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Monday, July 26, 2021

USDA to hold online listening sessions this week on racial-justice and equity efforts in under-served communities

The Agriculture Department will hold online listening sessions Wednesday and Thursday to hear how the agency can advance racial justice and equity in under-served communities. Specifically, the agency wants help identifying barriers that can keep people of color and others in under-served communities from accessing USDA programs, services, committees, and decision making.

On Wednesday, July 28, USDA will offer three listening sessions: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 1-4 p.m., and 4-7 p.m. (all ET). On Thursday one listening session will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. ET. Register here.

"Registration guarantees that participants have a reserved spot in a queue to offer their thoughts," Xandr Brown reports for The Daily Yonder. "Each speaker will have five minutes to touch on their interactions with the USDA as well as ways the USDA can remove barriers and engage more with under-served communities. Participants are also encouraged to touch on topics like access, enrollment, and general customer service experiences."

The listening sessions are part of wider agency efforts to execute President Biden's order to advance racial equity and support for under-served communities. USDA also moved the deadline to submit public comments from July 15 to Aug. 14. 

"Within a year of the signing of the order, federal agencies will create a plan outlining how they will promote and enact programs with equity and fairness at the forefront," Brown reports. "In the coming months, the USDA will take the public input gathered from the listening sessions and written comments and submit them to a newly created Racial Equity Commission."

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