University of Michigan Professor of Robotics, Dr. Chad Jenkins, Honored with the 2024 Richard Tapia Achievement Award

The Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT (CMD-IT) honors Dr. Chad Jenkins, University of Michigan Professor of Robotics, as the 2024 recipient of the Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award for Scientific Scholarship, Civic Science, and Diversifying Computing. The awards ceremony will take place during the CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference, held in San Diego, California, Sept. 18-20, 2024. Last year, more than 2,000 attendees, including students from more than 250 colleges and universities, attended the conference.

Each year, the Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award for Scientific Scholarship, Civic Science, and Diversifying Computing is presented to a distinguished computational scientist, computer scientist, or computer engineer who is making significant contributions to computing and civic areas, including teaching, mentoring, advising, and building and serving diverse communities. The award winner represents extraordinary leadership in computing scholarship and CMD-IT's mission to increase the participation of underrepresented communities in computing.

"We are proud to honor Dr. Chad Jenkins, the University of Michigan Professor of Robotics, as this year's recipient of the prestigious Tapia Award," said Dr. Valerie Taylor, CEO and President CMD-IT. "The recognition is a testament to his outstanding contributions to the field of robotics, in particular computational reasoning and perception, and his exemplary work with mentoring students and professional from underrepresented communities in computing."

"I am deeply honored and grateful to be recognized with the 2024 Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award for Scientific Scholarship, Civic Science and Diversifying Computing. I have been incredibly fortunate to stand on the shoulders of giants across the Tapia community," said Chad Jenkins.

"The commitment to both excellence and equity at Tapia has provided a guiding light for how to be a trailblazer, mentor, mentee, and catalyst for positive impact," Jenkins adds. "Joining the distinguished group of Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award honorees is a crowning accomplishment in my career. I look forward to our continued work together as a community to extend and expand the ladder of opportunity for future generations."

Chad Jenkins is a Professor of Robotics and a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. His work aims to discover methods for computational reasoning and perception that will enable robots to effectively assist people in common human environments. Professor Jenkins' research pertains primarily to robot learning from demonstration, semantic perception, and mobile manipulation towards enabling the usability of technology by people in real situations.

Professor Jenkins is currently serving as the Vice President for Educational Activities for the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. Professor Jenkins was the founding Program Chair of the Robotics Major Degree Program launched in 2022 for undergraduates at the University of Michigan. He was a founding Editor-in-Chief for the ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction, serving from 2016 to 2024. Professor Jenkins served on the Computing Community Consortium from 2019 to 2022. Recently, he was elected Member-At-Large for the Association of Computing Machinery.

As a member of the Computing Research Association's Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research (CRA-WP), he helped found The Skip Ellis Early Career Award in honor of Professor Clarence "Skip" Ellis, the first American Black person to earn a doctorate in computer science.

Professor Jenkins is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). He is a Senior Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is an alumnus of the Defense Science Study Group (2018-19).

About the CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference

The CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference (TAPIA Conference) is the premier annual event to acknowledge, promote, and celebrate diversity in computing. Each year, the conference brings together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to celebrate the diversity that exists in computing and tech. The annual conference presents an opportunity to connect with others and to create communities that extend beyond the event.

National Black Farmers Association Statement on Historic $2B Payout for Discrimination in Farm Lending

The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) has championed a major victory for African American farmers and their families in the United States. After years of protests, lawsuits, and failed bills, the organization, led by President John Boyd, has successfully secured a $2.2 billion payout for discrimination in farm lending from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This historic payout comes as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Section 22007, signed into law by President Biden nearly two years ago.

Approximately 43,000 farmers will each receive payouts of up to $500,000, with the average award being $82,000. These funds are meant to provide financial assistance to farmers who have experienced racial and other forms of discrimination from the USDA prior to 2021. This victory marks a significant step towards justice for Black farmers, who have long been fighting against systematic discrimination in the farming industry. The NBFA, founded by John Boyd 40 years ago, has been at the forefront of this fight and has led the way in advocating for change.

Boyd reflects on the long and difficult road to this victory, stating, "No matter how it is sliced, the $2.2 billion in payouts is historic. In 1999, Black farmers received a $1 billion payout. In 2013, a $1.25 billion payment was made in a late filers' lawsuit settlement." The NBFA has also been instrumental in paving the way for similar settlements with Hispanic, Women, and Native American farmers, as well as the related Cobell case settlement.

Despite the progress made with this payout, Boyd acknowledges that there are still challenges faced by Black farmers. These include banks denying them access to operating funds and farm ownership loans, as well as recent allegations of racial discrimination by companies like John Deere. However, he sees this victory as a symbol of hope for those still fighting for justice.

Boyd's decades-long lobbying campaign has not been without its challenges. He has faced hateful phone calls, mail, and even death threats throughout the years, but his determination to fight for the rights of Black farmers has never wavered. He emphasizes that this payout was not a blanket settlement, and that a neutral third-party administrator, Midtown Group, has carefully evaluated each farmer's case. The application process was lengthy and complex, compounding the pain and frustration felt by many farmers.

