THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506080420
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHAWN TERRY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
When Gwen Davis started her career as an administration analyst in the Suffolk city manager's office in 1982 she was ``the only African American in management.''
Organizers of the 14th annual Conference of Minority Public Administrators, which opens today in Newport News, say Davis' story is all too common: There are just not enough of us.
``When you're the only one,'' said Davis, the organization's president and one of two African-American liaisons to the General Assembly, ``you need to look for that support base, and the conference provides that.''
Today and Friday, about 500 minority administrators from the area will convene at the Omni Hotel in Newport News to provide that support and to explore ways to improve their job performance.
``We are important to the inner workings of government and the connection to the citizenry - especially in this area, where the population is 25 percent to 45 percent minority,'' said Janice Johnson, an outreach manager for the Hampton Coalition for Youth.
``It's important that minorities understand their role in government,'' Johnson said.
Organizers of the conference, ``Dedicated to Excellence in Leadership in the Workplace and Committed to Community Service,'' say that it has become more difficult to meet people's needs.
``Even though cities are downsizing their staff,'' said Johnson, a conference co-chairwoman, ``taxpayers are demanding more services for their money, leaving the public administrators caught between a rock and a hard place.
``A lot of attention to us as persons has been overlooked.''
Organizers hope to provide an opportunity for participants to re-examine their professional commitments, renew friendships and become inspired to continue making a difference in their communities.
Sometimes, Johnson said, she feels like she's working a thankless job. ``So many public administrators are isolated,'' she said, adding that the conference ``gives them a chance to come together and reinforce their reasons for being in public administration.''
Jerald Hickmann, president-elect of the organization, said the gathering would highlight the many minority administrative talents in all levels of public service.
The conference is a nationwide coalition of more than 700 members of the American Society for Public Administration, a 56-year-old organization dedicated to improving the quality of life through better public service.
Hickmann said she always reminds herself not to get tired of doing good when times get bad. ``And that's all about having goals and being disciplined,'' said Hickmann, a commercial loan program manager for the city of Newport News.
On Friday, Dr. Patricia A. De Veaux, senior adviser for diversity programs and education initiatives in the Department of Energy's Office of Science, Education and Technical Information, will give the luncheon address.
State Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, D-5th District, will address the opening session. U.S. Rep. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, D-3rd District, and state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-18th District, will participate in a panel discussion.
``People in public administration have to be more receptive to the public,'' said Miller, a professor of early-childhood education at Norfolk State University. Miller also consults for churches and other organizations.
``We would like it to be reciprocal,'' Miller said, ``but if it's not, the person providing the service has to be polite. When you're a public administrator, the public will be your client, but you have to deal with them in a businesslike and humane way.''
A series of workshops focusing on state and national issues will address understanding diversity in the workplace, youth in governmental decision making, coping with the changing work force and developing a healthier lifestyle to increase professional and personal productivity.
Also to be addressed are affirmative action, prisons and criminal justice reforms, budget cuts and welfare reform.
The conference is open to the public. Registration is $50 for the full conference, $35 for students with proper identification, and $25 for the luncheon and forum Friday. by CNB