Reproductive Equity and Justice: ﻿Who It Affects and Why It Matters
2023-11-29 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual – Zoom
Join the National Capital Area Chapter of ASPA for a free event on Wednesday titled “Reproductive Equity and Justice: Who It Affects and Why It Matters” on November 29 at 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm EST.
Moderator: Dr. Dale Jones, Member, Board of Directors, ASPA NCAC (Vice President-Elect)
Speakers:
Jhumka Gupta, Sc.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Global and Community Health
College of Public Health, George Mason University
ScD, Harvard University; MPH, Drexel University; BS, Biological Sciences, University of Maryland
Research interests: Gender-based violence against women, refugee and immigrant health, reproductive health, human trafficking, and global health.
https://publichealth.gmu.edu/profiles/jgupta4
Discussion of violence against women.

Karen Trister Grace, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
College of Public Health, George Mason University
PhD, Nursing, Johns Hopkins University; BS and MS, Nursing, University of Pennsylvania; BA, Barnard College, Columbia University
Research interests: reproductive coercion, pregnancy intention, health disparities, and health equity.
https://www.gmu.edu/profiles/kgrace
Discussion of her research on reproductive coercion, which is a type of intimate partner violence in which partners
sabotage birth control methods or control the outcome of a pregnancy. This work has salience given the recent
erosion of reproductive rights in the U.S. Abortion is often used as a safety strategy, to enable a survivor to separate from an abusive partner. Restricting access to this safety strategy removes options for survivors and supports their partner’s efforts to exert control.

Rebecca Morris

Senior Research Associate and Ph.D. Candidate in Public Policy and Administration
Department of Health Policy and Management
Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health
Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
MPP, George Washington University; BA, Economics and Mathematics, Emory University
Research interests: potential effects of Braidwood Management v Becerra case on maternal, infant, and child health; post-Dobbs community health center focus group work.
https://geigergibson.publichealth.gwu.edu/program-faculty-staff
Discussion of initial trends found in post-Dobbs focus groups of community health center workers (increased service demand, provider strain, and workforce shortages). Also, discussion of the Medicaid unwinding and the pending Braidwood case as policy context for providing reproductive health services.

A Zoom link will be provided to all those who register. Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/11-29-2023-aspa-ncac-fall-event-tickets-758966668737

Discussion on DEI Implementation Strategies and Challenges
2024-06-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual – Zoom
Join us online for a thought-provoking conversation on how to effectively implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in various organizations. Our panel of experts will share their insights, experiences, and best practices to help you navigate the complexities of DEI implementation. Whether you’re just starting your DEI journey or looking to enhance your existing strategies, this event is perfect for anyone passionate about creating a more inclusive workplace. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together. Register now to secure your spot!
More About Our Panel Members:
Karla Bruce-Choice, Chief Equity Officer at Fairfax County Government

Karla Bruce currently serves as the as the Chief Equity Officer for Fairfax County, Virginia, appointed in June 2018 by County Executive Bryan Hill. Her appointment marked the first local government, equity-focused senior leader in the jurisdiction, the first in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the first in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Karla has over 25 years of local government management experience and is known as a driver of innovation in public service delivery, successfully bridging the efforts of local government with the collective action of residents and broad networks of partners including business, nonprofit, philanthropic, faith, civic, and academia to strategically address the issues that contribute to the vulnerabilities and lack of opportunity affecting neighborhoods and populations across the county. Karla successfully championed the adoption of the One Fairfax Racial and Social Equity Resolution and Policy and provides overall management of the One Fairfax strategic framework, advising and supporting the Board of Supervisors, County Executive, county leadership and staff in shaping and directing policy, practice, and strategy to foster equitable opportunity for all Fairfax County residents.
Karla holds a Masters of Public Administration with a Concentration in State and Local Government from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and also holds certificates in Public Management from George Washington University, Public Participation from the International Association for Public Participation and Process Management from George Mason University.
Karla’s leadership has been recognized by Leadership Fairfax with the 2023 Katherine K. Hanley Public Service Award and by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments with their 2021 Ronald F. Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership. For her work with Fairfax County’s community, Karla was awarded the 2022 Ebone Image Award for Government/Politics from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Northern Virginia Chapter and the 2022 First Baptist Church of Vienna Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit of King Award. Karla served as the inaugural chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Chief Equity Officer’s Committee and is a member of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity’s Steering Committee. Karla is also a regular presenter, panelist, and nationally recognized thought leader on topics related to the role of government in advancing equity.
Contact: Karla.Bruce@fairfaxcounty.gov
Scheduling: Christina.Fullmer@fairfaxcounty.gov
Webpage: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/topics/one-fairfax

