Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (DEI)

2025 Events

• 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.
  
  
  
  

  Event Recording

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
• Michael Suechting - Suechting.Michael@cdfa.ca.gov
• Sheila Morco - Sheila.Morco@cdfa.ca.gov