2024-09-10T10:49:29Z 2023-12-31 990EZ 2023-01-01 842237851 NATIONAL LATINO FARMERS AND RANCHERS NATI 5335 WISCONSIN AVE NW STE 640 WASHINGTON DC 200152164 Anthony Martinez Board Chair 2024-09-08 2023 2024-08-08 14:25:15Z X X X X 148693 148693 148693 40444 346994 17941 294 42014 447687 -298994 338866 39872 X 337934 40078 3500 1500 341434 41578 2568 1706 338866 39872 NLFR provides training workshops on best practices in relevant farm and ranching policy, forums, and webinars, and facilitate meetings with state, local, and federal elected officials. NRCS-Our strategic goals were met and we were able to train our YALs and student farm workers to utilize science and technology, while maintaining our cultural and indigenous land and water traditions to steward the land and conserve it for future generations. We were able to create, maintain, and enhance the edible landscapes at our agricultural project sites and promote the protection and conservation of our water and land resources. 2 We were able to create a network of programs and services that were able to generate future earth stewards and land and water protectors. Our program participants want to continue to develop their skills as they relate to agriculture and land and water conservation. 42011 26251 AGUA Outreach NRCS Office(s) in New Mexico; build relationships - Mr. Gallegos (AGUA Program Coordinator) has built relationships with several NRCS offices. Alicia Rodriguez introduced Lawrence via email to the NRCS staff in Valencia, Sandoval, and Taos Counties. He Contacted District Conservationist Roxann Moore in Bernalillo County. He also connected with April Luna and David Griego (Taos and Hernandezs office) from Albuquerque, Los Lunas, and Taos NRCS Field Offices. Outreach to farming communities thru media and events ongoing Mr. Gallegos has attended numerous meetings and events where he networked with Latino producers and made presentations about AGUA and various USDA programs, offered assistance, and encouraged them to apply. 6. First workshop series on soil/water topics 5/2023 yes The first workshop on water conservation took place in May 2023 in partnership with the Quivira Coalition and Western Landowners. The topics of the workshop focused on water preservation and wildlife, such as different aspects of grazing, techniques to preserve more water in the ground, and slow down water runoff on hilly farms (one-rock dams). 7. AGUA staff will train farmers to become eligible for USDA programs. on-going 4/2022-3/2024 yes Mr. Gallegos consistently connected farmers to the FSA office and explained what needs to be done to qualify for the programs, in particular EQUIO, SCP, and EQ programs. 106682 164887 NIFA-Disclaimer for Form 990 On June 29, 2023, on request by the Board of Directors, our Legal Counsel, Jordan Howlette, initiated an IG Complaint with the USDA Office of the Inspector General with the intention to provide a more definitive determination of whether the Executive Director, Rudy Arredondo, as well as NIFA Project Director, failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the Federal grant provided to the NLFR. We believe that payments from the grant were made during the period not covered by the grant and work done prior to the start of the grant, without Board authority. Additionally, we believe that certain contractors were paid for time in which they were full-time employees elsewhere. There is little evidence of work having been performed in accordance with the goals, objectives, and purpose of the grant. Finally, salary increases were originated and approved by staff without Board review or approval. For the designated period covered from April 01, 2022 through October 31, 2022, the Executive Director Rudy Arredondo and his contracting team of NLFR did not maintain an approved financial oversight system in coordination with the Board of Directors. The Executive Director nor his senior consulting staff cooperated with the Officers Directors of the Board to establish such a system. Unfortunately, a similar pattern occurred during the tenure of the next Interim Executive Director, Stefan Templeton, from November 1, 2022 through May 19, 2023. Throughout April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023, the Board concluded that there was a strong likelihood of inappropriate conflicts of interests and possible evidence of fraud, waste, and/or abuse. The reports to the Board from the staff were incomplete or misleading. The Board directed Arredondo and then Templeton to establish a strong financial, organizational, and strategic management structure. Neither Arredondo nor Templeton demonstrated their intention to address the concerns often expressed by the Board, or individual members of the Board, at Board meetings. Accordingly, NLFR is pursuing its legal options to remedy the harm suffered by the conduct of Arredondo and Templeton, and there is a pending OIG investigation into the matter. The Board has since adopted strong internal control measures, legal counsel, and a robust oversight apparatus to mitigate against the chances of having the operational fallacies of the past occur again. Dated: July 14, 2024 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Jordan D. Howlette JORDAN D. HOWLETTE Managing Attorney JD Howlette Law | Justly Prudent 1140 3rd St. NE Washington, DC 20002 Tel: (202) 921-6005 Fax: (202) 921-7102 jordan@jdhowlettelaw.com General Counsel for NLFR 0 296643 487781 Reynaldo Gil Member 10.00 0 0 0 Anthony Martinez Chairman 10.00 0 0 0 Earl Tulley Member 10.00 0 0 0 Manny Rosales Member 10.00 0 0 0 false false false false false 0 false false 0 0 0 false 0 0 false DC Jose Santiago 10307 Green Holly Ter Silver Spring MD 20902 3019199101 false false false false false false false false false false false Lawrence Gallegos Agriculture Specialist 10.00 29158 0 0 0 Conceptium 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Ste 640 Washington DC 20015 Consulting 167094 0 true X 0 1241010 148693 1389703 0 0 0 0 0 0 1241010 148693 1389703 1389703 1389703 X 1.00000 1.00000 Part II, Line 24 Rent Deposit Management issues and turnover limited the effective completion of the return.