Presented By: The Civil Rights Advisory Committee Civil Rights and You…. Presented By: The Civil Rights Advisory Committee I want to take a few moments to discuss work your fellow employees are doing to protect your rights under the law and the rights of your family friends and neighbors. I want to talk about the Civil Rights Advisory Committees

Committees Civil Rights Federal Women’s Program Each year Iowa Bulletin IA 330-5-X is sent out concerning standing committees and task forces. Included are the membership of the Civil Rights Committee and one Special Emphasis Committees—FWP These are the people making up the Civil Rights and Federal Women’s Program Committees who are working to protect your rights under the law. Civil Rights Federal Women’s Program

Civil Rights Committee Make Up Chair—Assistant State Conservationist (FO) Members from each area and State Office Executive Director of CDI Sponsors Advisors The Civil Rights Committee provides recommendations to the State Conservationist to assure NRCS programs are delivered and the NRCS employees are treated in a fair and equitable manner. The current director of Conservation Districts of Iowa is Deb Ryun.

Civil Rights Committee The committee advisors: Black Emphasis Program Manager Disability Emphasis Program Manager Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager Federal Women’s Program Manager Asian Pacific American Program Manager American Indian/Alaska Native Program Manager The committee as has the benefit of advisors from a number of special emphasis areas. Please note the term “mangers.” The person filling the role of a special emphasis manager may be a GS-07, but when it comes to their area of responsibility, make no mistake, they are filling the role of a manager. As such, they have the ear of the State Conservationist.

Civil Rights Committee Sponsors Assistant State Conservationist (Technology) State Administrative Officer Staff Advisor Who is the current Assistant State Conservationist for Technology? Acting Mike Sucik Who is the State Administrative Officer? Demitrice Boozer The Staff Advisor is Christopher Knudsen, Human Resources Manager, Des Moines

Vision Mission Equity for People and Programs Ensure compliance with Agency policies for conservation and equal opportunity programs, and accountability for the delivery of quality and timely service to our customers Really, isn’t that what we all want?

Charge To provide the State Conservationist recommendations to assure NRCS programs are delivered and that NRCS employees are treated in a fair and equitable manner. This is why the committee work is important to you. This is a check that we are complying with federal law and doing what is right.

Civil Rights & EEO Beginnings with the Constitution and Bill of Rights Civil Rights Act of 1964 Addresses employment discrimination Equal opportunity is the law that applies to employment activities in both the Federal and private sectors. EEO and civil rights began with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; however the Constitution and the Bill of Rights did not mention employment discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had the greatest impact on employment providing protection and enforcement under the law against discrimination.

Title VI “no person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Title six says, when serving our customers, we cannot discriminate based on race, color, or national origin.

Title VII prohibits unlawful employment practices such as discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. It also prohibits reprisal or retaliation for participating in the discrimination complaint process or for opposing any unlawful employment practice. Title seven says the agency cannot discriminate against employees based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability if the person can do their job.

Committee Members Chair – Jim Frederick, ASTC – FO Area 2 Vice Chair – Bruce Trautman, ASTC – FO Area 5 Area 1 Rep. – Carroll Oskvig, DC Spirit Lake Field Office Area 2 Rep. – Brad Harrison, DC Adel Field Office Here are the current Civil Rights committee members. They are your co-workers and friends with a full time conservation job. This is a collateral duty.

Committee Members Area 3 Rep. – Tamara Buitenwerf, SC Elkader Field Office Area 4 Rep. – Nick Morrell, DC Indianola Field Office Area 5 Rep. – Christine Lousias, SCT Wapello Field Office State Office Rep. – Laurel Foreman, Civil Eng. They were chosen for their position for a three year term.

