The D&I Executive Council Invites You to Join the Virtual Parade

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Welcome to the kickoff to a monthlong dive into equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Over the next four weeks, the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Executive Council will be sharing available resources, steps taken and what’s next as we build on our D&I strategy for a belonging, diverse and inclusive workplace.  

Let’s flood InSite with a virtual parade of inclusion! Join the D&I Executive Council in showing your commitment to creating a culture where we can all belong.  

  • Step 1: Click on your favorite image/poster below and print it full size.

  • Step 2: Take a photo with a poster. 
    It can be by yourself or with others. If you are working in the office, gather up your department for a group picture (COVID safe please). If you are working in the field, meet up with a coworker to take a pic. If you are working from home, snap a selfie or bring your family together in solidarity. 

  • Step 3: Submit the photo to show your commitment. Images will be featured in a gallery on InSite. 

The D&I Executive Council recently united against hate and hosted an Employee Town Hall. At the virtual gathering, CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer said she believed County employees should come together to become stronger. 

“We’re only as strong as all of you collectively helping us and being leaders yourselves. One person, two people, five people, 10 people aren’t going to do it, but 18,000 people are going to do it because we are one County team and when we come together with honesty and respect --we build a sense of belonging and inclusion.” 

Share this post with your coworkers and stay tuned for the next installments to this series! 

Also read: CAO Message: Incivility at Our Board Meetings 

Gallery

HCSS Leadership Team

HSS- Jesus Veloz Solis, Erika Luna, Frances Rico. National City Family Resource Center

Kevilyn Eugene, HSOM, Lemon Grove FRC; Cynthia Lopez, PSII, Lemon Grove FRC; Julia Guerrero, HSOM, Lemon Grove FRC

Nora Cortez, HSOM, Self-Sufficiency Services – National City FRC: and Rebecca Jauregui-Vargas, HSOM, Self-Sufficiency Services – National City FRC

Alberto Garcia, Chief, Self-Sufficiency Services

Salvador Rios, SHSS, Self-Sufficiency Services – National City FRC ; Stephanie Gomez, SHSS, Self-Sufficiency Services – National City FRC; and Julieta Lopez, SHSS, Self-Sufficiency Services – National City FRC

Ernie Riedel, PSII, Self-Sufficiency Services – National City FRC; and Rebecca Jauregui-Vargas, HSOM, Self-Sufficiency Services – National City FRC

Victoria Leduc, Self-Sufficiency Services – Document Processing Center

Self Sufficiency Services - Service Desk

Access2Health Unit, Access Customer Service Center

SELF-SUFFICIENCY SERVICES – DOCUMENT PROCESSING CENTER

Supervisors from Child Welfare Services, North Inland

North County Regions Child Welfare Services

Nina J. Olivas, Human Services Operations Manager; Yenissa Salgado, Chief; and Terra Berhe, Human Services Operations Manager, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Terra Berhe, Human Services Operations Manager, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Litzy Remirez-Quezada & Naftali Valle, Office Assistants & Kevin Harvey, Senior Office Assistant, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Lindsey Hood, Human Services Specialist & Cynthia Hernandez, SHSS, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Aimee Martinez, Program Specialist I, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Zahida Nasir Allah, SHSS, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Yenissa Salgado, Chief, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Savas Arlsan, SHSS, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Eliza Mena, HSS; Zahida Nasir Allah, SHSS; and Resenley Demers, HSS, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Daravone Souvannarath, Human Services Operations Manager & Allisa Walker, Human Services Specialist, Self-Sufficiency Services – Access Customer Service Center

Lorri Castro, SHSS, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Daniel Apodaca, Office Assistant, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Nina J. Olivas, Humans Services Operations Manager, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

James Kelly, Supervising Human Services Specialist, Self-Sufficiency Services - Access, Health & Human Services Agency

Colin Keller, Supervising HSS, Self-Sufficiency Services – Access Customer Service Center

Allisa Walker, HSS & Paula Cuevas, HSS, Self-Sufficiency Services – Access Customer Service Center

Merab Miranda, Office Assistant at National City Family Resource Center

Gabriela Damian, MPH, Human Services Operations Manager, Self-Sufficiency Services

