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Shandra Terry
"Caring for the Land and Serving People"
Growing up, I was the one who stood up to the bullies on the playground.
The one who protected those who couldn't stand up for themselves. My parents raised me to disrupt injustice from an early age. Whether it was my mom getting arrested in 8th grade for integrating a segregated cafeteria, or my dad as a law enforcement officer ensuring order - they instilled in me the values of education, civil service, community, and disrupting injustice.
I'm Shandra Terry - the USDA Forest Service National Communications and Engagement lead for the National Equity and Engagement Office, Washington, D.C. and co-chairperson of our inaugural 2024 Equity Summit and recent recipient of the USDA Secretary Honor for Excellence Award. My family always challenged me to be bold, to speak up, and to fight for what's right, no matter how daunting the circumstances. Those early experiences ignited something in me that can't be extinguished - a calling to uplift marginalized voices.
It was an accident that I ended up with the Forest Service. I was just walking down the hallway in college on career placement day when I heard laughter coming from a room. I peeked in, and the next thing I knew, I was in an interview and accepting a job offer on the spot to work in southern Oregon that summer. The laughter and feeling of being at home in that moment set me on a 33-year career path. The Forest Service motto of 'Caring for the Land and Serving People' just spoke to me and my calling to serve all people.
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I'll never forget going home to break the news to my parents. My Mom, who had envisioned me becoming a teacher like her, was stunned when I told her about the Forest Service internship across the country in Oregon. But my Dad reassured her, saying 'you never say no to a government job.' So they bought me a car, drove me out there, and I was instantly hooked - camping for weeks on Mount St. Helens as an interpreter, connecting with local communities, and being awestruck by the Forest Service's mission and impact potential. In retrospect, I haven’t one regret and am so happy about my first “yes” these many years later.
I dare to step in and disrupt injustice. Everywhere I've lived, I've often been the first Black person that my coworkers truly encountered in person - beyond just representations in media and entertainment. So I use every interaction as an opportunity to educate, to spark difficult but necessary conversations, and to plant seeds of possibility for how we can build a more equitable community together.
Like the time I advocated for translation of fire updates into Russian and Ukrainian, based on daily press conferences I conducted, when I realized we were missing ESL (English Second Language) communities during the Eagle Creek wildfire crisis in Oregon. These were chances to dispel stereotypes, forge new partnerships, and keep marginalized communities safer and more empowered. After 33 years, I still see myself as a “fire starter”. Daring to disrupt injustice through bold actions that really propel communities forward. I'm driven by this calling to serve, to make a positive impact in whatever way I can.
