Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
CADE recognizes land stewardship and agriculture as foundational to all humanity, and believes all people should have the opportunity to nourish their communities with healthy, local food.
CADE acknowledges the presence of structural barriers that prevent equity in food and farmland access and which compromise the viability of agricultural business ownership, especially among marginalized or disadvantaged groups. These structural barriers are deeply rooted and impact New York communities in diverse ways.
Understanding that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are fundamental to our values, CADE remains committed to addressing persistent disparities through:
- providing continuously adaptive, accessible, client-focused services
- building a more diverse network of equity-focused partners
- leveraging our position and connections to advocate for marginalized clients
- incorporating consistent client feedback into program design
- prioritizing staff and Board’s ongoing DEI education
- integrating our DEI values throughout our internal/external communications
- leading with compassion.
For over 30 years, CADE has responded to the changing needs of NY farmers through 100% free services. We are committed to improving access to these services and doing our part to build a resilient, equitable, and innovative community that reflects NY’s rich agricultural heritage and diversity.
