Black Employment Program seeks members to help solve issues

  • Published
  • By Kendahl Johnson
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Hill Air Force Base’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Office is inviting individuals interested in helping identify policies, procedures and practices that affect recruitment, representation, retention, and advancement of the African American community to join the Black Employment Program.

The Black Employment Program is managed by Ide Tafaba Tchapouh, a computer scientist with the 309th Software Engineer Group.  Tchapouh is a Special Emphasis Program Manager, responsible for the concerns of the BEP in the areas of hiring, training, mentoring, career development and retention. He serves as an advisor to both the workforce and to management officials, ensuring that all persons can participate in the full range of employment opportunities.

Volunteers become part of a Member Employee Resource Group, or Special Emphasis Program committee, meeting together monthly to analyze issues facing the African American workforce. They then help develop solutions to removing barriers and overcoming challenges.

“The Black Employment Program committee is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of race or gender,” Tchapouh said. “This special emphasis program is integral in enhancing employment, career development and advancement opportunities.”

To become a part of a committee, which serves as a working group to assist and support the SEPMs, volunteers must be designated through their supervisory chain of command. They are appointed for a period of two years, where they serve as liaisons, providing information about concerns and needs of the workers represented by the program, and aid in the identification and removal of barriers to advancement and career development.

The group meets via Teams for one hour on the first Tuesday of every month.

For more information or to join the BEP MERG, contact Tchapouh at ide_tafaba.tchapouh@us.af.mil or the Hill AFB DEIA office at 75ABW.DEIA.Workflow@us.af.mil.