Forging the Future for Diversity and Inclusion

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the Department of Agriculture.

On Monday, USDA hosted a Hispanic Roundtable on recruiting, hiring and retaining Latino employees. The goal of this meeting was to further our partnerships with Hispanic-serving organization in order to better meet the needs of the populations we serve and to solicit best practices, ideas, and strategies to increase employment of Hispanics at USDA.

If someone had told me when I was younger that I would end up working at USDA—I would have never believed them. My parents were farmers and the reason that I ended up where I am today is because I was given an opportunity.

At USDA, we are committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the people we serve. We are currently ranked as the fifth most diverse executive department in the federal government—but we’re working harder to be a model service provider.  USDA strives to lead the way when it comes to making sure our diversity and inclusion efforts are clear from The national office all the way down to our county field offices.

The USDA Diversity Road Map defines the department’s strategic focus to cultivate a diverse and inclusive work environment that ensures equal opportunity and inclusion through national policy and development, diversity programs, workforce analysis, and education and training to best serve our customers and key stakeholders.  The road map’s milestones and metrics are monitored and administered by the USDA Diversity Officers Council, which is represented by senior leaders of all USDA Mission Areas and Staff Offices.

The group at this week’s meeting contributed their insight into the challenges that Latinos face looking for federal government jobs and how we can build a stronger foundation for the future of Latino employees at USDA.

While every recruiter, human resources office, hiring official, agency, and staff office has a role to play in reaching our diversity goals, the leadership of USDA has primary responsibility for achieving and maintaining workforce diversity and establishing a coordinated government-wide initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in the federal workforce.

At the end of the day, continuing conversations like the roundtable we held will enable us to diversify our workforce and ultimately expand the USDA family.

Click here to view more photos from the USDA Hispanic Roundtable.

Monshi Ramdass, Director, Recruitment, Diversity and Work Life Programs, Office of Human Resources Management explained the Diversity Road Map at the United States Department of Agriculture Hispanic Roundtable at the United States Department of Agriculture, Monday, December 5, 2011 in Washington, DC. The roundtable focused on recruitment, retention and employee development for the purpose of developing the USDA Hispanic recruitment Plan. The roundtable hosted several national Hispanic partners and recognized USDA Hispanic organizations and associations.

Monshi Ramdass is the Director of USDA's recruitment, diversity, wellness, and worklife, mediation, disability, and veterans employment division