Reflecting on 2024: Milestones, Impact, and a Call to Action

As 2024 concludes, I find myself reflecting on a year that has been both humbling and transformative. In my roles as an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) professional, Diversity Joint Venture (DJV) Coordinator, community leader, and founder of The Servicemen , I have had the privilege of working across sectors to address systemic barriers and promote equity for Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, disabled, and veteran Americans.

This year was not just about fulfilling responsibilities; it was about creating meaningful change by turning challenges into opportunities and ideas into action.

EEO Professional: Breaking Barriers Through Collaboration

In my role as an EEO professional with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, I worked under the guidance of various Executive Orders to address systemic barriers faced by underserved communities. This included developing Equity Action Plans tailored for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American and Indigenous communities, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Through these initiatives, we established:

• Accessible Fellowships: Paid opportunities for underrepresented groups to gain hands-on conservation experience.
• Career Pathways Workshops: Sessions tailored to bridge the gap between education and employment, focusing on resume building, interview preparation, and leveraging cultural knowledge in the workplace.
• Research and Advocacy Networks: Collaborative spaces for marginalized groups to engage in conservation research and policy development.

These initiatives have opened new doors for individuals, creating equitable pathways to careers in conservation while enriching the field with diverse perspectives.

DJV Coordinator: Making Conservation Careers Inclusive

As DJV Coordinator, I focused on making conservation careers accessible and inclusive for all. Among the year’s highlights:

• The DJV Resource Locker: A central hub of tools for inclusive hiring, leadership development, and workforce equity.
• HBCU and HSI Outreach Programs: Career fairs, workshops, and mentorship initiatives at institutions across the country, introducing students to the possibilities within conservation.
• Mentorship Match Program: A program connecting young professionals with experienced leaders in conservation, fostering career growth and collaboration.

Through partnerships with over 35 organizations, we created opportunities for hundreds of individuals to see themselves reflected in and welcomed by the conservation workforce.

Community Leadership: Empowering Future Leaders

In my community work, 2024 was a year of hands-on impact.

At Dorothy Heights Elementary School, we introduced environmental stewardship through activities like urban gardening and recycling challenges. These programs taught children that small actions can lead to significant environmental change.

At the Booker-Meacham School for Gifted Youngsters, in partnership with Jerome Wasswa and St Francis Xavier Mityana Children's Foundation Ltd , we will be implementing vocational training programs that empower vulnerable youth with the skills and confidence to thrive. This work emphasizes the connection between education, conservation, and community development.

Through The Servicemen, I launched initiatives like The Roads Less Traveled Hiking Club, which fostered healing and leadership development through nature, and Operation Planting Seeds, an HBCU-based program connecting environmental stewardship with youth mentorship.

The Servicemen: Restoring Equity and Building Resilience

This year, The Servicemen expanded its reach, addressing critical issues through innovative programming:

• Cultural Resiliency: Teaching the value of cultural interconnectedness and celebrating exceptional contributions from diverse demographics.
• Climate Stewardship: Engaging communities in sustainability projects, from reimagining waste into planters to creating leadership programs for climate resilience.
• Mental Health and Leadership Development: Offering workshops to reduce stigma, foster resilience, and encourage active fatherhood and mentorship roles.

These programs embody our mission: to empower individuals and communities to lead healthier, more connected lives while addressing systemic inequities.

Please check out www.theservicemen.org for more information.

A Call to Action: Join the Movement

As we prepare for 2025, I invite each of you to consider your role in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable world.

• If you’re a professional, mentor a young person or share your expertise with an underserved community.
• If you’re part of an organization, commit to integrating DEIA principles into your practices.
• If you’re an emerging leader, don’t wait—seek opportunities, ask questions, and build connections.

True progress requires collective action. It’s not enough to dream of a better world; we must work together to make it a reality.

Thank you to everyone who supported and collaborated with me this year. Let’s continue building, together.

- Taurean Meacham Founder, The Servicemen | DJV Coordinator | Community Leader | Conservationist