Area Rep Responsibilities Collect information on Civil Rights in their Area Provide information and training to their Area Look for potential conflict before it becomes a problem

Special Emphasis Programs Federal Women’s Program (FWP) Black Emphasis Program (BEP) Hispanic Emphasis Program (HEP) Asian Pacific American Program (APAP) American Indian/Alaska Native Emphasis Program (AIANEP) Disability Employment Program (DEP) Advising the Civil Rights Committee are Special Emphasis Program Managers. The Federal Women’s Program is the only special emphasis program that involves a committee of six. Note the term manager.

Functions of SEPMs Resource person for members of EEO protected groups Principle staff advisor of under represented groups SEPs headed by Managers who directly report to State Conservationist Provide leadership to managers and supervisors in order to develop strategies to effectively recruit, employ and promote qualified members of EEO protected groups and under represented groups Serve as resource person and principle staff advisor in matters which affect employment and advancement of under represented groups SEPMs are managers who are responsible for directly reporting to the State Conservationist on matters of their groups. They have direct access to the state conservationist on civil rights issues.

Functions of SEPs Remove discriminatory barriers to equal opportunity Promote cultural diversity awareness Take to management group issues and concerns Identify and assist in removing discriminatory practices and procedures and other barriers to equal opportunity in all employment and program delivery activities. Promote cultural diversity awareness Participate in forums and national conferences to provide an effective channel of communication to management to provide particular concerns and issues of the group

Black Emphasis James Zeigler Program Manager The purpose of the program is to provide focus on issues such as employment, promotion, training, and career enhancement affecting Black employees and applicants in NRCS. James Zeigler – Black Emphasis Program Manager

Program Objectives Increase the total number of Blacks in all Professional, Administrative, Technical, Clerical, and others (PATCO) categories, series, and grade levels Encourage the participation of Blacks in all NRCS-sponsored programs and activities Provide a network of professional support for Blacks Ensure that the Black community receives equal treatment in all aspects of employment Provide opportunities to participate in training and training programs such as career enhancement, graduate studies, and others.

Policy It is NRCS policy to conduct a positive and continuing BEP that provides equal employment opportunity for Blacks in all personnel management policies and practices, as well as in NRCS-sponsored programs and activities.

Federal Women’s Program Dick Tremain FWP Chair FWP is designed to create advancement opportunities throughout all occupational levels and all disciplines. Dick Tremain Program Manager

FWP Committee Chair – Dick Tremain, PAS State Office Vice-Chair – Stephanie Hill, SC Manchester Field Office Past Chair – Lori J. Altheide, District Conservationist, Ottumwa Kathy Schneider, DC Onawa Field Office Aaron Musselman, DC Nevada Field Office Sandi Hunerdosse, SS Chariton Field Office Chair – Dick Tremain, PAS State Office Vice-Chair – Stephanie Hill, SC Manchester Field Office Past Chair – Lori J. Altheide, District Conservationist, Ottumwa Kathy Schneider, DC Onawa Field Office Aaron Musselman, DC Nevada Field Office Sandi Hunerdosse, SS Chariton Field Office Stephanie Hill is missing in this picture Who is the woman in orange? Who does Sandi Hunerdosse work for? DSC as a secretary meaning we involve our partners as well.

Federal Women’s Program FWP is a special emphasis management program within the Equal Opportunity Program of the federal government. The FWP was established in 1967. Focuses on women, but disseminates information and items relating to all employees regardless of gender. Note: we disseminate information relating to all employees regardless of gender.

FWP Purpose Improve the recruitment, job retention and advancement opportunities for women Encourage the participation of women in all NRCS sponsored programs and activities

FWP Goals Increase respect for the abilities and accomplishments of women employees Address current issues of importance to women and men in today’s changing world.

FWP Goals (continued) Promote employee’s advancement potential by providing information on career planning, upward mobility, special training, continuing education opportunities and balancing work and family.

HISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGER ROBERT MIER DC GRUNDY CENTER Roberto Mier Program Manager

HISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGER Assists NRCS outreach Help NRCS employees understand Hispanic customs Provide Spanish language NRCS literature to Field Offices

HISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGER Translates short documents from English to Spanish, or Spanish to English. Maintain a Hispanic enrollment record of high schools in Iowa. Assist Human Resources with Recruitment of Hispanics.

