The National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Employees, referred to as NOPBNRCSE, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
NOPBNSCSE was founded by six courageous senior leaders: Mr. Sherman Lewis, Sr., Assistant Chief, Midwest; Mr. Lloyd Wright, Director Land Use Planning; Mr. James Tatum, Director, Outreach Division, Mr. Pearlie S. Reed, State Conservationist, CA, Ms. Maxine Barron, Assistant Director Outreach, and Ms. Sarah Epps, Management Analyst; all of whom were employed at the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) formally the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), in Washington, D.C.. The National Organization of Professional Soil Conservationist Service Employees (NOPBSCSE) was established during a time when Blacks had limited consideration for management and senior leadership positions, minimal participation in professional development training opportunities, and a formal employee networking system. The organization was needed to increase participation of Blacks in agriculture, natural resources, and related fields. This diversity disparity within the workforce was a real concern for the founders as they progressed within the ranks of USDA-SCS, and it was their deepest desire to nurture Black employees so they could also excel and reach their full potential.
The founders wanted to make a difference in improving and increasing diversity within USDA-SCS and envisioned establishing a networking group for the sole purpose of addressing the agency’s diversity plight. By the Summer of 1991, a proposal was developed to create a professional Black employee organization for SCS. The vetted concept was presented to SCS Chief Richards and Associate Chief Bridge. While faced with resistance, Chief Richards and Associate Chief Bridge acknowledged the value of the employee organization and approved the concept. Thus, the NOPBSCSE was established on Tuesday, November 12, 1991. NOPBSCSE was the first professional employee-organization established within the USDA-SCS.
Since our inception, we have focused our mission to engage our future leaders and innovators of change. We have hosted college and career fairs during annual training conferences to assist USDA-NRCS in recruitment and providing training opportunities for Black students across the country. As a result, NOPBNRCSE has provided over $200,000 in scholarships to students attending1890 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The NOPBNRCSE is a policy-influencing organization responsible for several major milestones within USDA-NRCS. Some of the results are as follows:
•NOPBNRCSE paved the way and served as a resource in the development of other professional employee organizations within the agency.
•NOPBNRCSE founders provided the research that supported changing the name from Soil Conservation Service (SCS) to NRCS in 1995, which better reflects the agency’s mission.
•NOPBNRCSE founders were influential in creating the USDA 1890 Initiatives which focused on working with land grant colleges and universities to recruit Black students for employment, and they established Centers of Excellence and USDA liaisons on all 1890 HBCUs campuses.
•NOPBNRCSE has provided outreach assistance to small farmers, underserved landowners, ranchers, and other minority organizations on conservation technical assistance, land loss, heir-property, and USDA program opportunities.
NOPBNRCSE has flourished over the past 30 years, and to date has a membership of 300 members. Since its inception, the representation of Blacks within mid to senior management, including Senior Executive Service (SES) positions have greatly improved within NRCS. Two members have achieved the agency’s highest rank to become the agency’s Chief. NOPBNRCSE members are forever grateful for the founders’ vision and their driven-desire 30 years ago to create an employee organization to help Black employees within USDA-NRCS.