Self-Sufficiency Services, Access, Health and Human Services Agency

Self-Sufficiency Services, Access, Health and Human Services Agency

Self-Sufficiency Services – Document Processing Center

Sandra Pesayco, Office Assistant, Self-Sufficiency Services – Access Customer Service Center

Suela Kerxhaliu, Office Assistant, Self-Sufficiency Services

IHSS Clerical team in Overland

PDS D&I Committee

Eligibility Training Center

El Cajon Branch Library Staff

Escondido-AIS-APS and IHSS workers

Board Members from the San Diego County Latino Association (SDCLA)

Maternal, Child, and Family Health Services Branch

Child Welfare Services

County Counsel

County Counsel

Public Health Services – HIV, STD & Hepatitis Branch

Office of Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs, which includes the Data & Performance Analytics Unit

Royce Abalos and Akilah Cunningham-Harris, County Fire Authority

RFA Granted Unit, Child Welfare Services

Sandra Perez, Probation Department

Mia Watson-Good, Chief Compliance Officer, Office of Ethics and Compliance

HHSA, Child Welfare Services, Executive Team

County Counsel Employment team

Parks and Recreation’s Waterfront Park Team

Gloria Escamilla-Huidor, Protective Services Program Manager, Child Welfare Services, Adoptions Program

HR Services Staff

Cecilia Burn, Library Technician II at Casa de Oro

Child Welfare Services| Foster and Adoptive Resource Family Services & Adoption Programs

Child Welfare SErvices’s ERMS/DPC TeaM

Terrence Singleton, Road Crew Supervisor, Department Of Public Works

Holly Norton, Mark Broughton, Dominic Fulgoni from the Department of Human Resources

Claudia Silva, director of the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Shelley Rieth, Human Resources Services Manager

Aging & INdependence Servces D&I Committee

Child Welfare Services, Central Region

Mehdi Khalili, Civil Engineer, Flood Control

Mandana Beheshti, Public Works

Office of County Counsel

left to right: Mark Reiner, John Otto, Elena Espinoza and Olivier Brackett from Department of Public Works-Airports Division

left to right: Francine Arms, Marissa Rivera, le’Waun Franks, Tessa Nguyen and Theresa Alvarez-Jarrin with Housing and Community Development Services

Child Welfare Services, Emergency response unit, South Region

Taryell Simmons, Human Resources Services Manager

Sarah Panfil, Administrative Analyst II, Department of General Services

Julia Homitano, In-Home Supportive Services

Jeanette Aguirre, In-Home Supportive Services, Social Worker

Laura Cazares-Machado, Admin Analyst III, Child Welfare Services

Polinsky Children’s Center

Guardianship/Stepparent Adoption/Independent Adoptions Unit

Carillo Unit at Edgemoor

Justice & Livability Team, Office Homeless Solutions, Department of Homeless Solutions & Equitable Communities

Tara Reynolds and Julia Homitano from In-Home Supportive Services

Child Welfare Services

Child Welfare Services

Office of Equity and RacialJustice

HHSA’s Financial and Support Services Division

Child Welfare Services

Child Welfare Services

Jennifer Sieber, Human Resources Analyst, and her partner McKensie

Todd Hood, Chief Privacy Officer, Denise Alvarez-Negrete, Administrative Secretary; Office of Ethics and Compliance

Veronica Preciado, In-Home Supportive Services, Social Worker

Shannon Goche, In-Home Supportive Services, Office Assistant

CWS- Resource Family Approval

Edgemoor Rehab Dept.: Lani Ngo OT, Jen Soriano PT, Patty Noerbaek COTA, and Thien Ngo PT

Jana Welsh and Teresa Rogers-Marsh, Staff Development from Edgemoor DPSNF

Jennifer Baillie, Todd Hood, Claudia Silva from the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Child Welfare Services- Policy and Program Support

Child Welfare Services- Policy and Program Support

Child Welfare Services, Central Region

First 5 San Diego team

Daniel Vasquez, President, Emerging Workforce Association

DPW - Team CIP

Kerri Matheson with California Children Services

Molly McKinley with California Children Services

Department of Human Resources: Amy Fraser and Jan Mazone

CWS- Resource Family Approval, reception team

Clerk of the Board

Hernan Amezcua, Ed Fajardo, Michelle Tello, Elmo Gawec, Cynthia Soriano, Jan Lunsford, Merlyn Trinidad, Cheryl Garibay, and Maribeth Nono at Edgemoor

