NBPA Strategic Plan 2021 - 2026

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) is reflected in the organization’s commitment to recruiting talented professionals within the prosecutorial field.arm of the legal profession. It is to ensure not only the retention of blacks in prosecution, but also to correct the dramatic inequity that exists with respect to black representation in the executive ranks of prosecutors’ offices. A further goal is to recruit, train, and mentor younger aspiring lawyers for leadership roles in the years ahead.​​

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STATEMENT ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN

NBPA’s culture of inclusive strategic planning has led to decades of success. As NBPA has continued to evolve, Past President Erika Gilliam Booker and the Organizational Leadership & Development Committee led by former executive board member Kyontha Nelson, created the organization’s strategic plan, which included the appointing of a Steering Committee to provide insight and wisdom towards the development of a plan that will guide NBPA’s planning through 2026.  Former prosecutor and leadership expert Dionne Jones, along with prosecutors Monique Washington and Janene Carter, helped develop the framework for the strategic plan. Other NBPA leaders, including Kristina Mills, Bruce Marshack, Allison Green, Simone Hylton, and Jeanine Howard, were part of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee.

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An essential feature of successful strategic planning is to create opportunities for many voices to contribute their own vision for the future of the NBPA. We continue to encourage people to get involved and help create our community’s shared vision for NBPA. 

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Although the planning process and implementation of the plan began during the pandemic in 2021, the pandemic and various changes within prosecutors offices delayed the implementation of the plan. During the 

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STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS

 Guided by our vision, mission and core values, the process included:

1. Solicitation of feedback from members and leadership regarding the content of the NBPA’s new strategic plan. Mandatory consultations including, for example, engaging with members, chapter presidents, regional directors, the Executive Committee and leadership from external organizations.

2. Developing formal vision and strategy statements, ensuring that NBPA maintains a flexible and agile posture.

3. Articulating a list of NBPA’s core commitments and/or values.

4. Assessing  NBPA’s existing strengths and current gaps relative to our aspirations.

5. Describing NBPA’s opportunities, sources of differentiation and sustainable advantage, and contemporary societal dynamics that might shape NBPA’s success in the context of the competitive landscape of the legal profession.

6. Articulating optimal strategies for the organization to enhance the role of Black Prosecutors in the legal profession as well as transform the criminal justice system.

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STRATEGIC PLAN (2021 - 2026)​

GOAL #1: PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & SERVICE

Initiatives:   

1. Empower the Community’s Youth to Serve Criminal Justice System Through an Annual ‘Jr. ADA Program’

2. Create and Enhance Opportunities for Middle and High School Students to Engage with Black Prosecutors through an Annual “Real Talk” Program

3. Expand Immersive Learning Opportunities for BLSA Chapters by Developing the “Prosecution as a Career” Curricular Module​

4. Expand NBPA’s Footprint for Service by Establishing a “NBPA Day of Service”

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GOAL #2: PROMOTE SOCIAL ACTION & AWARENESS THROUGH TARGETED PROGRAMMING

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Initiatives:

Expand and Enhance Community Awareness through the Creation of “Know Your Rights”
Programming, to include Voter’s Rights

Educate the Community and Promote Awareness Through Programming That Affects Special
Victims (Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, Human Trafficking)

Create Programming Related to Gun Violence Related to Gangs in order to Protect the Youth of
our Communities

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GOAL #3: STRENGTHEN THE RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF MEMBERSHIP THROUGH ENGAGEMENT

Initiatives:

1. Upgrade and Optimize the NBPA Website as a Tool of Rebranding the Association

2. Enhance and Elevate the Pipeline to Prosecution Through Strategic Partnerships with NBLSA and the NBPA Foundation

3. Explore the Feasibility of Creating a Regional Conference Model to Enhance Membership

4. Create a System of Annual Chapter Reporting to Evaluate and Assess Programming Engagement

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GOAL #4: PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTORSHIP AMONGST MEMBERS OF VARYING DEGREES OF EXPERIENCE

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Initiatives:

1. Create a Speed Mentoring Event During the National Conference

2. Create a Sense of Community and Connection by Launching Quarterly Group Mentoring Sessions via Zoom

3. Establishing an Email Exchange Mentoring Initiative

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​GOAL #5: STRENGTHEN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF MEMBERSHIP THROUGH RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 

Initiatives:

1. Formulate a Leadership Development Program to Assist Members Who Seek Supervisory and

2. Executive/Administrative Leadership Roles

3. Create an Education &  Professional Development Module, Including:

   1. General Trial Skills;

   2. Substantive/Subject Matter Trainings;

   3. Career Progression;

   4. Federal Prosecutor Trainings

4. ​Develop Programming Relative to Prosecutorial Pitfalls