Diana Noriega, Chief Anti-Racism and Equity Officers

Diana Noriega has over 20 years of nonprofit experience. She currently serves as the founding Chief Anti-Racism and Equity Officer at Good Shepherd Services NYC. In this role she oversees all the agency’s internal anti-racism and equity efforts including creating more equitable hiring and promotion policies and practices as well as overseeing the agency’s equity council. Under her leadership, in partnership with HR and the Executive Director, she helped the executive team transition from 90% white to 63% BIPOC.
In 2021, she founded an Antiracism and Equity (ARE) Institute, a 14-month, 128-hour learning and development program that supported 22 nonprofit leaders from across the New York City child welfare and social services sector. It included leaders from SCO Family, The Jewish Board, University Settlement, Children’s Aid, Catholic Guardian and more. She co-founded and co-leads the New York Equitable Economies Coalition, a group looking to provide resources to nonprofits wanting to increase their BIPOC vendors and procurement practices. She is also currently a leading consultant and professional development provider for the NYC Children’s Cabinet’s new pilot program called the Every Child and Family is Known Initiative.
She served as a member of the New York City School Diversity Advisory Group which made a series of integration recommendations for the New York City public school system. Previously, she served as the Chief Program Officer for the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families (CHCF) where she oversaw all programs and educational equity policy efforts across the early learn and K-12 sector. She has presented public testimony advocating for the rights of students and early childcare providers in New York City. In 2017, she was the lead facilitator for the design of a communities of color values platform created with several NYC nonprofits including youth advocacy groups. Prior to CHCF, she served as the founding Director of the Education Initiative at Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC. She has worked in higher education and directly with youth at various nonprofit organizations including Teachers College, Columbia University, exalt youth, and New Settlement Apartments – Girls Programs.
Diana is a Wheaton College Posse Foundation graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She also has an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Multicultural Education from New York University. She has moderated discussions, and, created and facilitated anti-racism, equity, leadership, and empowerment workshops. She facilitated Posse Plus retreats at different college campuses for 5 years. She consults organizations on the development of their social justice and equity programming and platforms as well as leads related workshops. Diana is passionate about justice and liberation.
She considers herself a lifelong learner and always seeks opportunities to enhance her ability to meaningfully support and partner with individuals and communities. She has been trained in circle practice, restorative justice, mediation, social and racial justice facilitation, trauma-informed practices, life coaching, reiki, La Ho Chi energy, and more. She is currently completing a 12-month trauma-informed program called Compassionate Inquiry.
She believes that the most transformative work happens at the intersections. She looks to bridge and deepen her facilitation and social justice work with healing modalities and practices.
Connect: www.linkedin.com/in/diananoriega/

