Washington, DC – The six leading professional government affairs industry groups announced today that they have formed a task force made up of leaders in the profession to develop a roadmap to protect professionals from sexual harassment as well as begin the process of changing the current culture in Washington.
The groups, H Street Group, Hispanic Lobbyists Association, National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics (NILE), Q Street, the Washington Government Relations Group and Women in Government Relations, have created The Force to End Harassment in Advocacy (FEHA) with a goal of creating adoptable guidelines, professional standards, and industry programs to support victims of harassment.
“Whether you are on Capitol Hill, in the advocacy industry or the media, our businesses are based on relationships. But no one should have to put up with being threatened in their workplace to be successful. Unlike many other industries our workplaces can be a reception, Capitol Hill hearing room or office and the harasser can be a client, a member, a colleague or an elected official, which requires a unique approach,” said Stephanie Craig of the Apeiron Strategy Group and chair of the task force. “This outstanding diverse and bi-partisan group of individuals have come together as a united group in creating workable, adoptable reforms that work in our profession.”
Members of the task force are from all types of organizations, both sides of the aisle and all different backgrounds. The members of the task force are:
Nicolette Davis, AFLAC
Larry Gonzalez, Raben Group and President of the Hispanic Lobbyist Association
Dena Graziano, Symantec
Kimberly Hayes Pollard, We Strategies and Member of Women in Government Relations
Jocelyn Hong, The Twenty-First Century Group and Member of the H Street Group Board of Directors
Denise Krepp, KDRKrepp Consulting
Marcus Mason, the Madison Group and President of the Washington Government Relations Group
Paul Miller, Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies and President of NILE
Kristin Nicholson, Congress Too
Jodi Richardson, Holland and Knight
Priscilla VanderVeer, PhRMA
Lauren Wilson, PACE LLP and Member of the Q Street Board of Directors
The task force intends to complete phase I of its work early in the fall and release the recommendations before Congress recesses for the midterms.
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Hispanic Lobbyists Association
HLA was founded in 2006 to organize Hispanic lobbyists across the country into an organization to promote communication, education, and bipartisanship. HLA provides an opportunity for lobbyists in all stages of their career to network and provides mentoring for younger Hispanic professionals, thereby promoting the presence of Latinos and Latinas in the field of government relations.
National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics (NILE)
NILE’s mission is to enhance the development of professionalism, competence and high ethical standards for advocates in the public policy arena; collectively address challenges which affect the first amendment right to “petition the government for redress of grievances,” and promote ethical lobbying through its Lobbying Code of Ethics.
Q Street
Q Street is the professional association of LGBT lobbyists and public policy advocates and those working for LGBT equality.
Washington Government Relations Group
The Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG) is a non-partisan, independent, volunteer association that was founded to enrich the careers and leadership abilities of African-American government relations professionals. Members represent corporations, financial institutions, law firms, trade associations and non-profit organizations on a broad range of policy areas in state, federal, and international arenas. The organization aims to foster meaningful dialogue between its members and pertinent, senior-level policymakers to facilitate superior public policy solutions.
Women in Government Relations
Women in Government Relations (WGR) has been dedicated to advancing and empowering women for more than 40 years, by fostering professional development and growth opportunities through a community that supports women’s leadership in government relations.
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