As Boyd reflects on the long journey to this victory, he questions whether it was all worth it. But his answer is a resounding "Yes." He explains, "The answer is an unqualified 'Yes,' just for the few moments today of listening to Stephen Benjamin, Senior White House Advisor and Director of Public Engagement, share the details regarding award notifications and check disbursement to DFAP applicants. That made it all worthwhile." This victory is not just for the NBFA, but for all Black farmers and their families who have endured discrimination and struggled to make ends meet.

To learn more about this historic victory and the ongoing work of the NBFA, please contact John Boyd via email JohnWesleyBoydJr@gmail.com. The National Black Farmers Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of African American farmers and their families. Through education, advocacy, and support, the NBFA fights for civil rights, land retention, access to loans, and economic development for Black farmers across the country.

Biden-Harris Administration Issues $2 Billion In Financial Assistance to Black And Minority Farmers

The Biden-Harris Administration announced it has issued payments to eligible applicants under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP), which aims to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination prior to January 2021.

“Farmers and ranchers work around the clock to put food on our tables and steward our Nation’s land. But for too long, many farmers and ranchers experienced discrimination in farm loan programs and have not had the same access to federal resources and support,” said President Joe Biden. “I promised to address this inequity when I became President. Today that promise has become a reality. My Inflation Reduction Act took a bold step to address the effects of discrimination in farming and ranching, and today’s action will enable more farmers and ranchers to support themselves and their families, help grow the economy, and pursue their dreams.”

“The completion of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program is an important moment in USDA’s history, and in our journey to becoming a department that truly serves everyone who wants to participate in agriculture. While this financial assistance is not compensation for anyone’s losses or pain endured, it is an acknowledgement. My hope is that this will ensure that many farmers can stay on their farms, contribute to our nation’s food supply, and continue doing what they love,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I am also immensely grateful to USDA’s many partners in this effort, including the organizations who helped spread the word and offer technical assistance to applicants. This process, and the information contained in the applications, will help USDA as we fine tune our efforts to make USDA programs accessible, inclusive and equitable to all.”

The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program was established by Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Through the Act, Congress allocated $2.2 billion for the program and directed USDA to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Upon signing of the law by President Biden, USDA worked immediately and diligently to design the program in accordance with the statute, sought significant stakeholder input, and opened the application process in July 2023.

One year later, over 43,000 individuals, including individuals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, will receive financial assistance through the program. The assistance will help many of them continue farming or enhance their operations, will allow some to begin farming, or in other cases will help to ease lost income.

The recipients include over 23,000 individuals who have or had a farming or ranching operation, who are receiving between $10,000 and $500,000 of assistance, with an average of nearly $82,000. Recipients also include over 20,000 individuals who planned to have a farming or ranching operation, but reported they were unable to do so because they couldn’t get a USDA loan. These individuals are receiving between $3,500 and $6,000 of assistance, with an average of $5000.

More information about the awards, including geographic distribution, can be found on the program website, 22007apply.gov.

Over the course of the application process, USDA and program administrators embarked on an aggressive outreach program to ensure those who were eligible were aware of the program and had access to free technical assistance. Each application was reviewed twice, by two independent teams who worked for the program administrator, to ensure fairness, thoroughness, and accuracy. Standards for eligibility were set and enforced by USDA, but the review was carried out by third-party administrators in accordance with the statute. Agricultural experts were also consulted for complex questions that arose in application review.

The DFAP is an application-based financial assistance program that is built around the amount of funding Congress provided for this program and is not a compensation program. It is an important component of USDA’s work under the Biden-Harris Administration to make USDA programs more accessible, equitable and inclusive for all who want to participate in agriculture.

As detailed in the letters applicants will receive, decisions are final. All eligibility decisions and payment determinations were made in a single round, which means funding is not available for appealed applications, nor does USDA have the ability to fund or staff an appeals process.

The information provided in DFAP applications will continue to be reviewed and analyzed, and will provide a roadmap for USDA as we fine-tune our program equity efforts at the national, regional and local levels. Those equity efforts are extensive. Among them, USDA wants producers to be aware of significant changes at the Farm Service Agency that are intended to make the farm loan process more accessible, inclusive, and equitable to support all who want to participate in agriculture. This includes but is not limited to diversified agency leadership and county committee membership, the ability to apply for farm loans and make loan payments online (new in 2024), streamlined and shortened loan paperwork requirements, and new processes that reduce the need for human discretion in loan decision-making.

USDA’s commitment to equity spans the Department’s mission areas and agencies. USDA is actively working to build a department that ensures none of our customers are ignored or left behind. The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program is just one of many programs helping USDA rebuild trust, address systemic issues. and improve service to people who may have been underserved by USDA in the past. To learn more about USDA’s equity work and resources, visit www.usda.gov/equity.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

Working Families Party Endorses VP Kamala Harris for President

The Working Families Party released the following statement endorsing VP Kamala Harris for President:

The Working Families Party is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Our members, chapters, and party leaders have voted overwhelmingly to support VP Kamala Harris as the next Democratic nominee — with 95% of the total vote in favor of the endorsement.

We are living in uncertain times. But we do know this: we cannot let Donald Trump and MAGA extremists return to power.

