May 15, 2014 - AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK AND THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT

PRESS RELEASE
May 30, 2014

The Memorandum Signed with the Nation’s Largest National Latino Coalition Will Open Doors Of Opportunity for Latinos in Policy, Programs, Personnel and More at the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Washington, DC— Today the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation’s preeminent national Latino organizations, issued a statement regarding its first-ever Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with a federal Department. Secretary Tom Vilsack signed the MOU for the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and signing for NHLA was Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chairman and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). Also attending were other USDA senior officials and the heads or senior representatives of a number of NHLA organizations.

NHLA May 2014 243

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MOU.

The USDA-NHLA MOU -- which Secretary Tom Vilsack committed to sharing with the heads of other federal departments -- is one of the strongest, most specific, and most comprehensive set of commitments ever set forth between a federal agency and a national Latino organization. The wide-ranging document establishes a formal framework for high-level, substantive, results-oriented dialogue and engagement among NHLA organizations, USDA, its sub-agencies, and specifically includes Secretary Vilsack. The MOU commits both NHLA and USDA to regular discussions on a range of policies, programs, personnel, and partnerships that specifically impact the Latino community.

The MOU’s key elements, found here, include a focus on creating more mutually beneficial partnerships with NHLA organizations; using Latino-related data/metrics as the basis for the USDA—NHLA discussions and relationship; and a strong emphasis on USDA and NHLA working together to find solutions that achieve real, measurable progress with tangible results for Latinos.

The MOU also contains planks that address issues for Latinos and USDA such as employment; education; minority business contracting; student/youth programs; Senior Executive Service; Latino representation on Boards and Commissions, and overall USDA outreach to Hispanics.

Through this MOU and the collaborative, high-level engagement that has been on-going with USDA and will now accelerate, NHLA believes strongly that our community will see even greater progress at USDA – and in other federal agencies – on the still challenging issues of Hispanic underrepresentation. While this MOU will not supplant any existing agreements – indeed the MOU will only strengthen USDA’s current partnerships with NHLA organizations – the agreement with NHLA and its members is a significant step toward advancing our coalition’s goal of fair representation of Latinos in the federal government’s policies, programs, and especially its workforce.

It has been well documented, including data reported by federal agencies, that there is a long-standing, systemic, and sharp problem regarding adequate Hispanic representation in the federal government. Addressing this is a key issue for our community and a priority goal of NHLA.

Regarding the MOU and this new level of partnership with USDA, NHLA leaders stated:

"I thank Secretary Vilsack and his staff for their leadership in demonstrating a serious commitment to diversity and inclusion by signing this strong MOU with our NHLA member organizations," said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). “We look forward to working together with USDA on outreach and educational partnerships, employment and contracting matters, and policies impacting Latinos, such as food and nutrition assistance programs, food safety, farmer and rancher financial and technical assistance, and conservation, among many others. As we continue to work with all federal agencies this agreement will serve as an excellent model to make progress and build partnerships."

“I applaud Secretary Vilsack for his leadership and vision in recognizing the need for and committing USDA to such a major agreement”, said Roger Rivera, NHLA Government Accountability Co-Chair and President of the National Hispanic Environmental Council (NHEC), and who served as NHLA’s lead on this MOU. “We strove to craft an effective, results-focused partnership that honored our core principles, and I think we’ve succeeded. I also want to thank fellow NHLA members as well the key USDA staff who worked hard to implement Secretary Vilsack’s commitment."

"Secretary Vilsack's vision of creating stronger alliances with Latino-based organizations is key to improving the health and well-being of the Hispanic community. We are excited to subscribe to this MOU that will allow NHLA members to work more closely with the USDA as we continue addressing issues that most impact Latino seniors, families, and caregivers, including employment, hunger, and education," said National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) President and CEO, Dr. Yanira Cruz.

"This historic agreement provides a vehicle through which Latinos can use their seat at the table to work with this important governmental agency on finding real solutions to some of the pressing issues that affect our community," said Miguel Alexander Pozo, President, Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). "Greater diversity and inclusion of Latinos in the administration, more adequate safety measures and safer work environments, and increased access and opportunities for minority owned businesses are just some of the key issues that this MOU will impact. We applaud Secretary Vilsack's leadership and look forward to the work ahead."

“The agreement helps ensure that the predominantly Latino labor force on the nation’s farms and ranches is recognized by the Department of Agriculture and the American public as a valued part of the agricultural sector of the economy, the food system and rural communities.,” said Bruce Goldstein, President, Farmworker Justice, who expressed his appreciation to Secretary Tom Vilsack and the leaders of the NHLA.

“This agreement will set an important precedent for federal agencies to increase engagement and collaboration with national Hispanic organizations,” said Ignacio Salazar, President and CEO, of SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc. “By entering into the USDA partnership, the NHLA will open avenues to better represent Hispanic and Latino constituencies, thereby ensuring that this growing segment of the population has the voice it ought to have at the federal level.”

"Secretary Tom Vilsack has been an incredible supporter and he truly exemplifies the leadership and vision needed to help provide equal access to our community. As a former Department of Agriculture National Executive Director for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights I can attest to the major achievement that this MOU signifies. The Secretary's staff did a superb job in helping make this happen and in working admirably with the NHLA," stated Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO OF MANA, A National Latina Organization.

Elena Rios, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association said, “We look forward to working with the Department of Agriculture with this historic MOU to increase nutrition education through all federal meal programs to especially decrease the tremendous obesity rates among our children.”

###

Since creating its Latino Appointments Program in January 2013, NHLA has worked tirelessly to increase the representation of Latinos in the Administration. The coalition is active in calling for the inclusion of Latinos in entry-level to Cabinet-level political appointments. For more information, please visit www.latinoappointments.org and follow @NHLAgenda.