Last Updated: March 26, 2024
USDA's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
As the "People's Department," the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to fulfill its vision to serve millions of Americans every day through the work we do work with food, agriculture, economic development, science, natural resource conservation and preservation, and a host of other programs. To deliver on our mission we must invest in a motivated workforce comprised of a diverse array of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and ways of thinking. Data continues to show that organizations with greater diversity, particularly in leadership teams, have higher financial returns, are more innovative, and deliver smarter results. Diversity is one of our greatest strengths as we reach towards new opportunities and solve challenging problems. Having diverse teams and an inclusive culture is not only the smart thing to do, but the right thing to do as USDA seeks to serve an increasingly diverse country and help ensure America’s competitiveness across the globe.
AgLearn Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Resources
Introduction
In AgLearn's ongoing effort to support the USDA’s mission to promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, we provide information and resources to support this crucial mission. We encourage you to take as many training courses as you deem appropriate for your learning path goals and to look out for additional DEIA training and badges in the future as you mature as a DEIA Champion and make USDA a BEST PLACE TO WORK!
AgLearn Badge
The USDA’s DEIA Champion Badge is designed to provide hiring managers, HR staff, and DEIA champions with the knowledge needed to demonstrate inclusive practices during the hiring process and to create an inclusive workplace. Identifying and mitigating biases that can affect hiring decisions will support the USDA’s goals of achieving an equitable workforce and improve candidate experience.
To receive the DEIA Champion Badge credential, complete the Americans with Disabilities Act: An Overview for Managers Course first, then complete 15 courses of your choice from the DEIA curated course sets in the program. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MANAGER TO TAKE THE ADA COURSE OR TO COMPLETE THIS BADGE PROGRAM, IT IS OPEN TO ALL USDA EMPLOYEES.
Roles
New Learners and Everyone
This section guides employees to relevant training courses tailored to their roles, streamlining the selection process. Each path or channel consists of curated self-paced training courses.
- DEIA for Everyone Courses External Link
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for All External Link
- DEI Awareness for Individual Contributors External Link
- Individual Accountability for Equity and Inclusion External Link
- DEI In the Workplace External Link
- DEIA Channels, Journeys, Skills Benchmark External Link
Managers and Supervisors
- DEIA Leadership Path External Link
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Learning Channel External Link
- Individual Accountability for Equity and Inclusion External Link
- DEI Awareness for Senior Leaders External Link
- Create an Inclusive Work Culture External Link
- Leader Camps External Link
- DEIA Leadership Courses External Link
- Inclusive Leadership External Link
- Leading DEI In the Workplace
- Creating Cultures of Inclusion External Link
- DEI In the Workplace External Link
- Embedding Inclusion into Everyday Experiences - Course
- Activating DEI Culture Shifts - Course
- Reimagining the Employee Experience: DEI from Hire to Retire - Course
- Addressing Unconscious Bias as a Leader - Course
- Adopting New Leadership Mindsets to Drive DEI - Course
Senior Leaders
- DEIA Leadership Path External Link
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Learning Channel External Link
- Individual Accountability for Equity and Inclusion External Link
- DEI Awareness for Managers External Link
- Create an Inclusive Work Culture External Link
- Leadercamps External Link
- DEIA Leadership Courses External Link
- Leading DEI In the Workplace
- Inclusive Leadership External Link
- Creating Cultures of Inclusion External Link
- Activating DEI Culture Shifts - Course
- Addressing Unconscious Bias as a Leader - Course
Human Resources Professionals
- DEI For HR and Talent Professionals External Link
- DEI for HR External Link
- Advance DEI Using Talent Development Expertise - Book External Link
- Reimagining the Employee Experience: DEI from Hire to Retire - Course
- Supporting Equity in Education External Link
Technology and IT Professionals
- Diversity and Inclusion in Technology External Link
- Foundations of Accessible Elearning External Link
- Accessibility for Web Design External Link
- Web Accessibility External Link
Books and Audio Books
- DEIA Books, Audiobooks, Articles Library External Link
- Reconstructing Inclusion - Audio Book External Link
- The Inclusive Organization - Book External Link
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Trainers - Book External Link
- Data Driven DEI - Audio Book External Link
- DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing it Right - Audio Book External Link
- Diversity Beyond Lip Service - Audio Book External Link
- Ending Checkbox Diversity - Book External Link
- Advance DEI Using Talent Development Expertise - Book External Link
Leader Camps
Leader Camps are Pre-Recorded interactive webinars presented by subject matter experts.
- Embracing the Power of Diversity and Inclusion featuring Special Olympics External Link
- Leader Camp on Demand - Unified Leadership: Inspiring Meaningful Change External Link
- Leader Camp on Demand - Inclusive Leadership External Link
- Leader Camp on Demand - Working in Harmony with All Personalities External Link
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader Camps External Link
- Leader Camp on Demand - LGBTQ+ Etiquette and Common Bloopers - Course
Competency Learning Paths
Accessibility
The competency learning paths section is for employees focusing on specific areas of DEIA training. It aims to help you identify training curated in a specific competency area. Look for ongoing additions to the available options.
- Supporting Coworkers with Disabilities External Link
- Explore Accessibility Best Practices External Link
- Accessibility and Inclusion Advocates External Link
- Foundations of Accessible elearning External Link
- Accessibility for Web Design External Link
- Embedding Inclusion into Everyday Experiences - Course
Allyship
- Allyship and Advocacy Across Our Differences External Link
- How to Engage Meaningfully in Allyship and Anti-Racism External Link
- Becoming a Male Ally at Work - Course
- Understanding and Supporting LGBTQ+ Employees - Course
Belonging
- Owning and Scaling Belonging for You - Course
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for All External Link
- The Spectrum of Gender Identity in the Workplace - Course
Diversity
- DEIA for Everyone Courses External Link
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for All External Link
- DEI Awareness for Individual Contributors External Link
- DEI In the Workplace External Link
- DEIA Channels, Journeys, Skills Benchmark External Link
Equity
Gender
Inclusion
- Cultivating Cultural Competence and Inclusion External Link
- Creating Cultures of Inclusion External Link
- Create an Inclusive Work Culture External Link
- Inclusive Leadership External Link
- Skills for Inclusive Conversations - Course
Religion
- Compliance Brief: Confronting Islamophobia in the Workplace - Course
- Compliance Brief: Religious Accommodation - Course
Unconscious Bias
- Overcoming Unconscious Bias External Link
- Addressing Bias and Stereotypes in Delivery of USDA Programs and Services - Course
- Addressing Unconscious Bias as a Leader - Course
Background on the Biden Administration’s Strategic Plan on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
On November 23, 2021, The White House released the 2021 Government-wide Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce. The plan offers a roadmap for implementing the President’s Executive Order 14035: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce External Link, and lays out key steps that agencies can take to strengthen DEIA in their workforce policies, practices, and culture.