Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (DEI)
Join CDFA DEI in the
2026 PRIDE March
Sunday, June 14, 2026
More details coming soon!
2026 DEI Events
2026 Black History Month Discussion
The CDFA DEI Committee hosted a panel discussion for Black History Month. CDFA Undersecretary, Christine Birdsong, moderated the discussion highlighting one of CDFA’s Executive support staff and the Director of Operations and Farming Education at Pie Ranch in Pescadero. The panelists shared amazing stories with us and they shared what Black History Month means to them personally. Panelists: Lydiah Maranga and Leonard Diggs
2025 DEI Events
2025 National Hispanic Heritage Month Discussion
The CDFA DEI Committee hosted a panel discussion for National Hispanic Heritage Month. CDFA Undersecretary, Christine Birdsong, moderated the discussion highlighting CDFA staff and the wonderful contributions they’ve made to our department and the Hispanic and Latino communities. Panelists: Ana Chan, Artemio Armenta, Steph Jamis, and Carla Sanchez.
2025 LGBTQ+ Pride Month Panel Discussion
CDFA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the agency’s Office of Civil Rights hosted an LGBTQ+ Pride Month panel discussion on June 17, 2025. Moderated by CDFA Undersecretary, Christy Birdsong, the event highlighted the stories, experiences, and reflections of staff as well as insight a retired CDFA Director. The panelists included Jeff Cesca, Tad Naquin, Gina Saldana, Siobahn Reid, and Edward Southwick.
Foggy Bottoms Boys Lunch & Learn – LGBTQ+ Pride Event
In celebration of Pride Month, CDFA’s Office of Civil Rights and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee hosted a special virtual Lunch & Learn with Cody Nicholson Stratton of Foggy Bottom Boys Farm, a sixth-generation organic dairy, located along the Eel River Valley on California’s North Coast. The session welcomed participants to hear Cody’s story, not just about farming, but about family, identity, and building community in agriculture.
2025 Black History Month Panel Discussion
CDFA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the agency’s Office of Civil Rights hosted a Black History Month panel discussion this week. Moderated by CDFA Deputy Secretary of Administration and Finance Arima Kozina, the event highlighted the stories, experiences, and reflections of staff as well as insight from members of California’s State Board of Food and Agriculture. The panelists included Anissa Kotey, Kelvin Kimball, Doria Robinson, and Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire.
DEI's Mission Statement
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (which includes the District Agricultural Associations and related Boards, Councils, and Commissions) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee recognizes historic and present-day social, structural, institutional inequities, and the need for systems change. CDFA’s DEI Committee is dedicated to uplifting the perspectives and experiences that arise from racial, ethnic, socio-economic, sexual orientation, gender, ability and disabilities, age, religion, and all other forms of diversity within California. CDFA’s DEI Committee advocates for the continuous education of DEI members and CDFA employees on current and historical disparities, inequities, and community-based solutions to confront them, and to uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion of all CDFA operations. CDFA’s DEI Committee engages with CDFA employees, California farmers and ranchers, and the general public. Through collaborative efforts, CDFA’s DEI Committee assists in the development of assessments, internal policies, recommendations, best practices, capacity-building trainings, technical assistance and advocacy of DEI policies and programs within CDFA and throughout California to ensure an equitable future for all.
About DEI
The California Department of Food and Agriculture established the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee in January of 2021 to work on advancing the Departments Racial Equity Action Plan in collaboration with CDFA’s Capital Collaborative on Racial Equity (CCORE) cohort; assisting the department in promoting and fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within CDFA; lifting the voices of marginalized people; and promoting DEI inside and outside of CDFA.
DEI Steering Committee
Committee Members:
- Dahmoon "D" Maeesomy - Dahmoon.Maeesomy@cdfa.ca.gov
- Sheila Morco - Sheila.Morco@cdfa.ca.gov
- Nicholas “Nick” Kimutis - Nicholas.Kimutis@cdfa.ca.gov