Edgemoor DPSNF’s Medical Director Dr. Rebecca Ferrini

Michelle Mowad and Tammy Glenn from the County Communications Office

Erin Chancler, Deo Akena, Juanita Rettinghaus, Brent Darvin, Sandra Quinonez, Virginia Tamayo, and Kathryn Lee at Edgemoor

Lani Ngo and Jan Lunsford, D&I Champions

HHSA CWS, One of the Policy Analyst Teams

Cheri Nicolas, Dr. Rebecca Ferrini at Edgemoor

Hernan Amezcua, Jan Lunsford, Cheryl Garibay, Merlyn Trinidad, Cynthia Soriano, Maribeth Nono, Ed Fajardo, Elmo Gawec at Edgemoor

Lemel Danganan, Moureen Montillano, Laura Guillen, Charity Stephen, Ramon De Dios at Edgemoor

Ed Fajardo, ADON at Edgemoor

Dr. Nasaria Barreras and Lani Ngo at Edgemoor

County Law Agencies Helped Bring Cheer to Local Children

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Group photo of San Diego County Probation officers and their student partners for Shop With a Cop 2021.

Group photo of San Diego County Probation officers and their student partners at SeaWorld for Shop With a Cop 2021.

Over the weekend, officers from the San Diego County Probation Department and deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department volunteered their time to spend a fun-filled day with school age children that culminated with a $200 shopping spree.

The Shop With a Cop event came roaring back Saturday, Dec. 4 after taking the 2020 year off due to the pandemic. More than 300 children and officers from law enforcement agencies throughout the San Diego region were paired up and headed to SeaWorld for breakfast and a private marine animal show. Afterward, they returned to the fleet of patrol vehicles and headed out in a convoy with lights and sirens to the Target store on Sports Arena Boulevard. Along the way, residents lined up on the streets in the Rosecrans area and waved at the law enforcement parade.

Sheriff Deputy with her student partner get ready to shop.

A San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy with her student partner get ready to shop.

San Diego County Probation had 32 officers and six professional staff taking part this year. The department adopted Montgomery, Central and Lafayette elementary schools.

Probation Officer Cecilia Orozco said she has participated for several years and was paired with a third-grade girl this year.

Probation Officers check out the toy aisles at Target.

“It’s been an honor for me to help the community, the lower economic populations, especially the younger kids,” Orozco said. “Shop With a Cop is a beautiful event and shows the kids we care.”

Orozco said the girl bought herself a lot of dolls and some popcorn and candy she planned to share with her family. For Orozco the most rewarding thing was when the girl told her that after spending the day with the officers, it genuinely sparked her interest in a career in law enforcement.

Probation Officers pose with their student partners at SeaWorld.

Probation Officer Callie Davis (left) and Probation Officer Cecilia Orozco with their student partners for Shop With a Cop 2021.

Probation Officer Callie Davis said this was only her second time pairing up with a child. She partnered with a 10-year-old boy for the day.

“He was excited. He loved SeaWorld and the dolphins and Target,” Davis said. “He was a good kid.”

The boy used his gift card to buy various LEGO sets for himself and a few board games, she said.

Often the children would go over the spending limit, and she witnessed many officers making up the difference for the child they were assigned.

A Sheriff's deputy helps his partner child find some Christmas presents for himself.

A Sheriff's deputy helps his partner find some Christmas presents for himself.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department not only sent deputies but also dispatched their Sheriff Ambassador volunteer “Surf Dog Teddy” to greet children.

All the children also received four tickets to visit SeaWorld later as a family. All children were selected by counselors, teachers and officer referrals. Law enforcement from over 20 different local, state and federal agencies participated in the 28th annual event which was hosted this year by STAR/PAL and the Coronado and Harbor police departments.

San Diego Sheriff's deputies and their students pose with the Sheriff's ambassador SurfDogTeddy.

San Diego County Sheriff's deputies and their students pose with the Sheriff's animal ambassador Surf Dog Teddy.

