Government Agencies and Programs
The Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission's vision is to be an exemplary commission by adding public value to the State of Michigan and the APA community, by fully engaging APAs across the state
The Commission strives to market the state's career development services to Michigan Hispanics, encourage initiatives to reduce the high school dropout rates of Hispanic youth, and facilitate efforts to increase the enrollment of Hispanics in postsecondary education and training programs
The Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Council passionately embraces diversity, recognizing and celebrating the profound strength immigrants and refugees bring to the vibrant tapestry of Michigan. The council is unwavering in its dedication to cultivating a warm, inclusive environment that extends a heartfelt welcome to individuals from diverse backgrounds who have chosen Michigan as their new home.
The Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission, stands as a beacon of advocacy, inclusion and celebration for Michigan's diverse LGBTQ+ community. The commission's charge is to ensure equal representation, amplify voices and foster a state where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, feels affirmed and valued.
The 15-member council will advise the department on issues relating to the Arab and Chaldean communities in Michigan and promote awareness of their culture and history
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February 10, 2022
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the newly established Equity Commission members, including Poppy Sias-Hernandez, Executive Director of the Office of Global Michigan. Sias-Hernandez will be one of the 15-member inaugural Equity Commission members focusing on historical discrimination, strengthening accountability, providing recommendations and advancing racial equity at the USDA.
"It's exciting to see Michigan's own Poppy Sias-Hernandez get appointed to the USDA Equity Commission," said Governor Whitmer, "Poppy has served the people of Michigan admirably for years, including as a member of my executive office, and I know she will be an important part of this commission's work to ensure equal opportunity for all in agriculture."
In 2020, Governor Whitmer appointed Sias-Hernandez as the first-ever Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer in the Governor's Executive Office. In addition to her role as the Chief EIO, she also serves as the Executive Director of the Office of Global Michigan.
"I am honored to be a part of this newly formed commission and look forward to making recommendations that ensure racial equity at USDA," said Sias-Hernandez. "We are committed to equity through strengthening inclusion and increasing diversity in farming communities. From farms to kitchen tables - equity and inclusion must be the guiding principles that make our food systems fair."
For more than 20 years, Sias-Hernandez's work of strategic change management has been at the intersection of public health, education, workforce development, diversity, equity and inclusion. Hernandez lives on Michigan's "west coast," along the shores of Lake Michigan, with her husband of 25 years and her two sons.
The newly established Equity Commission and its Subcommittee on Agriculture will hold its first public meeting on February 28, 2022. As authorized and funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the launch of the independent Commission delivers on President Biden's commitment to create an independent Equity Commission and provide it with the necessary resources to support its mission to address historical discrimination at USDA.
For more information about the USDA, visit usda.gov.
For more information about the Office of Global Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/OGM.