Civil Rights and You….Civil Rights and You….Presented By: The Civil Rights Advisory Presented By: The Civil Rights Advisory

CommitteeCommittee

CommitteesCommittees

Civil RightsCivil Rights Federal Women’s Federal Women’s

ProgramProgram

Civil Rights CommitteeCivil Rights CommitteeMake UpMake Up

Chair—Assistant State Conservationist (FO)Chair—Assistant State Conservationist (FO) Members from each area and State OfficeMembers from each area and State Office Executive Director of CDIExecutive Director of CDI Sponsors Sponsors AdvisorsAdvisors

Civil Rights CommitteeCivil Rights Committee

The committee advisors:The committee advisors: Black Emphasis Program ManagerBlack Emphasis Program Manager Disability Emphasis Program ManagerDisability Emphasis Program Manager Hispanic Emphasis Program ManagerHispanic Emphasis Program Manager Federal Women’s Program ManagerFederal Women’s Program Manager Asian Pacific American Program Asian Pacific American Program

ManagerManager American Indian/Alaska Native American Indian/Alaska Native

Program ManagerProgram Manager

Civil Rights CommitteeCivil Rights CommitteeSponsorsSponsors

Assistant State Conservationist Assistant State Conservationist (Technology)(Technology)

State Administrative OfficerState Administrative Officer Staff Advisor Staff Advisor

VisionVision Equity for People and ProgramsEquity for People and Programs

MissionMission Ensure compliance with Agency policies Ensure compliance with Agency policies

for conservation and equal opportunity for conservation and equal opportunity programs, and accountability for the programs, and accountability for the delivery of quality and timely service to delivery of quality and timely service to our customersour customers

ChargeCharge

To provide the State Conservationist To provide the State Conservationist recommendations to assure NRCS recommendations to assure NRCS programs are delivered and that programs are delivered and that NRCS employees are treated in a fair NRCS employees are treated in a fair and equitable manner. and equitable manner.

Civil Rights & EEOCivil Rights & EEO

Beginnings with the Constitution and Beginnings with the Constitution and Bill of RightsBill of Rights

Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964 Addresses employment discriminationAddresses employment discrimination

Title VITitle VI ““no person in the U.S. shall, on the no person in the U.S. shall, on the

basis of race, color, or national basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”Federal financial assistance.”

Title VIITitle VII prohibits unlawful employment prohibits unlawful employment

practices such as discrimination practices such as discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. It national origin, age, or disability. It also prohibits reprisal or retaliation also prohibits reprisal or retaliation for participating in the discrimination for participating in the discrimination complaint process or for opposing complaint process or for opposing any unlawful employment practice.any unlawful employment practice.

Committee MembersCommittee Members Chair – Jim Frederick, ASTC – Chair – Jim Frederick, ASTC –

FO Area 2FO Area 2 Vice Chair – Bruce Trautman, Vice Chair – Bruce Trautman,

ASTC – FO Area 5ASTC – FO Area 5 Area 1 Rep. – Carroll Oskvig, Area 1 Rep. – Carroll Oskvig,

DC Spirit Lake Field OfficeDC Spirit Lake Field Office Area 2 Rep. – Brad Harrison, Area 2 Rep. – Brad Harrison,

DC Adel Field OfficeDC Adel Field Office

Committee MembersCommittee Members Area 3 Rep. – Tamara Buitenwerf, SC Area 3 Rep. – Tamara Buitenwerf, SC

Elkader Field OfficeElkader Field Office Area 4 Rep. – Nick Morrell, DC Area 4 Rep. – Nick Morrell, DC

Indianola Field OfficeIndianola Field Office Area 5 Rep. – Christine Lousias, SCT Area 5 Rep. – Christine Lousias, SCT

Wapello Field Office Wapello Field Office State Office Rep. – Laurel Foreman, State Office Rep. – Laurel Foreman,

Civil Eng.Civil Eng.

Area Rep ResponsibilitiesArea Rep Responsibilities

Collect information on Civil Rights in Collect information on Civil Rights in their Area their Area

Provide information and training to Provide information and training to their Areatheir Area

Look for potential conflict before it Look for potential conflict before it becomes a problembecomes a problem

Special Emphasis ProgramsSpecial Emphasis Programs Federal Women’s Program (FWP)Federal Women’s Program (FWP) Black Emphasis Program (BEP)Black Emphasis Program (BEP) Hispanic Emphasis Program (HEP)Hispanic Emphasis Program (HEP) Asian Pacific American Program Asian Pacific American Program

(APAP)(APAP) American Indian/Alaska Native American Indian/Alaska Native

Emphasis Program (AIANEP)Emphasis Program (AIANEP) Disability Employment Program (DEP)Disability Employment Program (DEP)

Functions of SEPMsFunctions of SEPMs Resource person for members of EEO Resource person for members of EEO

protected groups protected groups Principle staff advisor of under Principle staff advisor of under

represented groupsrepresented groups SEPs headed by Managers who SEPs headed by Managers who

directly report to State directly report to State ConservationistConservationist

Functions of SEPsFunctions of SEPs Remove discriminatory barriers to Remove discriminatory barriers to

equal opportunityequal opportunity Promote cultural diversity awarenessPromote cultural diversity awareness Take to management group issues Take to management group issues

and concernsand concerns

Black EmphasisBlack Emphasis

James Zeigler Program Manager

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives Increase the total number of Blacks in all Increase the total number of Blacks in all

