Michelle A.T. Hughes Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Serves as executive leadership for the organization, ensuring organizational compliance, efficiency, and performance are executed in alignment with the requirements of a 501(c)(3). Drives and monitors progress on the organization’s strategic plan, setting and guiding organization and department priorities, specifically policy, communications, and internal operations (finance, development, and human resources). Responsible for fiscal management of a $10M annual budget, and prospecting and fundraising to ensure the organization meets its annual goals and revenue expectations. Holds procurement, contracting and signature responsibilities for vendors, legal services, and re-granting opportunities. Serves as a model for organizational leadership, values alignment and accountability. Serves as external spokesperson for the organization with partner organizations and coalitions, press, funders, and government stakeholders.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Serves as oversight for operations and human resources, evaluation and accountability, and compliance with local, state, and federal worker and employment law. As a member of the Young Farmers senior leadership team, works with executive leadership and fellow directors on the implementation of our 5-year strategic plan and culture transformation in alignment with our organizational values. Leads internal curriculum to build shared understanding of the organization's mission, vision, and guiding principles. Works with external stakeholders - farmers, partner organizations and funders - to ensure the organization's accountability and intended impact working with farmers, partner organizations, funders, and the larger ecosystem building the movement for a future for agriculture that is free of racial violence.

Remote

Served alongside executive leadership to advance organization-wide strategic planning processes and implementation. Upheld shared understanding around anti-racist transformation and accountability processes with program staff. Built relationships with key partners, and served as spokesperson for organization with press, external network and coalitions. Authored and published Young Farmers Accountability Report.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Aligned organization-wide efforts to institutionalize racial equity by creating and implementing a strategy for organizational transformation. Conducted impact assessment on all programming, oversaw development of program-specific plans to meet organizational standards, and evaluated programs regularly. Executed comprehensive audit of internal processes and protocols. Advanced strategy for and authored first Young Farmers Accountability Report.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Established and maintained relationships with Congressional offices and agencies within the United States Department of Agriculture around access and accountability, student loan debt relief, and appropriations. Facilitated creation of organization’s federal policy setting process including creation of Young Farmers affinity groups and Young Farmers Policy Committee. Engaged with external partners and key stakeholders on areas of collaboration.

Hudson, Ny

Duties included planning and executing of special projects under direct supervision of NYFC Executive Director. Noteworthy projects included the Young Farmers Podcast and annual board and staff retreats.

Hudson, Ny

Organized National Young Farmer Roundtables focused on farm bill policy by communicating with Legislative Offices, chapter leaders, allied organizations and farmer friends and assisting with farm bill campaign strategy and implementation. Additional duties included metrics analysis and compilation of national young farmer surveys and building farmer profiles for case studies.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

President Biden signed an Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government and committed to creating an Equity Commission as part of his rural agenda and commitment to closing the racial wealth gap and addressing longstanding inequities in agriculture. Section 1006 of the American Rescue Plan directed USDA to create the Equity Commission and provided funds sufficient to ensure the Commission is well staffed and positioned to deliver on its charge.The work of the Equity Commission will empower USDA to objectively confront the hard reality of past discrimination and its lingering harm; helping USDA build back better, and serve our customers more fairly and equitably. This 15-member independent commission is charged with advising the Secretary of Agriculture and provide USDA with an analysis of how its programs, policies, systems, structures, and practices that contribute to barriers to inclusion or access, systemic discrimination, or exacerbate or perpetuate racial, economic, health and social disparities and recommendations for action. The Subcommittee on Agriculture will report back to the Equity Commission and provide recommendations on issues of concern related to agriculture. The Equity Commission will deliver an interim report and provide actionable recommendations no later than 12 months after inception. A final report will be generated within a two-year timeframe.Using this information, USDA will make needed changes so that our programs, services and decisions reflect the values of equity and inclusion. This will ensure everyone has a fair shot at resources, begin closing the racial wealth gap and addressing longstanding inequities in agriculture.

Remote

The Feedback Champions Fellowship supports US-based professionals who have experience in the nonprofit or philanthropic sector and have demonstrated commitment to listening and acting on feedback. In partnership with Fund for Shared Insight, this one-year fellowship offers our Feedback Champions access to the Feedback Crash Course, speaking and writing opportunities, one-on-one coaching, and tickets to the Feedback+ Summit. The fellows also have access to and connect with a community of feedback practitioners through a mentor and the other champions. Even more, champions from the nonprofit sector receive a grant of $10,000 to their organization to cover their time to participate in this fellowship and to attend and speak about feedback at related sector events.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Partner with senior level consultants to manage and support: -Timelines for client projects -Documents and proposal creation for new clients -Agendas and materials for upcoming client meetings -Meeting facilitation for both daily operations and strategic planning-Preparation for training and curriculum development

New York, New York, United States

The NYU Social Sector Leadership Diversity Fellowship (SSLD) is an 18-month leadership development program that equips graduate students of color with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to take up leadership roles in organizations across the social sector. Chosen fellows earn leadership development theories and explore challenges facing the social sector, develop cross-sector leadership skills, build a strong community with peers from across the University, enhance their professional networks, receive individualized leadership coaching and career support, and gain special access to Leadership Initiative events and speakers.