Conversation: Students & New to Midcareer Professionals
2024-07-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual – Zoom
The ASPA National Capital Area Chapter board plans to run 2-3 experimental breakouts this year, beginning with a July 10th session intended for the chapter’s student and newer professional members.
Background: NCAC is considering adding an additional mode, small group conversation via Zoom breakout rooms, to its programming portfolio. This mode could be used to strengthen the chapter and support members further through conversations focused on flash mentoring, reverse mentoring, colloquia, retrospectives, or simply getting to know each other better.
The objective for the July session is to provide small conversational spaces for participants to (a) start getting to know each other and (b) share ideas about topics and how events are structured.
The session will begin with everyone together. After the chapter welcome, our emcee will facilitate introductions and explain the session flow before everyone is transferred to breakout rooms for discussion. Each room will have a facilitator to help keep things moving.
Participants will come back together to report on programming ideas and discuss the breakout experience. We will repeat the process to gather ideas on new ways to structure sessions. The session will help your board begin to update and expand offerings for all NCAC members.
If you consider yourself to be a student or new to midcareer academic or practitioner, please join us for this session to meet your colleagues and contribute to future programming. No one will be turned away. If you cannot attend, feel free to email your ideas to the programming chair at kittywooley5@gmail.com, who will share them with other board members.
Click here to register

Drinks & Conversation: ﻿“Organizational Safety”
2024-10-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual – Zoom
In today’s workplace, fostering an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, concerns, and ideas is critical to organizational success. We will discuss practical strategies and insights on how to cultivate a culture of open and honest communication, where voices are heard and valued. Whether you are an experienced administrator or new to leadership, this event offers an opportunity to discuss with colleagues, learn from one another and share your experiences.
This session follows September 10th’s dynamic, intergenerational discussion on “Horrible Bosses: How to Navigate a Toxic Workplace“. A recap has been posted at https://aspancac.org/recap-of-horrible-bosses-how-to-navigate-a-toxic-workplace/ for those who were unable to participate.
“Drinks and Conversation,” the most informal of our offerings, lends itself to the discovery of potential new friends and mentors, so please bring a drink, put your feet up, and come hang out with your colleagues!
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aspa-ncac-hosts-organizational-safety-tickets-1035193089397?aff=oddtdtcreator
Please RSVP! Only those who RSVP received the link!

Wine & Cheese Gathering
2024-11-20 16:00 - 18:00 | ASPA, 1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, DC, 20036, United States
The National Capital Area Chapter is changing things up with an in-person-only event in ASPA’s conference room on November 20th from 4 to 6 p.m.
Board members, led by Joshua Lanier (2024 Vice President) and Allen Lomax (Living Legends of Alexandria 2012 inductee) will be on hand to ensure that this is a vibrant occasion.
Wine and cheese will be furnished by John Sporing, 2020 recipient of the Boyce Award for distinguished service to the regional science profession and CEO & Chief Taster of A Life Well Drunk LLC.
All three people have interesting stories to tell. If you prefer quiet one-on-one time, that will also work! If you can be in town that day, we hope to see you.
Register here no later than 11/19 by 4:00p.m.
NOTE: All who plan to attend must register below at least 24 hours in advance, so that your name can be added to the list at the guard station in the lobby and you can be escorted upstairs to the conference room.

AABPA Budget Panel: Evidence-Based Policy and the Budget Process
2024-12-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual – Zoom
cross-post with the American Association for Budget and Program Analysis
The past 20 years have seen real growth in the body of social programs rigorously shown to produce important gains in educational/economic mobility and other life outcomes. How can the government identify and fund those programs – and build new ones, through rigorous testing – to make real headway on the nation’s social problems? We will discuss how evidence-based policy can be incorporated into the budget process with Jon Baron, the President of the Coalition for Evidence Based Policy.
Registration Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sduqhrT8oG9A8SqrZrrZsftC8oZckWvi0

Join us for our monthly budget panel!
Andy Pavord
President
American Association for Budget and Program Analysis

AABPA Budget Panel: The Role of OMB
2025-01-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual – Zoom
AABPA Budget Panel: The Role of OMB

This panel is being postponed one week from January 15 to January 22, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET. Those already registered for this event do not require re-registration.
We will discuss the role of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with former OMB executives: Courtney Timberlake, former Assistant Director; Mark Weatherly, former Deputy Associate Director; Kathy Peroff, former National Security Deputy Associate Director; and more. This panel will review how the Office of Management and Budget oversees the implementation of the President’s vision across the Executive Branch with a focus on the development and execution of the Budget of the United States Government.
Join us for our monthly budget panel!
Andy Pavord
President
American Association for Budget and Program Analysis

