Community Building

MAPS invites our Members and Associate Members across the country to build our network of communities in your State. These State committees connect members based on location and include Federal, State or local public servants serving or residing within the States below.

State committees may be proposed and formed by MAPS National members residing in any US State. MAPS State committees are supported by MAPS’ Board and Advisory Council, and have access to MAPS programming, services, resources, volunteers, contacts, distribution lists, collective support, advocacy toward local initiatives and concerns, and the joint resources of MAPS chapters and partner organizations.

MAPS State Committees engage both virtually and in person across their respective states where local members meet, support one another, share resources, and hold private gatherings and public events. MAPS National supports and maintains active and growing communities in New York, Massachusetts, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, California, and New Jersey, with additional committees being formed.

Please reach out to Outreach Director Aamer Uddin to join or help lead a new chapter in your State via outreach@mapsnational.org. Where State Committee Presidents are in place, please direct communications or questions on all further leadership, membership, operations, and services offered to them, or contact them below:

michigan@mapsnational.org, newyork@mapsnational.org, california@mapsnational.org, massachusetts@mapsnational.org, texas@mapsnational.org, newjersey@mapsnational.org, illinois@mapsnational.org

Also known as Affinity Groups or Voluntary Employee Organizations (VEOs), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are a way to cultivate a supportive, welcoming, inclusive and equitable work environment in your Federal, State or local agency, department, or other public institution.

They serve as a critical link between employees and senior management, connecting a diverse array of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences to each Department’s diversity managers, Human Capital staff, and key decision-makers. They support the personal growth and professional development of their members and they help develop programs and learning opportunities not only for themselves but for the rest of the workforce.

ERGs have the pulse of their community and their constituents and work with management to develop and execute recommendations to solve mission-related problems before they become large-scale issues. While the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) no longer supports Federal Department and Agency sponsorship of ERGs, many State and local government institutions offer support and recognition to associations that represent employees and contractors of a protected group, gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, race, faith, or special interest.

There is now a growing momentum for Muslim professionals to be similarly represented across government offices. MAPS assists its members to build thriving communities in their government workplaces. MAPS also helps link these communities through a national network alongside other closely related public service organizations.

MAPS is proud to launch several Communities of Practice (COP) connecting members across the country and Federal, State or local government agencies based on common professions or interests.

We welcome you to join our growing Communities of Practice, or career-specific subgroups exclusively for MAPS Members and Associate Members who are current or prospective professionals in those fields or professions. Each community is led, coordinated and supported by a Chief of Practice and Deputy Chief of Practice who are experienced public servants across Federal, State or local government.

MAPS currently supports active communities serving: National Security, Foreign Policy and Intelligence Professionals; International Development Professionals; Health Professionals; Economists; Engineers; Communications Specialists; Lawyers & Legal Professionals; Education Professionals; and Legislative Staffers.

If these COPs represent your current or desired career focus and you would like to connect with others in these fields, direct invitations to join the dedicated groups on the Signal messaging app can be found in each MAPS Member email, where you would be further vetted for inclusion. New members may also indicate which COP they are interested in joining via the membership application. Contact our Professional Development team via profdev@mapsnational.org to learn more.

MAPS Members may also serve as MAPS Institutional Representatives at their Federal, State or local agencies. Representatives serve as liaisons between our national network and their institution, and as a point of contact for colleagues interested in building informal communities until formal MAPS Chapters become viable.