For all press inquiries, including the use of images, please contact:
Beth Hauptle – Director of Communications, beth@rafi.gameflow.design, 919.903.2525

Recent Press Releases

USDA Moves to Delay Long-Awaited Poultry Grower Protections (3/19/2026)
RAFI Announces New Co-Executive Team (1/13/2026)
RAFI Announces 2025 Farmer Grant Recipients (8/28/2025)
RAFI Announces Leadership Transition (3/26/2025)
New Rule Under the Packers and Stockyards Act Finalized (1/15/2025)
Announcing Grantees for 2024 RAFI Infrastructure Grants (1/15/2025)
Introducing: The Grocery Gap Atlas (9/16/2024)
Announcing Grantees for 2024 RAFI Beginning Farmers Stipends (8/16/2024)

RAFI Media Coverage

2025

Following the USDA’s food and farm funding: Here’s what’s been canceled and frozen, and resources for those affected, Grist, August 2025
Hunger in the US: How disasters disrupt access to food, About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, May 2025
Federal rule could financially protect thousands of North Carolina poultry farmers. Charlotte Observer, January 2025
Farmers Need Help to Survive. A New Crop of Farm Advocates Is on the Way. Civil Eats, January 2025
125 Food and Agriculture Organizations to Watch in 2025. Food Tank, January 2025

2024

Grant helps local farmers get resources they need WFSA, December 2024′
Kroger-Albertsons Grocery Merger Fallout: Food Access at Risk. Food Tank, December 2024
‘We see the vision’: Investing in beginning farmers Spectrum News, November 2024
Building Resilient Farm Communities: Navigating Disaster Relief and Recovery, Fresh Take Podcast, November 2024
The Sustainable Agriculture Conference: Sowing Seeds and Growing Towards the Futur e., NRCS, November 2024
Navigating the USDA’s NRCS programs: Tips for farmers and ranchers, AgDaily, October 2024
To Meet Farmers’ Diverse Recovery Needs, Disaster Relief Must Include Revenue-Based Assistance, NSAC, October 2024
Yes, it’s Still Farm Bill Season. Here’s What You Need to Know about the Future of Food Policy, FoodTank, September 2024
RAFI to accept 2024 RAFI grant applications, High Plains Journal, August 2024
RAFI Announces 2024 RAFI Infrastructure Grants, MorningAgClips, July 2024
USDA releases long-awaited poultry tournament rule, RFDTV, June 2024
Yes, it’s Still Farm Bill Season. Here’s What You Need to Know about the Future of Food Policy, Food Tank, May 2024
New Proposals Inch Farm Bill Toward Finish Line, Daily Yonder, May 2024
Empowering Eaters Summit: Access, Affordability, and Healthy Choices, Duke Sanford World Food Policy Center, April 2024
Ag Organizations Comment on New Packers and Stockyards Rule, MorningAgClips, March 2024
Q&A | A New Report on Racial Land Loss in the U.S. and How faith Groups Can Help, EDNC, January 29, 2024

2023

62 Groups to Biden: Packers and Stockyards Act Must Be Restored , Morning Ag Clips, November 13, 2023
New USDA rule mandates poultry processors to gi ve agreement information to growers, RFD TV, November 13, 2023
USDA rule helps transparency in poultry industry, advocacy group says, High Plains Journal, November 13, 2023
USDA Rule to Benefit North Carolina Farmers, Strengthen Competition, Southern Farm Network, November 13, 2023
Ag Organizations React to USDA Announcement on Competition in Agriculture, Morning Ag Clips, November 9, 2023
Strengthening Local Meat Economies Act Promotes Fairness in Procurement, PerishableNews.com, September 23, 2023
Planting Seeds of Help, SARE, Sept. 15, 2023
Brown announces introduction of additional agriculture bills to support Ohio farmers, The Ironton Tribune, August 23, 2023
What’s Happening in the 2023 Farm Bill?, Legal Reader, August 2023
The Farm Bill Uprooted Podcast – Episode 3: Discredited, Institute of Agricultural Trade Policy, August 2023
How churches can work to make the demand for food pantries obsolete, Faith and Leadership, David Allen, July 2023
VI Good Food Offering Help to Farmers Seeking USDA Funding, Virgin Islands Daily News, Alexandra Bhola, July 7, 2023
RAFI Web Tools Encourage Farm Bill Engagement, Lancaster Farming, Dan Sullivan, June 7, 2023
Reversing the decline in numbers of Black farmers, Spectrum In Focus, May 7, 2023 (Featuring two members of our Farmers of Color Network: Kamal Bell and Julius Griffin.
Edna Rodriguez Profile, Chatham Magazine, March/April 2023
Nonprofits secure $4M in USDA Climate-Smart Commodities funding, The Packer, March 28, 2023
farmers March for Urgent Climate Action in DC, Civil Eats, March 9, 2023
Black Farmers Call for Justice from the USDA, NPR, Ximena Bustillo, February 12, 2023
Communities, Farmers Want Say in Farm Bill Priorities, Public News Service, Nadia Ramlagan, January 31, 2023
NC farmers aim to make agriculture inclusive for underrepresented, Daily Tar Heel, Eliza Benbow, January 18, 2023
As Grocery Stores Get Bigger, Small Farms Get Squeezed Out, Civil Eats, Lisa Held, January 17, 2023

