Key Takeaways:
- Membership in a professional organization can significantly contribute to the growth and success of public administration professionals.
- Professional organizations provide a platform to connect with other professionals in the field, which can lead to job opportunities, collaborations, and mentorship.
- They offer resources such as workshops, seminars, and conferences that help professionals stay updated with the latest trends, research, and best practices in public administration.
- Being an active member of a professional organization can enhance a resume and provide recognition within the field, which can benefit career progression.
- Members often have access to exclusive publications, research reports, and other materials that can aid in their professional work and development.
Public administration, or PA is a field of work that involves the formulation, maintenance, and communication of policy that involves the public to some degree or another. This policy can be crucial in government bodies, organizations, and even private groups. This is because it has everything to do with the general public, public opinion, and all interactions therein.
To narrow our area of concern here, let’s take a look at PA in professional organizations. It is within these organizations that all types of causes are rallied in the public arena. From child rights to global sustainability, these organizations interact heavily with the public.
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For those currently working or schooled in the field of PA, this can be an area that is exceedingly rich in career opportunities. Would you like to know more about this area of plenty? Here are five professional organizations that are perfectly suited to the specialties and skills of PA experts.
Top Public Administration Organizations Profiled
ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU is an important part of the system of safeguards against the erosion of American rights and freedoms. PA professionals have plenty to do here as everything this group does is focused on the rights of the public group as well as the individual. A PA worker here may perform any number of functions on a daily basis: working on policy updates, researching public opinion on policy, creating communications for public consumption, and more. This is a great area for those that are particularly passionate about citizens’ rights.
NAACP
The NAACP, or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is another important organization. This one however is tasked with a primary focus of protecting the rights of people of color in all areas of society, work, and personal life. A PA professional could find a veritable paradise of job security here. Investigate policy-current event parallels, create communications for the public and private areas, gather opinions and identify problems, intervene when problems occur – public administration is synonymous with the NAACP.
ASPCA
The PA expert that is also an animal lover would probably find great satisfaction in working for the ASPCA, or American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Here, all of your skills and knowledge in PA work can be put to the greater use of saving animals from abuse and despairing life situations. Job specifics here can include a wide variety of functions that all involve interacting with public, private, and government entities in the interest of animal and human ethics alike.
NRDC
In its own words, the NRDC, or Natural Resources Defense Council “works to safeguard the earth and the natural systems on which all life depends.” More specifically, natural resources and their preservation for future generations are the principal goals of this organization. As a PA expert working for the NRDC, one will find themselves advocating for animals, ecology, geographic features, and much more. Expect to work heavily in policy, government lobbying, and research into current events and unfolding public concerns.
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service has provided the public with a plentiful legacy of education and cultural enrichment through its decades of broadcast service. From documentaries, to news and community events publications, this organization has always served the interests of the public well. Those skilled in PA work can find plenty of opportunity here. The many departments constantly needing such skills here include broadcasting, scripting, scheduling, field research, online media, and quite a few others.
Once thought to be strictly government work, PA expertise has become exceedingly valuable in the private and organizational realms alike. These five organizations are just a few of the many, great choices to be had in these areas. Thanks to such bountiful offerings in today’s public administration field, you really can pick an area that you are passionate about and then, quite likely become employed therein.
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