Women Equality Day

Observance Memorandum
USDA Women’s Equality Day 2022
Thursday, September 1, 2022
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

WH Proclamation:   A Proclamation on Women's Equality Day, 2021 | The White House         

Background:              Women’s Equality Day is celebrated on August 26 and reconfirms the importance of ensuring equity and opportunity for women throughout the United States. On this day in 1920, Congress signed the 19th Amendment into law, which granted American women the right to vote.

National Theme:       Providing Healing, Promoting Hope

Event Title:                USDA Women’s Equality Day Observance

USDA Theme:           Women’s Equality: Learning from the Past, Working on the Present, Preparing for the Future

This theme was selected by the USDA’s Women’s Equality Day Observance Planning Committee. The theme focuses on the fact that we are not there yet when it comes to equality for women, and in order to achieve equality we must learn from the past and respect and be inspired by those that have struggled for the rights and equality that women enjoy today. But we must continue our work because we are not there yet, and at the same we must prepare for the future to pave a better tomorrow for the equality of tomorrow’s women. The theme also ties into the presentation by the speaker on women’s suffrage and the videos submitted by employees stating who inspires them.

Event Type:               Virtual (Zoom)

Program Date:          Thursday, September 1, 2022

Program Time:          1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Description:               The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) in collaboration with National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are coordinating the Departmental Observance. This virtual program will feature opening remarks by REE Under Secretary, Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, a presentation and history of the women’s suffrage movement by speaker, Patricia Wirth, followed by representation of Employee Resource Groups, Federally Employed Women (FEW) and Women In Ag (WIA). There will be a short montage of videos of USDA employees naming a woman that inspires them followed by closing remarks.                  

Host Agency:             National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

Organizations:          OASCR (Department), Mission Areas and Agency’s (Civil Rights Directors), SEPMs and D&I Staff), Office of Communications (OC), and Office of Employee Experience (OEX).

ERG:                          Federally Employed Women (FEW) and Women In Ag (WIA) will introduce their organizations and how employees can benefit through their affiliation with USDA. 

Depart. Contact:       Lauren Wesson, Equal Opportunity Specialist, CCRO, MAL, lauren.wesson@usda.gov
Allyson Sneed, Equal Opportunity Specialist, CCRO, MAL, Allyson.sneed@usda.gov

Agency Contact:         Fahmida Chhipa, EEO Specialist, NASS Civil Rights Office, 202-720-7546, fahmida.chhipa@usda.gov

ASL Service:             Requested, awaiting response.

Media Contact:         Kevin Conner, TV Production Specialist, 202-720-8048, kevin.conner@usda.gov, Video scheduling, recording, and editing.

Graphics & Media:   Peter Rhee, Director Digital Media Communications, 202-720-7410, Peter.rhee@usda.gov, (Comms label and Flyers)

Opening Speaker:     Dr. Chavonda J. Jacobs-Young is an American government executive who serves as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics. Dr. Jacobs-Young was previously the administrator of the Agriculture Research Service, first appointed in February 2014; she was the first female and person of color to lead the agency. In 1998, Dr. Jacobs-Young became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in paper science.                    

Keynote Speaker:     Patricia Wirth A successful businesswoman and women’s rights activist, Pat has devoted herself to making sure the world knows that women have long been major drivers of change in this country.

Pat was born and raised in Newton, NJ, a small farm town located approximately 60 miles outside of New York City. After becoming a paralegal, she spent 10 years in the corporate world’s legal departments and also spent another 5 years as Executive Director for the National Capital Paralegal Association. Pat opened a serval location of PotoFalls Express Lube & Car Washes and spend 16 years as the Owner/President/CEO of a hugely successful business.

Pat sold her business in 2013 in order to turn towards what she saw as her next purpose: helping those in need thrive. While visiting the town of Occoquan, VA, for a fundraiser and learning about the history of its notorious prison, Pat was introduced to the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association (TPSMA), and everything changed.

USDA Women’s Equality Day Observance
Thursday, September 1, 2022
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Run of Show (Draft)

Moderator:  Thelma Sykes

TIME	AGENDA	SPEAKER/ACTIVITIES
	Welcome (Moderator)	Thelma Sykes, Moderator
1:00 – 1:02 pm	Introduction	Dr. Sharese Paylor, Civil Rights Director, RD Intro of REE Under Secretary, Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young
1:02 – 1:05 pm	Opening Remarks	Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young REE Under Secretary
1:05 – 1:07 pm	Introduction of Speaker	Monica Rainge Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1:07 – 1:37 pm	Speaker	Patricia Wirth Former CEO and Executive Director of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association
1:37 – 1:47 pm	Q and A session	Moderator
1:47 – 1:50 pm	ERG FEW	Karen Rainey, National President Federally Employed Women (FEW)
1:50 – 1:53 pm	ERG WIA	Jenna Segal, Representative Women In Ag (WIA)
1:53 – 1:58 pm	Videos	Presentation of inspiring Women, Past and Present.
1:58 – 2:00 pm	Closing Remarks	Pending… MSA