2022

North Carolina Local News Lab Fund Awards more than $1.5 Million to 31 Local News Organizations, Representing Largest Round of Funding to Date, October 27, 2022
Farm Aid brings music, agriculture relief efforts to Raleigh, ABC News Channel 11, September 23, 2022
Farm Aid comes back to Raleigh, putting the issues of NC farmers back in the spotlight, Raleigh News and Observer, Martha Quillin, September 21, 2022
Creating new business opportunities and fostering hope, W.K. Kellogg Foundation News, June 15, 2022

Policy and Challenging Corporate Power

How it works: The risky business of contract poultry farming in North Carolina, Charlotte Observer, Ames Alexander, December 7, 2022
Aaron Johnson talks with Melinda Hemmelgarn on Poultry Tournament System, Food Sleuth Radio, October 28, 2022
Chesapeake Conservation Corps delivers results – and expands, Bay Journal, October 24, 2022
USDA to Tighten Protections for Contract Farmers, Public News Service, Nadia Ramlagan, October 14, 2022
Chicken industry, reform advocates clash over proposed transparency rule, Agri-Pulse, Amy Mayer, August 31, 2022
‘Big Chicken’ Merger Moves Ahead Despite Investigations by the Biden Administration, Daily Yonder, Claire Carlson, August 23, 2022
AG Stein supports proposed USDA rule to increase transparency in poultry industry, Kyle Ingram, News & Observer, August 10, 2022
Big U.S. chicken company, Mountaire, asks contractors to oppose transparency rule Reuters, Leah Douglas, August 5, 2022
USDA seeks comments on proposed changes to poultry contracting and tournaments, Agri-Pulse, Amy Mayer, June 22, 2022
USDA Releases Long-Awaited Poultry Tournament Rule, RTF-TV, June 13, 2022
USDA Promotes Transparency in Poultry Contracts, Lancaster Farming, Philip Gruber, May 31, 2022
Biden Administration Announces Plan to Make Chicken Industry More Transparent, Food Print, Ryan Nebeker, May 27, 2022

Farm Advocacy & Resource for Resilient Farms

V.I. Good Food Coalition Launches Program to Help Farmers Apply for Funding, The St. Thomas Source, December 5, 2022
More Black Farmers Use Farm Service Agency Services, Public News Service, Nadia Ramlagan, September 12, 2022
Farm Aid 2022 Brings Environmental and Social Justice Messages to Raleigh, NC, Lancaster Farming, Dan Sullivan, July 26, 2022
“It Tears You Apart Mentally and Physically”: The Health Crisis Afflicting Black Farmers, In these Times (reprint from The Counter), May 11, 2022
Panel Highlights Ways for Farmers to Tap Into Federal Aid, Public News Service, Jonah Chester, April 14, 2022
Lisa Misch, Director of Farmer Outreach and Technical Assistance Gives RAFI-USA Overview, Fresh Take Podcast, April 4, 2020
Can Farmers Help Each Other Navigate Mental Health Crises?, Civil Eats, Lela Nargi, February 1, 2022
3 nonprofits serving Puerto Rico get USDA conservation assistance grants, News is My Business, January 11, 2022

Farmers Markets and Double Bucks

NC Farmers’ Markets Double Buying Power for Food-Insecure Households, Public News Service, Chance Dorland, May 24, 2022

