Hispanic Employment Program
The Hispanic Employment Program is a part of the Department’s efforts to address and assist in reversing the less than expected participation of Hispanics at USDA and better serve the nation's Hispanic community. The program seeks to recruit talented candidates for employment with USDA retain, promote, and develop current employees, and create a pipeline for addressing current and future workforce needs. Through this program, the USDA is seeking to build relationships with Hispanic communities and engage them in our mission of ensuring and enabling this Nation’s economic growth and development. The program calls for strengthening USDA’s outreach activities in a comprehensive effort to promote partnership opportunities with the Hispanic community in three critical areas: employment, education, and business opportunities.
Hispanic Heritage Month
During National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) we recognize the contributions made and the important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture. Hispanic Heritage Month begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Columbus Day (Día de la Raza) is October 12.
2022 Presidential Proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month
2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Events (PDF, 290 KB)
During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Hispanic heritage is American heritage. We see it in every aspect of our national life: on our television and movie screens, in the music that moves our feet, and in the foods we enjoy. We benefit from the many contributions of Hispanic scientists working in labs across the country to help us fight COVID-19 and the doctors and the nurses on the front lines caring for people’s health. Our Nation is represented by Hispanic diplomats who share our values in countries all over the world and strengthened by military members and their families who serve and sacrifice for the United States. Our communities are represented by Hispanic elected officials, and our children are taught by Hispanic teachers. Our future will be shaped by Hispanic engineers who are working to develop new technology that will help us grasp our clean energy future and by the skilled union workers who are going to build it.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is an important reminder of how much strength we draw as a Nation from our immigrant roots and our values as a Nation of immigrants. I am proud to recognize my four Hispanic Cabinet Secretaries — Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman — who are all leading executive departments that oversee critical components of American life. My Administration is focused on making equity a priority and ensuring that Hispanics are front and center in our efforts to improve the lives of working families across the country.