In 2020, we said that making Trump a one-term president was our moral mandate. It still is. Four years ago, we played a major role in organizing and mobilizing ‌voters to oust Trump. This year, we’re prepared to defeat his movement once and for all. Electing Kamala Harris as President is one step‌ — ‌one important step‌ — ‌toward our goal of winning power for working people and a government that is responsive to all of us, not just the wealthy few.

Donald Trump wants to seize on the uncertainty that people are feeling to seize power and enrich himself and his billionaire backers. If elected to a second term, he will double down on his attacks on working people. His friends in the MAGA movement have drafted a 900-page plan called “Project 2025” that calls for slashing taxes on large corporations and the ultra-rich, raising the cost of health care, and making it harder for workers to organize for better wages and benefits.

We have a historic opportunity to stop Trump’s authoritarian movement in its tracks and elect Vice President Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States.

As Vice President, Kamala Harris has played a decisive role in President Biden’s greatest victories, casting the tie-breaking vote to pass the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and presiding over the confirmation of Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson.

Now, Vice President Harris has the chance to build on President Biden’s record of delivering for working people. Harris wants to bring back the child tax credit expansion, to raise the corporate tax rate, and to make big investments in preschool, childcare, and elder care. Meanwhile, she has an opportunity to turn the page on the United States’ disastrous support for the Israeli government’s human rights abuses in Gaza.

Change of any kind‌ — ‌especially at this stage in the race‌ — ‌can be scary. But we have a clear plan to win and set our movement up for even bigger victories in the future.

1. Elect Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump. By engaging and mobilizing the majority of Americans who oppose MAGA’s extremist agenda, we can put a stop to Trump’s authoritarian movement once and for all.
2. Win a governing majority in Congress. We need strong Senate and House majorities that don’t rely on corporate Democrats like Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema. The path to retaking Congress this cycle will run through unlikely battleground states, like New York and California.
3. Build the bench of progressive leadership at all levels of government. Progressives have shown leadership and vision during a period of incredible uncertainty. We need to build our ranks of progressive champions in state houses across the country, while protecting those who face cynical attacks from big money Super PACs.

We must win policies that make real, concrete improvements in people’s lives. Taxing the rich to bring down the cost of housing and child care. Raising wages for workers and making it easier for them to organize their workplaces.

Imagine a House majority with a growing group of WFP leaders fighting every day for our values. That’s not just possible — it’s happening. Year after year, cycle after cycle, the ranks of WFP champions in Congress and in state houses are growing.

Together we’re building an independent political party that reflects the values, hopes, and dreams of working people in our country‌ — ‌and that is rigorous about what it takes to win, and won’t risk throwing power to the right. We’re building coalitions and community across race, place, gender and generation. And if we continue to build our power together, before too long, it’ll be WFP leaders setting a pro-working families agenda in city halls, state houses, and Washington, DC.

It’s all possible — ‌but it won’t be under a Trump presidency. Under Trump, we’ll be left playing defense and trying to deflect the worst of his attacks against our communities. To have a shot at a working families agenda, we’ve got to win at the top of the ticket.

We have a clear job in the next one-hundred days: block and build. We must block MAGA extremists from seizing governing power, and we must build the most viable, durable political vehicle that is beholden and accountable to the people and not the wealthy and corporations.

Recently, France provided us with a ray of hope and a path forward. The French were facing a rising tide of right-wing authoritarianism. A white supremacist, nationalist movement that pits working people against each other. It’s growing there, just like it’s growing here.

But France’s left and centrist parties recognized what was at stake, put aside their differences, and joined forces. By participating in a united front, the newly formed New Popular Front ‌ finished ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party.

Our endorsement of Vice President Harris doesn’t mean that we’ll never disagree with her, or never have contrasting views on policy. This election, however, is bigger than any one person. It’s about what kind of country we want to be and whether we will let the rights and freedoms that our ancestors fought for‌ — ‌the right to participate equally in our democracy, to love who we love, and to control our own bodies — be taken away from us.

We also know that our movement must give people something to vote for, by laying out a vision for a country where everyone has health care, everyone has clean air and food, and everyone can afford quality housing.

Defeating the far-right and electing VP Kamala Harris is a political necessity, but it’s not a final destination. No matter what happens in November, we will continue to organize‌ — ‌community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood‌ — ‌to create the future the next generation deserves.

NABJ In Talks With VP Harris In Talks With For Virtual or In-Person Q&A in September

A Message from NABJ President Ken Lemon: 

NABJ has been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January. NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an in-person panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July. 

However, we were advised by her campaign at the time that her schedule could not accommodate this request. The last update we were provided (earlier this week) was that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during our Convention. We are in talks about virtual options in the future and are still working to reach an agreement.

I consulted with a group of our Founders and past NABJ Presidents Tuesday on-site in Chicago, and as a group, we affirmed that the invitation to Former President Trump was in line with NABJ’s usual practices since 1976. It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement. We also agreed that while this race is much different — and contentious — so are the consequences. 

While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable. We also want to provide our members with the facts. We have partnered with PolitiFact for live fact-checking using the hashtag #NABJFactCheck.