Come to the Table

Can Food Justice Be a Religion? Food Tank, Danielle Nierenberg, December 2022
Bridging the Gap: From Farm to Church, Stories @ Duke Divinity, October 2022
As Costs Rise, Opportunities Dwindle for NC Small Farmers, Public News Service, Nadia Ramlagan, March 28, 2022
Promoting Food Access in Rural Communities through Churches, Daily Yonder, Olivia Weeks, March 18, 2022
Debt, racism, and fear of displacement are driving an overlooked public health crisis among Black farmers, The Counter, Safiya Charles, March 17, 2022
Faith and Food Justice Conference Highlights Root Causes of Unfair Food Systems, Food Tank, Vicky Brown Varela, March 16, 2022

2021

The Chicken Farmers are Pushing Back, Mother Jones, October 6, 2021, originally published on Capitol Forum and FERN
Sowing Seeds of Change: America’s Female Horticulturists, Bronze Magazine, August 2021, Pages 14-19
Produce boxes available to active Senior Center members this week at nutrition sites, Stanly News and Press, July 19, 2021
Chicken Farmers are Speaking Out Against the Rise of Corporate Agriculture, Sentinent Media, July 16, 2021
More Than 25 Organizations File Amicus Brief To Release Wisconsin Order Halting $4 Billion In Loan Forgiveness For BIPOC Farmers, Idaho State Journal, June 24, 2001
News Briefs: RAFI-USA announces ‘Come To The Table’ conference speakers, Chatham News + Record, June 24, 2021
What will happen to USDA’s loan forgiveness for BIPOC farmers?, The Counter, Lela Nargi, June 18, 2021
Triangle Farmers of Color Respond to Delayed Federal Aid, Indy Week, Ellie Heffernan, June 16, 2021
Black And Minority Farmers Will Receive $4 Billion In Debt Relief. For Some, It’s A Lifeline. For Others, Too Little, Too Late, Forbes, Elena Botella, June 4, 2021
What’s new in food: Green acres, green students and a Baby Bull on the loose, Mountain Express, Kay West, June 1, 2021
Double Your SNAP dollars at the Wilmington Farmers Market at Tidal Creek, Star News Online, May 31, 2021
Industry groups ask Congress to invest in climate ag package, Farms.com, May 31, 2021
Reidsville Prepares for New Normal, Rockingham Now, May 9, 2021
Regenerative agriculture needs a reckoning, The Counter, Joe Fassler, May 3, 2021
After a Century of Dispossession, Black Farmers Are Fighting to Get Back to the Land, May/June issue, 2021
Salisbury Human Relations Council offering online Racial Wealth Gap Simulation, April 23, 2021
Summer Camp helps feed food insecure seniors, WITN-TV, April 20, 2021
Farmers’ market set to open for season, The News Herald, April 15, 2021
Challenging the Root Causes of Unjust Food Systems: A podcast interview with RAFI-USA Farmer Advocate Craig Watts, American Family Farmer, April 8, 2021 [NOTE: Interview 8:47-30:18]
Black-Owned Farmland Is Disappearing. A New Wake County CSA Is Helping Stem the Tide, Indy Week, March 31, 2021
Elizabeth Cook: Beloved dialogue brings races together, Salisbury Post, March 28, 2021
The Climate Connection: Saving and sharing seeds: A local — and global — effort promotes resiliency, Napa Valley Register, March 22, 2021
Come to the Table’s new CSA pairs three local farmers with eight Wake County churches, Talk of the Triangle: Cary and Midtown Magazine newsletter, March 11, 2021
In March, Congress authorized a multibillion-dollar bailout for farms suffering losses because of the coronavirus pandemic, NeighborWebSJ, March 10, 2021
Tahz Walker, Farmers of Color Network Senior Program Officer, talks to Food Tank Live’s Danielle Nierenberg, February 23, 2021
Black-Owned Farms Are Holding on by a Thread, Eater, February 23, 2021
Farmers Voice Support for Bill Tackling Monopoly Power, Public News Service, February 19, 2021 (distribution through Southeast U.S.)
Biden’s Pick for Agriculture Secretary Splits Farming Community, Zenger News, February 19, 2021
Pittsboro’s RAFI calling out antitrust violations in farming, Chatham News + Observer, February 17, 2021
2021 Farmers of Color Network Infrastructure Grant, Team Agriculture Georgia, February 16, 2021
Senate Democrats Take Aim at Antitrust and Lack of Competition in Ag Markets, Daily Yonder, February 11, 2021
How Will Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s Antitrust Bill Affect Agriculture?, Modern Farmer, February 11, 2021
Grants to Church Food Pantries Promote Purchases from Local Farmers, Restaurants, Daily Yonder, February 5, 2021
Farmers-of-Color Grant Program Triples Funding Pool and Expands Focus in the Southeast, Daily Yonder, February 4, 2021

