The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL). This agreement aims to raise awareness of USDA as an employer among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) college students and to support the recruitment, hiring, and retention of a diverse workforce.
Dr. Lisa Ramirez, Director of USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), signed the MOU alongside CAPAL Managing Director Shaima Ahmad. The partnership builds on three decades of collaboration between USDA and CAPAL to foster future USDA professionals through internships.
“This MOU, appropriately signed during Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week, demonstrates USDA’s commitment to equity across the Department,” said OPPE Director Dr. Lisa Ramirez. “By making it easier for Asian Americans to participate in valuable public service internship opportunities at USDA, it reinforces the steps we have already taken to improve equity and access and to build a workforce more representative of America.”
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week is observed from September 23-29. It was first designated by Congress on September 27, 2007, to expand educational opportunities for low-income, first-generation AANHPI students.
CAPAL provides internships for AANHPI students interested in federal service. The new MOU outlines general terms for the partnership between USDA and CAPAL to ensure equitable access to internships and employment opportunities while enhancing career prospects for these students.
The agreement will be managed by OPPE, which focuses on solutions for challenges facing rural and underserved communities by connecting them with education, tools, and resources available through USDA programs.
USDA plays a significant role in Americans' daily lives by transforming the food system under the Biden-Harris Administration. This includes focusing on resilient local food production, fair markets for producers, access to nutritious food in all communities, new income streams for farmers using climate-smart practices, investments in infrastructure and clean energy in rural areas, and committing to departmental equity.
For more information about USDA initiatives visit www.usda.gov.
