I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with a mentor and dear friend, Dr. Antoine Alston, associate dean of the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University. If you know Dr. Alston, you know he is passionate about supporting the next generation of food and agriculture leaders.

Across the food and agriculture industry, organizations are evolving at an unprecedented pace. Change is no longer a planned initiative; it is an ongoing reality. However, amidst the rush to adapt and innovate, one fundamental truth remains: The strength of any organization lies in its people.

If January 2025 taught us anything, it’s that a lot can happen in a short time. The year may have just begun, but it has already felt like a long one filled with critical conversations, policy shifts, and new challenges that impact every corner of the food and agriculture industry.

Happy New Year from Together We Grow. The first six months of my executive director tenure have been full of support, allyship, advocacy, and intentional conversations about how we can advocate and work strategically together to promote a diverse and inclusive food and agricultural workforce.

As we prepare to enter a new year, we are reminded of the vital role leadership plays in shaping the future of the food and agriculture industry. Our industry thrives on innovation, resilience, and collaboration – but none of this is possible without a diverse and dynamic workforce.

In our continued efforts to ensure that Together We Grow remains a connector to all entities and people engaged in diversifying the agriculture workforce, I am excited to announce that I have been appointed to the advisory board for The Alliance of Students with Disabilities for Inclusion, Networking, and Transition Opportunities in STEM (TAPDINTO-STEM).

When an agriculture organization does not prioritize intersectionality, it often lacks a holistic and inclusive approach to addressing the needs of its diverse workforce, stakeholders, and communities. Here are some signs and consequences of such an environment.

As we continue to cultivate an inclusive and resilient workforce within the agriculture and food industries, it is imperative that we elevate our understanding of intersectionality. Intersectionality – the recognition that people’s identities and experiences are shaped by multiple, overlapping factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and ability – must be at the heart of our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Active allyship goes beyond being a supportive bystander; it involves taking intentional and sustained action to support, uplift, and advocate for marginalized groups. In the food and agriculture industry, where diversity is increasingly recognized as essential for innovation and sustainability, active allyship plays a critical role. Here's why.

As we reflect on the evolving landscape of agriculture and food, it becomes increasingly clear that this industry is, at its core, a people business. From the hands that sow seeds to those that manage supply chains and innovate sustainable practices, people are the heart of every process that brings food from the farm to our tables.

It is an absolute honor to serve as the new executive director of Together We Grow. As I approach a month in this pivotal role, I wanted to extend a warm message of gratitude to Chancellor Frank, the TWG board and members, the CSU System, and supporting stakeholders for their advocacy and support not only of me as the new leader, but of the TWG mission.

In today's energetic and evolving work landscape, fostering an environment of respect in the workplace is essential. Workplace respect is more than just a catchword; it is the foundation of psychological security and the bedrock upon which workplace trust is built. Respecting colleagues, valuing their contributions, and treating everyone with dignity not only boosts individual well-being but also drives organizational success.

Since the last newsletter in May, it seems as if the world has changed again and that the headwinds against diversity, equity, and inclusion work continue to mount and grow stronger. This is not the direction we want to see, and yet here we are. While it is understandable to feel some level of defeat and shock over the recent circumstances and decisions, it is a clear sign that the work being done by those committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion is even more important.

For many people, May is a month of transition. Universities are winding down the semester, students are graduating with excitement about their next steps and future, K-12 students and their families are engaged in a busy month of activities and celebrations before transitioning to summer schedules, and spring is turning into summer.

That’s a wrap! (For the moment…) The Together We Grow Connect Conference and 2023 Annual Meeting brought together 70 people across industry, higher education, NGOs, and government.

In less than one month we will be in Atlanta, Ga., for TWG’s Connect Conference and 2023 Annual Meeting! We are looking forward to being in-person for this event, for the first time in several years. Our line-up of speakers is exciting, and more session announcements are coming (look for more announcements leading up to the April 1 registration deadline).

TWG has a lot in the works at the start of this new year! This month’s newsletter is chock full of updates and information, and I encourage you to review to keep up to date on everything that is happening with the organization. Among all the efforts occurring this year, I am thrilled to be working on a formal strategic planning process.

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that it is 2023 — and yet I have had no trouble writing the correct date on documents since approximately Jan. 3 (possibly the earliest date I have achieved this in my lifetime).

It is hard to believe that 2022 is coming to a close! While this time of year is often a time of reflection, 2023 is on my mind.

Together We Grow is on an exciting journey! There are some upcoming happenings you don’t want to miss.

It has been an amazing time at Together We Grow from a social media perspective. As trends continue to change, we are grateful for our partners, members, and active social participants that work with us to create new and fresh content critical to reach audiences and connect them to agriculture, food and the opportunities in this sector.

$900,000! For an individual, this is a life changing amount of money. And yet, this is the monetary impact to the average Black woman over the course of her lifetime of work resulting from the wage gap, according to the National Women’s Law Center.