2020

I’m a former poultry farmer. The meatpacking industry has failed workers during the pandemic and I’m not surprised by the deadly consequence s, Business Insider, December 6, 2020
NSAC Co-hosts Webinar on Black Farm Cooperatives, NSAC Blog, October 28, 2020
Biden is Courting Black Farmers, but They’re Paving their Own Way to Justice – FoodPrint, October 20, 2020
After Cooper backs down on executive order, NC worker advocates push for protection, News & Observer, September 18, 2020
For Small Farms Surviving the Pandemic, Co-ops Are a Lifeline, Civil Eats, September 14, 2020
Lawmakers, farmers of color criticize USDA’s new funding initiative, PoliticoPro, August 20, 2020
Small farmers left behind in Trump administration’s COVID-19 relief package – NBC Universal, August 9, 2020
Pittsboro-based advocacy group subsidizes local farms hurt by pandemic – Chatham News and Record, July 29, 2020
Farm Aid distributes $400,000 to strengthen farmers impacted by COVID-19 – Agri News, June 30, 2020
The government has earmarked billions to help farmers. There will be winners and losers. – NBC Universal, May 19, 2020
Special Episode: Cultivating Resilience In Our Food System, NPR, May 15, 2020
How farmers, consumers are rising to coronavirus challenges – AP, May 10, 2020
How some NC farmers, and consumers, are rising to the challenges of COVID-19, News & Observer, May 4, 2020
Open Markets and Allies Demand Antitrust Enforcement in Meat Industry to Protect Workers, Farmers – Common Dreams, May 1, 2020
Op-ed: Don’t Blame Farmers Who Have to Euthanize Their Animals. Blame the Companies They Work For. – Civil Eats, April 30, 2020
Faith leaders call for stronger worker protections at meatpacking plants – Fern Ag Insider, April 29, 2020
When meat plants shutter, what happens to market-ready animals? – Food and Environment Reporting Network, April 28, 2020
Dear governor: Farmworkers need your help – My Daily Record, April 24, 2020
As growing season commences, health pandemic raises big concerns for NC ag industry, farmworkers – NC Policy Watch, March 26, 2020
Small Farmers Hustle to Address Economic Fallout of Coronavirus – Daily Yonder, March 26, 2020
Rising N.C. farm bankruptcies could signal broader rural crisis – Independent Tribune, February 7, 2020
USDA focuses on meat markets – Arkansas Online, January 14, 2020

