is a national not-for-profit organization created to address the unique, and often unrecognized, challenges facing our nation’s 2.2 million woman veterans as they return to civilian life. WVI is dedicated to serving and supporting women veterans and their families through Advocacy, Empowerment, Interaction, Outreach and Unification. Recognized as an expert on women veteran issues, WVI’s aim is to eradicate homelessness; improve healthcare and education delivery; and develop a network where there is a free exchange of experiences and solutions that will empower and assist women veterans in living full productive lives beyond their military service. For more information, visit WVI at https://womenveteransinteractive.org.

About Blacks In Government (BIG)

Blacks In Government (BIG) was established in 1975 and incorporated in 1976 by a small group of African Americans at the Public Health Services, which is a part of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in the Parklawn Building in Rockville, Maryland. The organization was viewed as essential to the Black civil service employee, based on a wide assortment of racially motivated problems faced by the HEW Black employees in Rockville. Initially, it was thought that the umbrella organization would address only the problems at the Federal level. However, it was soon determined that State, County, and Municipal Black employees were faced with the same general type of employment problems.

Nonetheless, Blacks In Government was organized in 1975 and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the District of Columbia jurisdiction in 1976. BIG has been a national response to the need for African Americans in public service to organize around issues of mutual concern and use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG's goals are to promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans. For more information visit BIG at www.bignet.org