The Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA) based in Washington D.C. was established in 1971. It is a section of the American Society for Public Administration. Our mission is to serve and assist public administrators, students and other professionals involved in public service. COMPA is dedicated to achieving and supporting the following goals: strengthening and increasing the role minorities play in setting public policy; influencing public managers and executives to insure that the interests and goals of minority employees are served; educating our membership about emerging issues in public sector management by sponsoring conferences and issuing periodicals; nurturing the career aspirations of our membership by identifying employment opportunities; and recognizing outstanding service by public administrators. 

Since 1939, ASPA has been the nation's most respected society representing society representing all forums in the public service arena. We are advocates for greater effectiveness in government, agents of goodwill and professionalism, publishers of democratic journalism at its very best, purveyors of progressive theory and practice, and providers global citizenship. We believe that by embracing new ideas, addressing key public service issues, and promoting change at both the local and international levels, we can enhance the quality of lives worldwide. .

Within the broad purpose of ASPA, which is to advance science, processes, art, and image of public administration, COMPA’s purpose is to: 

· Provide leadership in the elimination of discriminatory practices against all minorities regardless of race, gender, religion, and/or sexual preference in the public sector; 

· Promote for employment the recruitment of minorities for leadership positions in the public sector as well as the academic world of public administration; 

· Provide a forum to provide continued education, skills enhancement, and professional development of minority public administrators; 

· Develop and maintain a roster of qualified minority professionals in public administration; 

· Form partnerships with educational institutions, engage in discussions and recommendations about curricula in public administration education; 

· Establish linkages with other organizations and agencies in a coalition building effort that will address issues relevant to the purposes of COMPA.

COMPA is dedicated to achieving and supporting the following goals for its members:

· Strengthening and increasing the role minorities play in setting public policy.

·  Influencing public managers and executives to ensure that the interests and goals of minority employees are served.

·  Educating our membership about emerging issues in public sector management by sponsoring conferences and issuing periodicals.

·  Nurturing the career aspirations of our membership by identifying employment opportunities

· Recognizing outstanding service by public administrators.