The Arab-Americans in Foreign Affairs Agencies Employee Affinity Group is the Department’s only employee-based organization concerned with the promotion, protection, and utilization of the cultural, linguistic, personal, and professional assets Arab-American foreign affairs professionals commonly share. As with other ethnic- and minority-based employee associations, AAIFAA serves as a resource of relevant ideas and experiences that can be shared among the Arab-American communities throughout the interagency community. AAIFAA membership is open to all Civil and Foreign Service employees in the Department and throughout the interagency community. AAIFAA membership is not based on any ethnicity or religion, but rather on a shared affinity for Arab culture. For more information, please contact AAIFAA@state.gov.

The Asian American Foreign Affairs Association consists of Foreign Service and Civil Service employees at the Department of State. The association seeks to promote and highlight the interests of East, Southeast, South Asian, and Pacific Islander employees. AAFAA was originally known as the Asian Pacific American Foreign Affairs Council (APAFFAC), founded in 1981 to support Equal Employment Opportunity, particularly in improving recruitment, outreach, and professional development of Asian and Pacific Islander officers. AAFAA has sponsored annual career fairs and other professional development programs. For more information, please contact AAFAA@state.gov.

The Blacks in Government, Carl T. Rowan Chapter (BIGCTR), a 501(c)(3) organization, is one of 200+ chapters nationwide of the Blacks in Government National Organization (BIG). In April 2001, the Department of State recognized the United States Information Agency (USIA) BIG chapter and recommended a name change as USIA was no longer in existence. The chapter was renamed the “Carl T. Rowan Chapter� in honor of the former Director of USIA. At the Department of State, BIGCTR promotes policies and recommendations to address the professional development, recruitment and retention of employees and contractors from the African diaspora. BIGCTR also provides scholarship monies to college bound high school seniors though the EJ Montgomery Scholarship Fund. Finally, BIGCTR is open to all that align with the mission, goal, and objectives of BIGCTR as well as BIG. For more information, please contact bigctr@state.gov.

The Council for Career Enhancement and Professionalization is a professional organization in the Department that supports entry level employees. The CEP Council aims to improve CEP visibility, promote networking between current and former CEPs, and to encourage career development for its members. The Council also has a strong emphasis on leadership development and diversity awareness by promoting a variety of events both internal and external to the Department. Through frequent contact with The Bureau of Global Talent Management, S/OCR, and senior Department executives, the CEP Council strives to provide a positive experience for entry level employees. For more information, please contact CCEP@state.gov.

The Disability Action Group strives to promote the full and equal participation of people with disabilities Department-wide, improve disability awareness, and provide a platform for discussing issues of accommodation. DAG advocates for the rights of people with disabilities by providing a forum for information exchange and exploring goals for enhancing life for individuals with disabilities and their families. DAG hosts a variety of events such as speaker series and an annual mentoring day, and engages with officials in the Bureau of GLobal Talent Management, Med, and AFSA, among others, in order to improve awareness and the work-life of Department employees with disabilities. For more information, please contact DAGCouncil@state.gov.

Executive Women at State is an organization that brings Department employees together to promote, support, and mentor women for senior leadership positions in the Department. In 2009, EW@S responded to requests from more junior women by supporting efforts to establish two affiliated groups to develop the leadership potential of women in mid-career and junior and entry-level positions. These groups are Executive Women at State: Associates (EW@S/A), for mid-career employees; and Executive Women at State: Entry and Junior Level (EW@S/EJ), for more junior employees. Together, the three groups create a continuum of leadership support, from the most junior to the most senior ranks, that is unique among the Department’s Employee Affinity Groups. EW@S sponsors a variety of events that highlight the achievements of outstanding women, supports the advancement of women in the workforce, and issues a monthly newsletter. For more information, please contact EWS@state.gov.

glifaa represents the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) personnel, family members, and their allies in the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Peace Corps and other foreign affairs offices of the U.S. Government. Officially recognized as a State Department Employee Affinity Group, glifaa advances diversity and workplace equity in U.S. foreign affairs agencies. glifaa seeks to challenge the continued barriers that LGBT+ Foreign Service, Civil Service, contract employees, and Locally Employed Staff (and all their families/family members of allies) encounter as a result of prejudice or discrimination. glifaa welcomes the participation of all U.S. government foreign affairs employees and their families regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. For more information, please contact board@glifaa.org or visit www.glifaa.org.

