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Ron Rainey: Agriculture Economist Advancing Technical Assistance and Extension Program Opportunities to Improve Financial Outcomes for Farmers

August 28, 2023 Cecilia Hernandez, Designated Federal Officer, USDA Equity Commission

Agriculture reigns as one of the most sustainable industries with constant innovations despite the ever-changing environment of macroeconomic trends, climate variability, disrupted supply chains, and more. For U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity Commission Member Ron Rainey who was raised on his...

Equity Initiatives

Listen Better, Serve Better

August 24, 2023 USDA Chief Customer Experience Officer Simchah Suveyke-Bogin, Office of Customer Experience

In support of Section 1006 of the American Rescue Plan and USDA’s commitment to advance equitable access to USDA program and services, the Office of Customer Experience, or OCX, spent the past year working to improve the support provided to USDA’s community-based partners who work to connect...

American Rescue Plan Equity Initiatives

USDA Mission Areas, Agencies, and Offices’ Equity Action Plans Are Making Progress

August 01, 2023 Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small

Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has advanced equity by listening to the people we serve and learning how we can serve them better by removing barriers to our programs and services. USDA offices and agencies have developed key actions to...

Equity

Shorlette Ammons: Encouraging Young Farmers to Embrace Their Roots Through Food and Music Connectivity

June 21, 2023 Cecilia Hernandez, Designated Federal Officer, USDA Equity Commission

Growing up in Beautancus, North Carolina, U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity Commission Member Shorlette Ammons learned first-hand the impact of farming and food systems in rural communities. From a large line of farmworkers, cooks, and storytellers, Ammons leans on her experience and background...

Equity Initiatives

Yvonne Lee: Acknowledging Asian American Impact and Influence on the U.S. Agriculture Industry as a Policy Design Expert

May 30, 2023 Cecilia Hernandez, Designated Federal Officer, USDA Equity Commission

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and serves as an important opportunity to celebrate our AAPI communities and honor their many contributions to the United States. The AAPI community has influenced American culture in so many ways. One example is in...

Equity Initiatives

Dr. Alexis Racelis: Propagating Equitable Ag Research and Science

April 26, 2023 Laura Crowell, Communications Lead, USDA Equity Commission

For America’s farmers, science can act as a form of capital. According to Dr. Alexis Racelis, access to science is not always funded, developed, or distributed equitably.

Equity Initiatives

USDA Takes Steps to Prevent Illegal Child Labor

April 12, 2023 USDA Office of Communications

Since 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has seen a 69 percent increase in children being employed illegally by companies. In the last fiscal year, the department found 835 companies it investigated had employed more than 3,800 children in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. In February...

Equity Initiatives

Arturo S. Rodríguez: ¡Sí Se Puede! Improving the Lives and Livelihoods of Farmworkers

March 31, 2023 Cecilia Hernandez, Designated Federal Officer, USDA Equity Commission

March 31 marks César Chávez Day and serves as a reminder to all Americans of the importance of service, community, education, and commitment to advocating for farmworkers and their families. Chávez was a champion of farmworkers’ rights, calling for fairer wages and improved working conditions and...

Equity Initiatives

Next Steps in Providing Financial Assistance to Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination: Organizational Deadline

March 14, 2023 Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator, Farm Service Agency

Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, directs USDA to provide financial assistance to producers who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. This program provides USDA the ability to deliver financial assistance...

Equity Farming

Poppy Sias-Hernandez: Working to Build Equity with Love, Integrity, and Generosity

March 14, 2023 Laura Crowell, USDA Equity Commission Communications Lead

As a Latina woman, raised in a black community by a single white mother, Poppy Sias-Hernandez understands how access to equitable support and resources can have a life changing impact.

Equity Initiatives
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