Drinks & Conversation: If you've been let go or are looking for a new job
2025-03-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual – Zoom
Date: Monday, March 24
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM Eastern
Location: Virtual – Zoom
Free
On Monday, March 24th, the National Capital Area Chapter will host its next “Drinks and Conversation” session.
If you have been laid off or are feeling anxious about your future in the current environment, then hit the register button below. This will be a safe space where you can share your feelings and get tips and strategies for moving forward. Belva Martin and Judy England Joseph, retired Senior Executives and NCAC members, will share practical strategies to help you navigate the days ahead, including using your networks for support, updating your resume, and practicing healthy self-care.
Invite friends, family, and other colleagues who might benefit from this information sharing session. We hope this session will remind you that you’ve chosen to be part of a community that can support you. It’s likely to equip you with tips for thriving, not just surviving. This most informal of our session formats lends itself to the discovery of potential new friends and mentors, so please bring a drink and come hang out with your colleagues.
Register for this free event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drinks-conversation-let-go-looking-for-a-new-job-come-chat-with-us-tickets-1278246542819?aff=oddtdtcreator

National Capital Area Chapter Annual Meeting
2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual – Zoom
The National Capital Area Chapter (NCAC) will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Our meeting will be conducted virtually by Zoom. All chapter members are invited to attend. Please join us for the keynote address from Bob Lavigna, Senior Fellow with Public Sector for UKG, who will speak on the timely topics of “2025 Megatrends” and successful leadership behaviors. We will also announce annual chapter award recipients and student essay contest winners. We will conclude with the State of the Chapter Address by chapter president Dale Jones.
Agenda
Welcome Remarks (7:00-7:05 p.m.)

Delivered by: Dale Jones, President

Keynote Speech (7:05-7:40 p.m.)

Moderated by: Judy England-Joseph, Past-President
Speaker: Bob Lavigna, Senior Fellow, Public Sector for UKG
Title: “2025 Megatrends: A Roadmap for the Future of the Public Sector” and “9 Leadership Behaviors that Create Great Places to Work”
Discussion and Conversation
Q&A

Chapter Awards (7:40-7:55 p.m.)

Moderated by: Judy England-Joseph, Past-President

Francis Kelsey Award recipient announced

Remarks from recipient (5 minutes)

NCAC Award for Outstanding Public Service announced

Remarks from recipient (5 minutes)

NCAC 2024-2025 Public Administration Student Essay Contest (7:55-8:15 p.m.)

Program Directors: Joshua Lanier, Vice President, and Allen Lomax, Member-at-Large
Moderated by: Allen Lomax, Member-at-Large

First Place Winner ($2,000) announced
Second Place Winner ($1,500) announced

Remarks from First Place Winner (8 minutes)

State of the Chapter Address (8:15-8:30 p.m.)

Delivered by: Dale Jones, President

Click here to register for the meeting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aspa-ncac-chapter-annual-meeting-on-may-13-2025-tickets-1341300308329?aff=oddtdtcreator

Innovation Book Launch (hybrid event)
2025-08-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Accenture Rosslyn, 1201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA, 22209, United States
The event is postponed. Refreshed invitation to be determined later in Fall 2025.
Join us for an inspiring evening at the beautiful Accenture Rosslyn building as we celebrate the launch of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Public Sector, the groundbreaking new book by Dr. Wendy D. Chen and Dr. David Audretsch.
This event will explore how forward-thinking governments around the world are leveraging technology, data, and collaboration to tackle complex public challenges. At a time when nearly all well-known entrepreneurs are from the private sector, this book also serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role of public entrepreneurship.
Dr. Chen will share key insights from the book, followed by a dynamic panel discussion with thought leaders in public sector innovation, an interactive audience Q&A, and an exciting book signing.
Whether you work in public service, policy, technology, academia or are simply passionate about better governance and the future of government, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
This event has in-person capacity for 36 and unlimited virtual capacity, register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-in-the-public-sector-tickets-1548189850519
