USDA: We can be the dream

As USDA celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s enduring legacy and influence on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, we honor and reflect on our shared history and our commitment to advance civil rights for all Americans.

MLK memorial in Washington, DC. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

The USDA 2023 MLK Jr. Day theme is "We Can Be the Dream," a phrase that captures our commitment to honoring Dr. King's legacy by serving our communities. This year, we are highlighting our 1890 Land-Grant Universities-minority-serving institutions of higher learning that deliver high-quality agricultural and natural resource research, education and extension programs while producing skilled graduates in the sciences. USDA partners with 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities that were established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890 to increase the number of minorities studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences and related disciplines.

Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?'" In our service to each other and the public, we see, hear and value all people and treat them with the dignity and respect humanity deserves. Year-round, we consider the ways in which we as a nation, an organization and as individuals can be more inclusive and just. At USDA, we dedicate ourselves to advancing our values of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all we do.

Last year on MLK Jr. Day, we challenged ourselves to extend the celebration through the year, renewing our commitment to equity and inclusion that improves the quality of our programs and services. Though there is always more to be done, we have made significant progress. Among the many steps forward on Dr. King's path:

• In a whole-of-USDA effort, each mission area and agency has developed an Equity Action Plan, based on stakeholder input and internal equity assessments, to prioritize programmatic improvements that will improve USDA services to all customers, build and maintain trust, reduce barriers to access and increase USDA investments towards underserved communities.
• Across USDA, we have increased equitable access to nutrition programs, augmented support to underserved producers, partnered with community-based and nonprofit organizations and cooperators that work with underserved communities, and made millions of dollars of investments to improve equitable access to jobs, business opportunities, housing and health care.
• This week we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Urban League to reaffirm and strengthen the relationship between the Department of Agriculture and the historic civil rights organization. USDA and NUL share a common mission to enhance equity across the country, ensure access to adequate nutrition and improve quality of life for underserved populations.
• In support of Executive Order 14041, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and working with the Department of Education, OPPE developed the 2022 USDA HBCU plan. This plan identified programs, initiatives and other areas for increased participation with HBCUs as well as opportunities to increase HBCU competitiveness for grants, contracts and cooperative agreements. The FY23 plan, is currently in development and will build upon the FY22 plan.
• The USDA Equity Commission is hard at work on recommendations for more policies, programs and actions needed to achieve justice and equity, including strengthening accountability at USDA.
• USDA is institutionalizing internal diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility as critical to employee and organizational success. Since releasing USDA's DEIA Strategic Plan we made the decision to establish the Office of the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. This office will guide and support department-wide progress towards of our DEIA goals through close collaboration with mission areas, human resources and civil rights programs. Implementation plans for 2023-2024 are near completion, including communication and employee learning activities.

Recognizing the role of a healthy and inclusive organizational culture and the need to build an organization that reflects the communities that the agencies and programs serve, USDA is looking inward to understand what it will take to build an organization that centers DEIA. For more information look at USDA's Equity webpage.

In conclusion, let's take this moment to celebrate the leadership of many at USDA who made an impact last calendar year by serving their communities. We look forward to celebrating and serving with you.

Sincerely,

Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh

Additional Background and Resources

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program was established in 1992 as part of the partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the 1890 Land-Grant Universities. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is implemented under the USDA Fellows Experience Program. Scholars accepted into the program will be appointed using the Schedule A(r) authority (5 CFR 213.3202) and may be eligible for noncompetitive conversion to full time employment upon graduation. Successful applicants will receive a temporary appointment to the USDA, not to exceed four years. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and the end of the agreement period, the scholar may be eligible for conversion to permanent appointment in service to USDA without further competition, using the Conversion to Career Conditional Appointment Farm Bill 2018 (5 CFR 213.3102) authority code "ZLM."

All USDA/1890 National Scholars are required to commit to at least one year of service with the USDA for each year of financial assistance provided. (Note: Specific details of this service requirement will be outlined in the service agreement entered into by the selected scholar, the university at which the scholar is matriculated, and the USDA sponsoring agency.)

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program will provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to four years to selected students pursuing a bachelor's degree at the following universities:

• Alabama A&M University
• Alcorn State University, Mississippi
• Central State University, Ohio
• Delaware State University
• Florida A&M University
• Fort Valley State University, Georgia
• Kentucky State University
• Langston University, Oklahoma

For USDA observances and resources, please visit the USDA-OASCR website. Also visit AgLearn for even more announcements and resources.

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