Disability Employment Program Tricia Dunfee Program Manager

“Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.” -- Albert Einstein

Disabled People The largest minority in the United States Every 1 in 6 persons has some degree of disability Less than 3 percent of those of employment age are employed full or part time

Disabled people are not “those people” Disabled people are not “those people”. They are our ourselves, or our friends, or our loved ones.

Interviewing People With Disabilities During job interviews: Ask only job-related questions Do NOT ask about the disability You can ask about job accommodations during the interview

Assistive or Adaptive Technology Talking /Braille Computers Speech Amplifiers Mobility Devices 508 Compliance There are appliances that can help a disabled person do their jobs.

Importance of: Readers Sign Language Interpreters Service Animals There are other ways to help

American Indian/Alaska Native Emphasis Program Tanya Meyer-Dideriksen Program Manager

Program Activities Increase the total number of American Indians and Alaska Natives applying for positions with Iowa NRCS Provide a network of professional support for American Indians and Alaska Natives in NRCS Promote cultural diversity awareness

Program Activities Encourage participation of American Indian and Alaska Natives in all NRCS programs and activities Establish and maintain effective relationships with American Indian and Alaska Native organizations and groups.

Over 20 Tribes Lived in Iowa Historically Moingwena Omaha Osage Ottwawa Otoe Pawnee Peoria Ponca Potawatomi Sac Sahnish Sioux Winnebago Chippewa Dakota Delaware Fox Hidatsa Ho-Chunk Illinois Iowa Kickapoo Mandan Meskwaki Missouria

Today, one tribe is federally recognized in Iowa. Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa The tribe self identifies as the Meskwaki Nation.

The Omaha and Winnebago tribes are federally recognized in Nebraska and also have a land base in western Iowa, along the Missouri River.

Asian Pacific Islander Program Angela Biggs Program Manager

APIs are Americans of Asian or Pacific Islander descent APIs are Americans of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. Can you name a country/island?

US Census List (28 Asian/19 PI) New Hebrides Is. Okinawan Pakistani Papua New Guinean Polynesian Ponapean Samoan Sikkim Singaporean Solomon Islander Sri Lankan Tahitian Tarawa Islander Thai Tokelauan Tongan Trukese Vietnamese Yapese Bangledeshi Bhutanese Bikini Islander Borneon Burmese Cambodian Carolinian Celebesian Cerem Cernam Chamorro (Guam) Chinese Cosmopolitan Eniwetok Islander Eurasian Fijian Filipino Hawai’ian Hmong Indian Indochinese Indonesian Iwo-Jiwan Japanese Javanese Korean Kwajalein Islander Laotian Malayan Maldavian Mariana Is.(Saipan & Tinian) Marshall Islander Melanesian Micronesian Mien Mongolian Nepali

Program Objectives Encourage API participation in programs and activities Provide network of professional support for API employees Increase the total number of API’s applying for positions with Iowa NRCS Promote cultural diversity awareness

What’s in it for you? API Resources Facts and cultural information Training opportunities Translation Services (Limited) Opportunity to increase your awareness

API Statistics (from US Census) As of 2000 – 3.6% - 4.2% of population (12 million) Fastest growing racial group in US (95% increase from ’80 to ’90 and 48% since ’90) Est. by 2050 1 out of 10 Americans will be of API descent

Civil Rights Issues We’ve covered a lot of ground in a short time.

Civil Rights Review What the committees do Committee Makeup Special Emphasis Programs Who they report to Why their work is important to you

Your future questions can be answered either on the web, by talking with your Civil Rights or Federal Women’s Program Representative, your supervisor, or by talking with a special emphasis program manager. There is also the human resources department. So each of us has a lot of options to get information and do the right thing. Contact Information

Are there any questions I can try to answer for you now? Sunset on Guam. Photo by Angela Biggs.