WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2022 – The U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) declares two initiatives to extend entry to USDA applications and providers amongst Hispanic communities. The Division is renewing the USDA-HACU Management Group, a partnership with the Hispanic Affiliation of Faculties and Universities (HACU). USDA can be accepting functions for the 2023 E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program, which brings school and workers from Hispanic-Serving Establishments (HSIs) and Hispanic-Serving College Districts across the nation to USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. to study extra about USDA applications and assets. The E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program was established in 1998 by a earlier USDA-HACU Management Group.

“USDA is dedicated to centering Latino voices and experiences to supply equitable entry to programming,” stated Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Our partnership with HACU via this Management Group is essential to offering management and strategic route for USDA’s work with Hispanic-Serving Establishments.”

The USDA-HACU Management Group

The USDA-HACU Management Group is a nationwide physique that focuses on making certain that the Hispanic group equitably participates in and advantages from USDA schooling and employment applications, assets and providers. The present group was established by a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and HACU on August 25, 2021. The USDA-HACU Management Group consists of an equal variety of USDA representatives and presidents from HSIs, that are outlined as establishments which have an undergraduate full-time equal of no less than 25 p.c Hispanic college students.

USDA members embody:

Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Below Secretary for Advertising and marketing and Regulatory Applications (Co-Chair)
Karama Neal, Administrator, Rural Enterprise – Cooperative Service, USDA Rural Growth
Bruce Summers, Administrator, USDA Agricultural Advertising and marketing Service
Randy Moore, Chief, USDA Forest Service
Dionne Toombs, Appearing Director, USDA Nationwide Institute of Meals and Agriculture

HACU members embody:

Mike Flores, Chancellor, Alamo Faculties District (Co-Chair)
Cesar Maldonado, Chancellor, Houston Neighborhood Faculty System
Tomás Morales, President, California State College, San Bernardino
Madeline Pumariega, President, Miami Dade Faculty
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President, California State College, Fresno

E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program

The appliance interval is open for the annual E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program. This system brings school and workers from Hispanic-Serving Establishments and Hispanic-Serving College Districts to Washington, D.C., the place they meet with USDA leaders, study concerning the federal authorities, and share their insights with college students and colleagues of their dwelling establishments and communities.

The fellowships happen in the summertime of 2023 and functions are due March 1, 2023.

Schooling and Excessive College Fellowships are for school and workers at Hispanic-Serving Establishments or Hispanic-Serving College Districts. Members attend a one-week program in Washington, D.C. Science Fellowships are for science school at HSIs to collaborate with main USDA scientists. Members attend the primary week in Washington, D.C. after which spend a second week at a USDA analysis facility.

To use for the Kika De La Garza program and study extra concerning the USDA-HACU Management Group, go to USDA’s Hispanic-Serving Establishments Nationwide Program or contact partnerships@usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all People every day in so many optimistic methods. Within the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is remodeling America’s meals system with a higher deal with extra resilient native and regional meals manufacturing, fairer markets for all producers, making certain entry to secure, wholesome and nutritious meals in all communities, constructing new markets and streams of earnings for farmers and producers utilizing local weather good meals and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clear power capabilities in rural America, and committing to fairness throughout the Division by eradicating systemic boundaries and constructing a workforce extra consultant of America. To study extra, go to www.usda.gov.

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