Professional, Administrative, Technical, Clerical, and Professional, Administrative, Technical, Clerical, and others (PATCO) categories, series, and grade levels others (PATCO) categories, series, and grade levels

Encourage the participation of Blacks in all NRCS-Encourage the participation of Blacks in all NRCS-sponsored programs and activitiessponsored programs and activities

Provide a network of professional support for Blacks Provide a network of professional support for Blacks Ensure that the Black community receives equal Ensure that the Black community receives equal

treatment in all aspects of employment treatment in all aspects of employment Provide opportunities to participate in training and Provide opportunities to participate in training and

training programs such as career enhancement, training programs such as career enhancement, graduate studies, and others.graduate studies, and others.

PolicyPolicy It is NRCS policy to conduct a positive It is NRCS policy to conduct a positive

and continuing BEP that provides and continuing BEP that provides equal employment opportunity for equal employment opportunity for Blacks in all personnel management Blacks in all personnel management policies and practices, as well as in policies and practices, as well as in NRCS-sponsored programs and NRCS-sponsored programs and activities. activities.

Federal Women’s ProgramFederal Women’s Program

Dick TremainDick TremainFWP ChairFWP ChairDick Tremain

Program Manager

FWP CommitteeFWP Committee

Chair – Dick Tremain, PAS Chair – Dick Tremain, PAS State OfficeState Office

Vice-Chair – Stephanie Hill, Vice-Chair – Stephanie Hill, SC Manchester Field OfficeSC Manchester Field Office

Past Chair – Lori J. Altheide, Past Chair – Lori J. Altheide, District Conservationist, District Conservationist, Ottumwa Ottumwa

Kathy Schneider, DC Kathy Schneider, DC Onawa Field OfficeOnawa Field Office

Aaron Musselman, DC Aaron Musselman, DC Nevada Field OfficeNevada Field Office

Sandi Hunerdosse, SS Sandi Hunerdosse, SS Chariton Field OfficeChariton Field Office

Federal Women’s ProgramFederal 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.

FWP PurposeFWP Purpose Improve the recruitment, job Improve the recruitment, job

retention and advancement retention and advancement opportunities for womenopportunities for women

Encourage the participation of Encourage the participation of women in all NRCS sponsored women in all NRCS sponsored programs and activities programs and activities

FWP GoalsFWP Goals

Increase respect for the abilities and Increase respect for the abilities and accomplishments of women accomplishments of women employeesemployees

Address current issues of importance Address current issues of importance to women and men in today’s to women and men in today’s changing world.changing world.

FWP Goals (continued)FWP Goals (continued) Promote employee’s advancement Promote employee’s advancement

potential by providing information on potential by providing information on career planning, upward mobility, career planning, upward mobility, special training, continuing education special training, continuing education opportunities and balancing work opportunities and balancing work and family.and family.

HISPANIC PROGRAM HISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGERMANAGER

ROBERT MIERROBERT MIERDC GRUNDY CENTERDC GRUNDY CENTER

Roberto MierProgram Manager

HISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGERHISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGER

Assists NRCS outreachAssists NRCS outreach Help NRCS employees understand Help NRCS employees understand

Hispanic customsHispanic customs Provide Spanish language NRCS Provide Spanish language NRCS

literature to Field Officesliterature to Field Offices

HISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGERHISPANIC PROGRAM MANAGER

Translates short documents from Translates short documents from English to Spanish, or Spanish to English to Spanish, or Spanish to English.English.

Maintain a Hispanic enrollment record Maintain a Hispanic enrollment record of high schools in Iowa.of high schools in Iowa.

Assist Human Resources with Assist Human Resources with Recruitment of Hispanics.Recruitment of Hispanics.

Disability Employment Disability Employment ProgramProgram

Tricia DunfeeTricia DunfeeProgram ManagerProgram Manager

““Problems cannot be solved at Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness the same level of awareness

that created them.”that created them.”

-- Albert Einstein-- Albert Einstein

Disabled PeopleDisabled People The largest minority in the United The largest minority in the United

StatesStates Every 1 in 6 persons has some Every 1 in 6 persons has some

degree of disabilitydegree of disability Less than 3 percent of those of Less than 3 percent of those of

employment age are employed full or employment age are employed full or part timepart time

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

Interviewing People With Interviewing People With DisabilitiesDisabilities

During job interviews:During job interviews:

Ask only job-related questionsAsk only job-related questions

Do NOT ask about the disabilityDo NOT ask about the disability

You can ask about job accommodationsYou can ask about job accommodations during the interviewduring the interview

