Chief Announces 2006 Civil Rights Awards

Chief Lancaster recently announced the 2006 Civil Rights Award Winners at the West Region Leadership meeting in Salt Lake City.

Utah NRCS soil conservationist Cynthia Burton of Utah received a 2006 NRCS Civil Rights Award for her outreach activities with the Confederated Tribe of the Goshute Reservation helping with Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Rural Development funding and grant options, strategic plan development and Conservation Technical Assistance. She also organized and participated in a number of outreach activities for under-served communities including organizing a farmers market in a diverse, lower income area of Salt Lake City where she distributed information about NRCS programs. She also organized two open houses for small lot owners and a tasting table that featured over 30 Utah products to promote locally grown and produced food that might help landowners improve their small acreage.

NRCS Area III in Fresno, California, led by California NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations Curtis Tarver, received the Civil Rights Award — Team for their work with partners using grant money from the California Association for Resource Conservation Districts to implement Many Faces, Many Dreams, One Vision: The Pursuit of Conservation that aimed to re-introduce the San Joaquin Valley Resource Conservation Districts to central California’s minority producers through their preferred media outlets.

The group produced a 10-minute video, showcasing local Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, and African American producers, that was distributed to district directors and staff who shared similar conservation interests. Copies were translated into Hmong, Lao, and Spanish.

Utah NRCS State Conservationist Sylvia E. Gillen received the Workforce Diversity Award — Manager for her contributions to recruitment and retention and accommodation and accessibility for employees with disabilities. She requires the Assistant State Conservationists to consider alternative sources of hiring to help increase diversity using Agricultural Conservation Enrollees/Seniors, Wage and Earn (Worked As Needed), and Student Temporary Employment Program employees resulting in increased numbers of women, African Americans, and Hispanic employees in Utah NRCS.

Idaho NRCS soil scientist Leah Juarros received the 2006 NRCS Workforce Diversity Award — non-managers. Leah worked hard with the University of Guam and Boise State University to recruit minorities and women and develop a foundation to increase awareness of NRCS career opportunities. Additionally, she organized ten outreach events to encourage Middle School and High School students to pursue education in natural resources.
Your contact is Fred Jacobs, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 202-720-4772.