This session is organized by members of the Diversity and Inclusion (DI) committee of the United States Aquaculture Society (USAS) and welcomes all World Aquaculture Society members and conference participants. The goal of the session is to provide a safe and inclusive environment where questions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in USAS and the US aquaculture community at large, can be discussed freely. In this relaxed-fit forum, we welcome audience participation in a structured discussion of current issues, priority areas, and on-going diversity initiatives in the USAS.
The session will focus on the theme 'Resources and strategies to grow a diverse equitable, and inclusive US aquaculture network' with a series of related presentations and a panel discussion.
Tentative schedule
|
08:30 |
Eric Saillant, George Brooks, Angela Caporelli 'Introduction and updates on activities of the USAS Diversity and Inclusion Committee' |
|
08:45 |
Stephen Hughes (Cheyney University of Pennsylvania) 'Improving access to aquaculture careers for under-represented groups' |
|
09:00 |
Gulnihal Ozbay (Delaware State University), Dayan Perera (University of Arkansas Pine Bluff). Andrew Ray (Kentucky State University). David Cline (Auburn University), Aaron Pickett (Delaware State University), Angel Colon Zapata (Delaware State University), Rebecca Rivera (Delaware State University), Samuel Garcia-Vasquez (University of Arkansas Pine Bluff) ‘USDA NIFA Program on Experiential Learning in Aquaculture and Fisheries of Minority Students from UAPB, DSU, and KSU at Auburn University’ |
|
09:15 |
Student panel discussion (Gulnihal Ozbay moderator) |
|
09:30 |
Houston Bruck (USDA Farm Service Agency) 'Access to Credit – FSA Farm Loan Lending Options for Aquaculture Producers' |
|
09:45 |
Michael Ricks, Marjorae Ball, Jo Ann Lawrence (Louisiana Small Business Administration) ‘Small Business Administration resources to help small businesses’ |
|
10:00 |
Jonshell Johnson (Grow Dat Youth Farm) 'Grow Dat Youth Farm project' |
|
10:15 |
Coffee break |
|
11:00 |
James Gilmore (Bayard Management Group) ' Withstanding barriers of entry as a beginning aquaculture farmer in a sportsman's paradise’ |
|
11:15 |
Michael Richard, Dimitri Celis, Hilary Nguyen (Growing local NOLA) ‘D and I in New Orleans Urban Agriculture’ |
|
|
|
|
11:30 |
George Brooks (NxT Horizon) ‘Insights on DEI inclusive strategies to grow aquaculture in urban areas’ |
|
11:45 |
Jason Pitre (Bayou Rosa) ‘Harvesting a Legacy’ |
|
12:00 |
Panel discussion (Ian Yue moderator, 45 minutes) |