Q&A with Sheryl Dash, President, Blacks in Government, Salem Chapter
How did the Blacks in Government group come about?
The national organization was established in 1975 in the District of Columbia, conceived by black federal employees in the Department of Health Education and Welfare. The organization was considered as essential to black civil service employees who faced problems due to racism. The group was organized to provide support, encouragement and training for black civil service employees.
The Salem chapter was formed two years ago to accomplish those same things. We're incorporating federal, state, county and city -- all branches of government where black employees work. We want to make sure that blacks always receive fair treatment in hiring, retention and promotion. We want to make sure that higher level positions are open and available to blacks.
What is the mission and vision of the Salem chapter?
We did a strategic planning meeting to sort out our priorities. We're focusing on workforce development with an eye toward institutional change. This will help the organization make a presence among state employees, other groups and government officials. Our mission is to be used as a resource among agencies that are interested in offering professional and competent services. We want to make sure that our black government employees are paired up with mentors who will cater to their needs. To help them prepare for promotions be successful, and be included in all aspects of the organization. We also want to empower black employees in order to help educate others around them to better understand a culture that is often misunderstood -- to get past the stereotypes and myths that surround our black culture.
We're also interested in offering internships for our black high school and college age students, to get them on a leadership path. We want them to see how blacks in government are making a difference, so we can inspire them to give back to their individual communities. We want them to feel included in their state -- and in their community -- so they will choose to stay here in Oregon, instead of leaving the state for school or work.
Why is Blacks in Government important in Salem?
What are some of your priorities?
My primary role is to lead, empower and bring individuals to the table to ensure that our voices are being heard. We have the ability to work together collaboratively to make this endeavor a success.
In working with the youth, we really want them to become more involved in politics, at all levels. We want more of our black youth our young people to understand social and economic issues that affect our communities. I truly believe they can really make a difference.
Our work with youth involves leadership development. I’m the co-chair for the African-American Advisory Council for the Oregon Youth Authority. I’ve met a lot of young people and have heard their stories. If they had a caring adult in their life to help guide them, they wouldn’t be in the situation they’re in. In doing this work, the focus is to give them the guidance needed to reduce the high rate of recidivism and to promote success in their transition back to the community.
Building partnerships will help set the foundation, build the structure of our organization, and help us accomplish our goals. We want our partners to have ownership of this work. If we can do this together, we can continue to grow.
What were some of the most important lessons at Salem NAACP Chapter?
I started out with the NAACP as a person bringing in a complaint for someone else: a principal who was brought in from Texas to work in one of our Salem-area middle schools. He was an excellent principal, and that's why he was hired to do the job. He started having problems at his school -- some of the same problems we've heard from other black professionals -- soon after he implemented changes towards more accountability, some of the teachers formed against him to have him removed. We brought the issue to the NAACP Salem Keizer chapter, where my dad, and my uncle Johnny Lake, were among the more active members.
We were able to raise awareness about the issue. After that, I was nominated and later elected to be the secretary of the chapter. My main role was to check the phone lines, take note of issues, respond back and delegate the problem to different committees. I started listening to the complaints we were receiving -- all sorts of discrimination and inequality issues from housing to employment to health. I didn't know such things were happening in this community.
As I became more involved in the NAACP, I became more interested in working with young people. That’s how the youth chapter came about. The challenge was how can we help young people understand the issues in our community so they can get their peers -- or even their parents -- to do something about it? I began to bring in black people who work ed in different professions -- from state government to police departments -- to come in and speak to our youth chapter. With the success of the youth chapter, the chapter gained the attention of the community. We made presentations to the S/K School Board regarding an issue that took place at one of the high schools. We were asked to provide our assessment about the issues we were seeing in the school system, and how things could be improved.
I was soon approached to step up and run for the presidency of the chapter. Leading the chapter was a great learning experience, but it wasn't easy being in such a position. There are always people who won't appreciate what you're doing. I learned that some people would complain about things, but often, they are not ready or willing to step up and do anything about the issues they are complaining about.
I tried very hard to keep everybody happy, but I learned that it's impossible to please everybody. I think that's the most important thing that I learned from my leadership of the NAACP, and what I'm bringing to Blacks in Government. My job is to make sure that the changes the organization has decided to make get accomplished.
What do you find most fulfilling about your leadership of Blacks in Government?
I started in state government in 1997. I’ve been lucky to have mentors. When I worked in the Department of Human Services, I was exposed to services such as; seniors and people with disabilities, child welfare, vocational rehabilitation, and self-sufficiency just to name a few. I learned a lot about the workings of state government, and how community can access the services. The more I learned, the more I felt empowered to share the information with my community.
It’s a new day. It’s time for change across the board. Now is a really good time for Blacks and other people of color to step up and start holding ourselves accountable. It’s time to stop making excuses for things that have gone on in the past. We have an opportunity to make our own legacy.
"We're focusing on workforce development with an eye toward institutional change."
"We want more of our black youth our young people to understand social and economic issues that affect our communities."
"Building partnerships will help set the foundation, build the structure of our organization, and help us accomplish our goals. We want our partners to have ownership of this work. If we can do this together, we can continue to grow."