Assistive or Adaptive TechnologyAssistive or Adaptive Technology

Talking /Braille ComputersTalking /Braille Computers

Speech AmplifiersSpeech Amplifiers

Mobility DevicesMobility Devices

508 Compliance508 Compliance

Importance of:Importance of: ReadersReaders

Sign Language InterpretersSign Language Interpreters

Service AnimalsService Animals

Tanya Meyer-DideriksenTanya Meyer-DideriksenProgram ManagerProgram Manager

American Indian/Alaska American Indian/Alaska NativeNative

Emphasis ProgramEmphasis Program

Program ActivitiesProgram Activities

Increase the total number of Increase the total number of American Indians and Alaska Natives American Indians and Alaska Natives applying for positions with Iowa NRCSapplying for positions with Iowa NRCS

Provide a network of professional Provide a network of professional support for American Indians and support for American Indians and Alaska Natives in NRCSAlaska Natives in NRCS

Promote cultural diversity awarenessPromote cultural diversity awareness

Program ActivitiesProgram Activities Encourage participation of American Encourage participation of American

Indian and Alaska Natives in all NRCS Indian and Alaska Natives in all NRCS programs and activitiesprograms and activities

Establish and maintain effective Establish and maintain effective relationships with American Indian relationships with American Indian and Alaska Native organizations and and Alaska Native organizations and groups.groups.

Over 20 Tribes Lived in Iowa Over 20 Tribes Lived in Iowa Historically Historically

Chippewa Chippewa Dakota Dakota DelawareDelaware FoxFox Hidatsa Hidatsa Ho-ChunkHo-Chunk IllinoisIllinois Iowa Iowa KickapooKickapoo MandanMandan MeskwakiMeskwaki MissouriaMissouria

MoingwenaMoingwena OmahaOmaha OsageOsage OttwawaOttwawa OtoeOtoe PawneePawnee PeoriaPeoria PoncaPonca PotawatomiPotawatomi SacSac SahnishSahnish SiouxSioux WinnebagoWinnebago

Today, one tribe is federally recognized Today, one tribe is federally recognized in Iowa.in Iowa. Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in

IowaIowa The tribe self identifies as the Meskwaki The tribe self identifies as the Meskwaki

Nation.Nation.

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

Asian Pacific Islander Asian Pacific Islander ProgramProgram

Angela BiggsAngela BiggsProgram ManagerProgram Manager

APIs are Americans of Asian or APIs are Americans of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.Pacific Islander descent.

Can you name a country/island?Can you name a country/island?

US Census List (28 Asian/19 PI)US Census List (28 Asian/19 PI) BangledeshiBangledeshi BhutaneseBhutanese Bikini IslanderBikini Islander BorneonBorneon BurmeseBurmese CambodianCambodian CarolinianCarolinian CelebesianCelebesian CeremCerem CernamCernam Chamorro (Guam)Chamorro (Guam) ChineseChinese CosmopolitanCosmopolitan Eniwetok Islander Eniwetok Islander

EurasianEurasian FijianFijian FilipinoFilipino Hawai’ianHawai’ian HmongHmong

IndianIndian IndochineseIndochinese IndonesianIndonesian Iwo-JiwanIwo-Jiwan JapaneseJapanese JavaneseJavanese KoreanKorean Kwajalein Kwajalein

IslanderIslander Laotian Laotian MalayanMalayan MaldavianMaldavian Mariana Is.Mariana Is.

(Saipan & Tinian)(Saipan & Tinian) Marshall IslanderMarshall Islander MelanesianMelanesian MicronesianMicronesian MienMien MongolianMongolian NepaliNepali

New Hebrides Is.New Hebrides Is. OkinawanOkinawan PakistaniPakistani Papua New Papua New

GuineanGuinean PolynesianPolynesian PonapeanPonapean SamoanSamoan SikkimSikkim SingaporeanSingaporean Solomon IslanderSolomon Islander Sri LankanSri Lankan TahitianTahitian Tarawa IslanderTarawa Islander ThaiThai TokelauanTokelauan TonganTongan TrukeseTrukese VietnameseVietnamese YapeseYapese

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives Encourage API participation in Encourage API participation in

programs and activitiesprograms and activities Provide network of professional Provide network of professional

support for API employeessupport for API employees Increase the total number of API’s Increase the total number of API’s

applying for positions with Iowa NRCSapplying for positions with Iowa NRCS Promote cultural diversity awarenessPromote cultural diversity awareness

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

awarenessawareness

API Statistics API Statistics (from US Census)(from US Census)

As of 2000 – 3.6% - 4.2% of population As of 2000 – 3.6% - 4.2% of population (12 million)(12 million)

Fastest growing racial group in US Fastest growing racial group in US (95% (95% increase from ’80 to ’90 and 48% since ’90)increase from ’80 to ’90 and 48% since ’90)

Est. by 2050 1 out of 10 Americans will Est. by 2050 1 out of 10 Americans will be of API descentbe of API descent

Civil Rights IssuesCivil Rights Issues

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

Civil Rights ReviewCivil Rights Review

What the committees doWhat the committees do Committee MakeupCommittee Makeup Special Emphasis ProgramsSpecial Emphasis Programs Who they report to Who they report to Why their work is important to Why their work is important to

youyou

Contact InformationContact Information

Sunset on Guam. Photo by Angela Biggs.