Join the D&I Virtual Showcase

/
DI_Showcase_051821.png

Grab your lunch and join the virtual D&I Champions Showcase on May 25. Come and support the hard work and commitment of our Diversity and Inclusion Champions over the past year as they share the creative ideas, resources and best practices that have fostered a greater sense of inclusion and helped to build trusting relationships.

D&I Virtual Champion Showcase

For questions, please email a member of the EDI Team: Shontay.Turner@sdcounty.ca.gov, Taryell.Simmons@sdcounty.ca.gov or Holly.Norton@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Amplify AAPI Voices: Beyond the Surface

/
amplifiedvoices.JPG

Join the Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees for a panel discussion and help Amplify AAPI Voices: Beyond the Surface. The employee resource group is holding the virtual event on Thursday, May 20.

Listen to Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders from the local community as they discuss a wide range of topics such as culture, heritage, customs and traditions; what it means to be AAPI; and current issues surrounding the AAPI community.

A Panel Discussion

This will be a recorded event.

Moderator:

  • Thai Sukrachan, assistant director, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; former APACE president

Panelists:

  • Cesar Escuro, interim chief probation officer, Probation Department, County of San Diego

  • Rachel Witt, chief deputy county counsel, Office of County Counsel, County of San Diego

  • Sumi Lee, chief compliance officer, Office of Ethics and Compliance, County of San Diego

  • Lee Ann Kim, community advocate and founder of the San Diego Asian Film Festival

  • Celia Solis, director of operations and development, Azul and New Americans Museum

Find additional information at apacesd.weebly.com.

Explore the D&I Digest: "Shaped by Experience"

/

Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer:

In the past year, we experienced an extraordinary shift in the way we see the world.  From rising concerns about health equity to our deep commitments to identify and address systemic racism, we bore witness to a reignited call to action to foster a space of belonging, equity and inclusion for all.  As a County, we responded with a plan.  Our actions were highlighted in the InSite article, “D&I Executive Council: The Next Steps in Diversity and Inclusion.”

Over the past five years, the County’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) initiative has supported employee development by providing training that piqued curiosity and increased awareness throughout the enterprise.  Our Departmental Champions played an important role in embracing ideas, promoting educational opportunities and building relationships to help meet our  D&I Strategic Plan goals.  One of their resources has been the D&I Digest, a tool that is an information bridge for sharing ideas and stories about our workplace and community. 

Published versions of the digest have been accessible in the Ethics, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion hub on InSite.  However, we want to extend our reach and encourage a community-minded approach to D&I by rolling out this straight-to-your-inbox message today.  The D&I team is excited to announce that the quarter 4 D&I Digest is available and invite you to open the pages and explore the features, videos, articles and stories with curiosity and an open heart.  This quarter’s theme is “Shaped by Experience.” 

In the pages, we believe you’ll find common ground, be informed about our different journeys and learn ways to honor the diverse qualities in each of us.  Our hope is that although the way we work and interact has changed, discovering ways to connect and share information will lead to greater engagement and opportunity to expand how we pursue a culture of togetherness, belonging and inclusion.  Join your Departmental Champions and explore the digest today - let’s go further, together!

20-21 Quarter 4 D&I Digest: Shaped by Experience

County Employee in the Right Place at the Right Time

/
Emergency Services Coordinator Jessica Williams

Emergency Services Coordinator Jessica Williams

When Jessica Williams, an emergency services coordinator with the Office of Emergency Services, was headed home the morning of April 26 after working all night at the incident command post for the Southern Fire, the only thing she wanted to do was get home and get some sleep.

Things quickly changed for Williams, who is a licensed EMT, as she came upon an automobile accident that had just occurred on Old Highway 80 near Pine Valley.

After talking to two men at the first vehicle who seemed uninjured and thought they had been involved in a hit-and-run, she made her way down the road and found the second vehicle involved in the accident driven by a woman.

“I approached the vehicle and identified myself as a trained EMT and as someone who works for the County’s Office of Emergency Services,” said Williams. “I saw that she was a very pregnant woman and was very upset at what had happened.”

Williams said she asked the woman a series of questions to determine if she or the unborn child was injured, and determined she was just distraught over what had happened.

“She just needed to see friendly face,” said Williams, who has been a certified EMT since 1999. “Someone to tell her what the damage to her car was like, and that everything was going to be OK.”

Williams said she stayed on the scene until all parties felt safe and the California Highway Patrol arrived to investigate the accident.

“Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time,” said Jeff Toney, OES Director. “I wasn’t surprised at all that Jessica stopped to help and knew exactly what to do in this type of situation. She has extensive EMT training which is not part of her job here at OES, but always comes in handy in emergency situations.”

Scam Alert: How to Protect Your Finances

/
Fraud_alert_1500px.jpg

Join our LGBTQ&A Employee Resource Group and SDCCU for an informative online session covering common fraud and scams currently being used amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This session will also discuss tips for staying safe and share resources and tools available if you or someone you know has been targeted or scammed. 

  • Date: Tuesday, May 25

  • Time: Noon to 1 p.m.

Register now.

Take the Live Well San Diego Trails Challenge

/
El Capitan County Preserve

El Capitan County Preserve

Nature offers incredible healing powers for our mind and body and is a great place to "Be COVID Safe" while getting in some exercise. Join the Live Well San Diego Trails Challenge to get active and breathe happy!

Held in partnership with the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, park rangers will be hosting a series of ranger-led hikes each Saturday this month leading up to the Warrior Hike Memorial Day weekend. 

Hike Schedule

Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch County Preserve

  • Date: May 15

  • Time: 10 a.m.

  • Level: Moderate

  • Length: 3.5-mile loop

Del Dios Highlands County Preserve

  • Date: May 22

  • Time: 10 a.m.

  • Level: Moderate

  • Length: 2.5 miles out and back

Warrior Hike at El Capitan County Preserve

  • Date: May 29

  • Time: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Level: Difficult

  • Length: 11 miles out and back

The hikes at Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch and Del Dios Highlands can accommodate a max of 40 people (two groups of up to 20, first-come, first-served). All hikers must follow social distancing and mask requirements.

The Warrior Hike celebrates the physical and mental stamina of active duty and retired military personnel with a hike that tests the mettle of the toughest athletes. The trek up El Cajon Mountain at El Capitan County Preserve is arguably the toughest hike in San Diego. How far will you hike? “Celebration stations” are set at the 1- and 3-mile turnaround points, with water and healthy snacks.

Kick It Up a Notch

Live Well San Diego has partnered with the Vizer app to power up the Trails Challenge. Vizer is a free app that converts workouts into meal donations. Use the app through May 31 (using corporate challenge code "LiveWell") to track your exercise, which ultimately earns food for the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. Learn more about using Vizer.