2011 – 2019

Farmers of Color and Buyers Connect, Morning Ag Clips, November 17, 2019
Opinion: To Win in Rural Areas, Dems Must Take on Ag Monopolies – Daily Yonder, May 29, 2019
Anchor Institutions of North Carolina: Rural Faith Leaders Gather in Burlington – EdNC, May 22, 2019
Benny Bunting, Making Sure Farmers Have the Right To Survive – Farm Aid, Apr 23, 2019
The Crazy Food Fight Over The Future of Vegetables – Men’s Health, Mar 28, 2019
Building a just food system for all: Notes from RAFI’s Come to the Table conference – EdNC, Mar 25, 2019
Farmers confront a mental health crisis – The Gazette, Mar 24, 2019
Members of IEI Attend RAFI’s Come to the Table Conference in Charlotte – Institute for Emerging Issues, Mar 20, 2019
American Farmers Confront a Mental Health Crisis – Bloomberg, Mar 20, 2019
Organic Farmers Association Announces Newly Elected Governing Council and Policy Committee – Capital Press, Mar 11, 2019
The Race to Relearn Hemp Farming – Scientific American, Jan 18, 2019
Nathaniel Rateliff’s Marigold Project Announces 2018 Grant Recipients – Westword, Jan 16, 2019
As a New Congress Takes Office, it’s Time to Hit the Pause Button on Big Ag Mergers – Civil Eats, Jan 4, 2019
Hurricane relief concert raises $325,000 – The Reflector, Nov 27, 2018
Avett Brothers headlining Florence benefit concert Tuesday – WITN, Nov 13, 2018
Five charities to benefit from Tuesday’s Avett show – The Daily Reflector, Nov 9, 2018
What to Do With 4.2 Million Dead Poultry After Hurricane Florence? Turn Them Into Compost. – North Carolina Health News, Nov 5, 2018
Avett Brothers’ hurricane relief concert will help the place they once called home – The News & Observer, Oct 30 2018
In Sprawling Farm Bill, a $200 Million Corporate Research Subsidy Goes Unnoticed – The Progressive, Sep 25, 2018
Here and Now September 24, 2018: Hour 2 – WBUR, Sep 24, 2018
For Farmers, Florence Means Years Of Recovery And Loss Of Resilience – WBUR, Sep 24, 2018
Hurricane Florence Threatens to Spread Hog Poop Over North Carolina – Wired, Sep 14, 2018
For Farmers, the Impact of Florence Will Linger for Years – Daily Yonder, Sep 14, 2018
Relief for Hurricane Florence – Charity Navigator, Sep 14, 2018
The Rise of the Zombie Small Businesses – The Atlantic, Sep 4, 2018
SNAP Expected to be Harder to Use at Some Farmers Markets – North Carolina Health News, July 18, 2018
Starting In August, Farmers Markets Will Need Alternative To Process SNAP Benefits – WUNC, July 18, 2018
RAFI’s Equity at the Table Speaker Series Comes to Wilmington – Dub City Heartbeat, March 22, 2018
The Government’s Own Watchdog Says Massive Poultry Companies Are Exploiting Small Business Loans – Mother Jones, March 16, 201civ8
Seeds Only a Plant Breeder Could Love, Until Now – New York Times, Feb 27, 2018
Organic farmers launch effort for add-on label after disappointing NOSB actions – IEG Policy, Feb 26, 2018
A learning ‘Agritunity’: Statesville event connects growers with experts – Statesville Record & Landmark, Jan 26, 2018
Craft Brewers and Hop Industry Collaborate with Public Breeding – The Daily Yonder, Dec 18, 2017
Analysis: The big consequence of the Amazon-Whole Foods deal no one’s talking about – The Chicago Tribune, Jun 30, 2017
Valuing Farmers in the Whole Foods Acquisition – Food Tech Connect, Jun 21, 2017
How Chicken Farmers Are Getting Clucked in a Supermarket Near You – Truthout, Jun 02, 2017
22 Inspirational Women in Food and Agriculture – FoodTank.org, Jun 2017
Farm Aid highlights heroic work of farm advocates – Farmers Advance, May 31, 2017
Randolph County farmer using pigs to clear land for cattle pasture – Fox News 8 (Greensboro, NC), May 30, 2017
Film celebrates ‘farm advocates’ who fought back against rural crisis – The News & Observer, May 18, 2017
Farm Aid Co-Founder John Mellencamp Hosts Premiere of ‘Homeplace Under Fire,’ Film Profiles Farming Activists – Billboard.com, May 18, 2017
Farm advocate testifies on importance of USDA financing – Hortidaily, May 5, 2017
Many Crop Farmers Searching for a Way to at Least Break Even – Agrinet News Network, May 2017
Lowcountry growers could face the next flood with crop insurance – The Post and Courier, Oct. 14, 2015
Poultry Farmers Watch the Sky – Coastal Review Online, Sep 9, 2015
3 Questions for Benny Bunting, Farm Advocate – Orion Magazine, Sep 3, 2015