GRACE is an affiliation of Civil and Foreign Service professionals working to promote a culture at the State Department that embraces the ability of employees to manifest religious belief generally, and Christianity specifically, in the workplace. GRACE seeks to connect Department employees that share this vision; to advocate for religious freedom and religious expression for everyone within the Department; and to highlight the value added by the perspective of people of faith in general, and Christians in particular, to the Department and its mission. In doing so, GRACE aspires to emulate Jesus’ love and respect for all people, regardless of their background or religion. Accordingly, GRACE’s membership is open to all Department employees and contractors, whether stateside or deployed overseas. For more information, please contact GRACE-SteeringCommittee@state.gov.

The mission of the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies is to enhance awareness of the contributions of Hispanic employees to U.S. foreign affairs agencies; to assist in the recruitment, retention and promotion of Hispanics; and to develop the leadership abilities of Hispanics at U.S. foreign affairs agencies. HECFAA welcomes the participation and support of all U.S. foreign affairs agency employees. For more information, please contact HECFAABoard2@state.gov.

The mission of the Native American Foreign Affairs Council (NAFAC) is to enhance awareness of the contributions of Native American employees to U.S. foreign affairs agencies; to assist in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of Native Americans; and to develop the leadership abilities of Native Americans at U.S. foreign affairs agencies. NAFAC employees desire to honor their cultural heritage and enhance the contributions of Native Americans to the mission of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other U.S. foreign affairs agencies, including with other indigenous societies and associations both domestic and abroad. For more information, please contact NativeAmericans@state.gov.

The Pickering and Rangel Fellows Association (PRFA) was established in 2010 and has created opportunities for alumni worldwide to connect, network, engage in professional development and community service activities. PRFA remains committed to outreach and mentoring the next generation of Foreign Service Officers. More than 700 Pickering and Rangel fellows contribute to the Department’s Mission and serve with distinction around the globe. As an employee affinity group, PRFA will continue to support the Department through its mission of retention, recruitment, and morale-boosting efforts through networking, career development, and community service activities. PRFA looks forward to partnering with other Department employee affinity groups on areas where our missions overlap. With any questions, please email PRFABoardMembers@state.gov.

The Presidential Management Fellowship Advisory Council supports the PMF program within the Department and U.S. Agency for International Development and seeks to promote the professional development of its members. PMFAC facilitates communication among PMF /PMI alumni and informs the Bureau of Global Talent Management and other Department leadership on issues of concern to the PMFAC membership. In addition, PMFAC provides support to PMF finalists interested in the State Department and USAID, conducts diversity outreach, encourages civil service advancement, and provides career development, networking, and community service opportunities to members. For more information, please contact PMFAdvisoryCouncil@state.gov.

The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers at State aim to encourage the Department to hire eligible RPCVs. The group aims to effectively communicate opportunities at the Department to RPCVs and to facilitate communication and foster a sense of community amongst and between RPCVs and other employees. The group also aims to foster career development and networking opportunities for RPCVs and provide a support network and information-sharing tools for employees who are interested in the work of RPCVs at the Department. For more information, please contact RPCVs@state.gov.

The South Asian-American Employee Association seeks to educate members about Department employment opportunities, self-improvement, and well-being. SAAEA also provides community outreach by educating citizens about the South-Asian culture and promoting diversity in the workplace. The mission of SAAEA is to meet the diverse educational and social needs of its members. For more information, please email SAAEA@state.gov.

The Thursday Luncheon Group was founded in 1973 to increase the participation of African-Americans and other minorities in the formulation, articulation, and implementation of United States foreign policy. Public programs offer members the opportunity to interact with leaders in the foreign affairs community and prepare them for service in a rapidly changing world. For more information, please contact TLG1973@state.gov.

The Veterans at State EAG strives to promote the full and equal participation of the estimated 7,000 military Veterans Department-wide. They do this by participating in community service activities, improving military Veteran awareness, and advocating for the rights of military Veterans by providing a forum for information exchange. In addition, VETS also assists in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of military Veterans and works to develop the leadership abilities of military Veterans at the Department of State. For more information, please contact Veterans@state.gov.