Greater New York City Area

Assisted with two research protocols housed under the Department of Applied Statistics, Social Science and Humanities. Performed surveying and reporting for NYC nutrition incentives program evaluation on behalf of the NYU Food Studies Department and the NYC Mayor's Office of Food Policy. Supplementally reported on beginning farmers nationwide under supervision of the NYU Food Studies Department and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Kingston, Ny

Connected social investors with farmers and viable land in Northeastern USA. Conducted research on sustainable agriculture/infrastructure and executed planning of land allocation on various properties throughout the Hudson Valley and New England.

Greater New York City Area

Local Bushel delivers high-quality, harvested to order ingredients from local and sustainable farms to restaurant kitchens all over New York City at a price and level of convenience that is competitive to commodity food from commercial food distributors. Duties included conducting research and streamlining enhancement of products and farm profiles for wholesale distribution.

Greater New York City Area

Local Roots NYC connects New Yorkers with freshly picked organic produce from local farms and well-made, hand crafted small batch provisions through fun and community oriented markets on a subscription basis. The operations team is responsible for organizing, packing and delivering shares to upwards of 20 Local Roots sites weekly as well as managing bigger sites, often called Local Roots markets. Additional efforts aided in improving transparency and farm/producer sourcing.

Brooklyn, Ny

Black Rooster Food is a family-owned bread company specializing in 100% baltic rye bread. Provided support to co-owning founders by managing sales database, preparing, fulfilling and invoicing orders in addition to maintaining relationships with buyers/customers through social networking platforms.

Brooklyn, Ny

Slow Food USA is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the global food system to ensure good, clean and fair food for all. Network support included developing new methods for SF chapter leaders to engage with both national and international SF campaigns. Also included communicating with chapter leaders on a regular basis to support movement efforts and maintain relationships with SF leadership.

North Branford, Ct

Provided support to enhance wellness care while also maximizing productivity under guidance from Chief of Staff on a daily basis. Supplemental duties included preparing, processing and analyzing laboratory procedures in hematology, microbiology and urinalysis as well as various administrative tasks.

Kennett Square, Pa

Responsible for daily care, health and maintenance of 800 pigs+. Acquired hands-on experience in swine movements, breeding and gestation, farrowing, record keeping and farm maintenance. Organized research projects carried out by the University including training in castration, reaching sows and providing routine and individualized sow, boar and piglet care. Upheld biosecurity and GAP standards for all barn inspections under farm manager and facility owner.

Kennett Square, Pa

Assisted in experimental research in the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory (CORL). Primary function was to develop and carry out protocols on pigs, sheep and goats, and other small ruminants as models for human beings. Supplemental duties included restraining aforementioned species, assisting with surgery and planning for coming projects.

Gladwyne, Pa

Primarily assisted veterinarians during appointments by retraining animals and preparing for blood draw. Collected feces, urine, blood and ENT samples for examination. Prepared, processed and analyzed in and out house laboratory procedures in hematology, microbiology and urinalysis. Duties also included a large amount of reception and pharmacy work.

Westport, Ct

Provided general care for animals in hospital, boarding and grooming facilities. Duties included checking animals into the facility, performing physical exams, restraining, bathing, walking, feeding, facilitating social times and maintaining a clean, efficient facility in coordination with fellow assistants.

Greater New York City Area

Managed all administrative and organizational responsibility under the project and vendor management team. Worked autonomously as well as part of a team on various proposals. Developed relationship management skills in a corporate environment. Handled multiple projects and budgets simultaneously under several project and vendor managers.

Norristown, Pa

Executed all duties as program coordinator for a group of 20+ elementary students including: hiring and training all staff, communicating with internal faculty to develop curriculums, implementing activities, maintaining records of all participating students and monitoring their progress.

Haverford, Pa

Established skills to sustain relationships with all Haverford alumni, current students and prospective students to engage and foster philanthropic support for the institution. Supported VP of IA in planning events with major donors, communicating with benefactors via mailing and emails and cultivating appreciation with all giving Haverford alum.

Greater New York City Area

Managed all administrative and organizational responsibility under the project management team. Worked autonomously as well as part of a team on various proposals, projects and budgets simultaneously under several project managers. Developed costing tools and estimation software under guidance of the project management team as well.

Master Of Arts (Ma), Food Studies

Activities and Societies: Chair of the Wagner Food Policy Alliance, Member of the Food and Racial Equity Collective

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Italian Language And Literature

Activities and Societies: Member of the Pre-Veterinary Society, Major Representative for the Bryn Mawr College Italian Department.

High School Diploma