Autryville’s Buzz – The Sampson Weekly, Jul 17-23, 2015
Summer Fare: Farmer’s market brings garden varieties downtown – The News Herald, Jul 18, 2015
Save Your Seeds with Help from Olympia Food Co-op – Thurston Talk, Jul 6, 2015
Eating in the Meantime: Food Justice Advocates Urged to Probe Deeper – NC Health News, Jun 10, 2015
Judge Says No to Fracking – Eco Watch, May 21, 2015
The Color of Food – Natasha Bowens, May 5, 2015
Vendors to accept SNAP at Morganton Farmers Market – The News Herald, Apr 23, 2015
There’s a Place That’s Nearly Perfect for Growing Food. It’s Not California. – Mother Jones, Apr 20, 2015
Conference digs towards the root of hunger in WNC – Smoky Mountain News, Apr 1, 2015
New Book Tells of Small, Rural Farmers Beating the Odds in Tobacco Country – Seedstock, Mar 12, 2015
Florida Organic Growers to host agricultural cooperative planning meeting in Live Oak – Suwannee Democrat, Mar 9, 2015
Railey: Farmer Pushes on for all the right reasons – Winston-Salem Journal, Feb 28, 2015
Battle Over Breakfast: Consumer Groups Fight Cereal Merger – DailyFinance, Feb 20, 2015
Conference on hunger at Elon next week – Times-News, Feb 19, 2015
Advocates Urge FTC to Reject Post-MOM Brands Cereal Merger – Food Consumer, Feb 18, 2015
Scene & Heard: On small beginnings and great achievement – Winston-Salem Journal, Feb 8, 2015
SOS: Save our seeds – Sustainable Food Trust, Jan 23, 2015
Seeds–The Battle for Sustainable Agriculture – Revolve Media, Winter 2014/15, Revolve #14
Participants express concern over USDA’s coexistence meeting – Agri-Pulse, Dec 24, 2014
New Report Finds Farmers Harmed by Decline in Seed Supply – ProAg News, Nov 5, 2014
Project aims to increase sales, food stamp use at farmers markets – Smoky Mountain News, Oct 29, 2014
ASAP, RAFI-USA launch program to increase farmers market sales – Mountain XPress, Oct 20, 2014
Food Justice Certified label aims to verify fair treatment of farm laborers, others in food chain – Food Navigator-USA, Sep 26, 2014
Farm Aid comes to North Carolina – Carolina Connection, Sep 13, 2014
Market’s Double Bucks program helps feed families – Chapel Hill News, Aug 19, 2014
Driller apparently wants to frack Meadowmont in Chapel Hill – INDY Week’s News Blog, Jul 23, 2014
Fracking company makes offers in Durham – INDY Week’s News Blog, Jul 22, 2014
The Future of Food: Six things you should know about the state of the American farm – OnEarth Magazine, Jul 7, 2014
Interview with RAFI Just Foods Director Michael Sligh – Lexicon of Sustainability, Summer 2014
First Food Justice Certified Farm and Food Stores in New York – Cornell Small Farms Program, Summer 2014
DFM seeks to help SNAP/EBT Customers – The Herald Sun, Jun 7, 2014
Tyson Foods Chairman Joins Billionaires Club, While Wages For Chicken Farmers Wane – BuzzFeed, May 13, 2014
Two farmers’ markets in Durham begin accepting SNAP benefits – The Herald Sun, Apr 26, 2014
Lee County landowners fight fracking – Carolina Connection, Mar 27, 2014
As Commodity Farmers Shift Course, a Library to Collect Their Stories – Civil Eats, Mar 25, 2014
Like Sustainable Food? Support Public Plant Breeding. – Civil Eats, Mar 5, 2014
The Future of Farming is Open Source – MAKE Magazine, Mar 3, 2014
The System Supplying America’s Chickens Pits Farmer Vs. Farmer – NPR Morning Edition, Feb 20, 2014
This Holiday, Farmers Report Consumers Are Shopping Locally for Food – Public News Service (radio), Dec 13, 2013
Government Shutdown Harms Family Farms – Huffington Post, Oct 2, 2013
GMO Field Trials: Contamination Concerns – The Epoch Times, Sep 11, 2013
Fracking rule gets new scrutiny – The Pilot, Sep 3, 2013
Dixon Family Farms – Our State Magazine, Aug 13, 2013
Scott Marlow Discusses Global Food Security – CCTV America, Jul 22, 2013
Put it in your pipe and grow it: Former tobacco farms evolve – Grist Magazine, May 17, 2012
Our Dwindling Food Variety – National Geographic, Jul 2011

RAFI challenges the root causes of unjust food systems, supporting and advocating for economically, racially, and ecologically just farm communities.

We envision a thriving, sustainable, and equitable food system.

We believe that our work is inherently interconnected, and when we work together our cooperation makes us stronger and more effective.