Helping During the Holidays

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Is your office hosting a holiday food or toy drive? Crafting cards or volunteering in the community? Let us know what your office is doing to support charitable organizations and efforts this month.

Email communications@sdcounty.ca.gov with your department’s holiday activities and any photos. We will feature them here on InSite.

The Lakeside Library partnered with the Kiwanis Club of Lakeside on an annual sock drive.

Employees and customers can drop off new socks and shoes at the branch.

San Diego Food Bank logo

The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District is holding a virtual food drive through the San Diego Food Bank. The district has already raised $1,200 for food in just two weeks.

From Bridging to Uplifting

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The new D&I Digest is out! This illuminating newsletter has curated videos, podcasts, webinars, articles and other resources that will help bridge connections and uplift us.

New this quarter is “StoryPods,” a podcast of the stories of us. Hear three generations of voices of the County’s Public Works Department in this first episode.

Check it out now. (The D&I Digest displays best in Chrome or Microsoft Edge.)

Creating a County That Fosters Inclusiveness and Belonging

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Greetings from the Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) Team, 
 
Thank you to all who were able to join the Diversity & Inclusion Executive Council on Nov. 15 for a town hall on condemning hate-filled speech and creating a place of belonging. Your thoughtful comments are especially appreciated.  

It is our goal to use this space each month to share insights about the work we are doing and how it threads into creating a county that fosters inclusiveness and belonging. Before we can do that however, we feel it is necessary to acknowledge the reverberating array of emotions being evoked by two highly visible cases garnering national attention in recent weeks, one of which has since reached its conclusion. First, the jury in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse reached a verdict of not guilty on all counts. Rittenhouse was accused of killing two unarmed men and wounding another man during a protest against police shootings in Wisconsin in August 2020. 

The second case involves the ongoing trial of three men charged with the murder of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia in February 2020 while he was jogging through their neighborhood. 

The emotions evoked by these cases are compounded by the recent racist incident and continuous escalation of threatening language at Board of Supervisors meetings in the past year. These types of situations have the capacity to cause stress, anxiety and/or mental and emotional pain for many in our community, especially for those who experience bias and racism as part of their human experience in their daily lives. They are painful reminders of our nation’s complex history of systemic and structural racism.  

We and County leadership acknowledge that we operate within a flawed system. We are actively working to dismantle structural and systemic racism within our organization. While we may not have the capacity to change the past, we can make a commitment to take an active role in condemning racism and hate while creating belonging in our organization and in our community. 

One simple thing we can all do is to approach one another with empathy and compassion in what we do and say, every day. We also urge each of you to be mindful in taking care of yourselves, however that may look for you. Additionally: 

Take care,

Team OERJ

Holiday Shopping for a Cause

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Get into the holiday spirit and share a smile. Shop on AmazonSmile and a portion of the sale can be donated to the County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO).

AmazonSmile functions the same as Amazon, but the online retailer donates 0.5 percent of the product price of eligible purchases to a charity of your choice.

Using AmazonSmile is easy and automatic once you set it up.

1.       Go to smile.amazon.com (different from the regular Amazon link).

2.       Sign into your Amazon account.

3.       If it is your first visit, select a charitable organization. Type “San Diego County Employees' Charitable Organization” or “CECO” as your charity. You can also visit this link and CECO will already be chosen for you as your charity.

4.       Shop as you normally would. (You will see eligible products marked as “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on the product detail pages.)

5.       Save AmazonSmile to your web browser favorites. Shop from this link during the holidays and beyond.

There are several other ways to support CECO throughout the year. Make a biweekly donation via payroll deductions for as little as $2 per pay period. See CECO pledge instructions. Or you could make a one-time donation by contacting your CECO Department Representative.

Donating to CECO has a huge impact on the communities that we work and live in. As the charitable arm of the County that is employee-managed and volunteer-based, CECO has distributed more than $7 million to local nonprofit programs and County employees experiencing a financial crisis since forming in 1956.

Just this year, $128,271 in grants were awarded to 86 nonprofit programs included Alzheimer’s San Diego, Blind Community Center of San Diego, Coastal Roots Farm, Crisis House, Developmental Services Continuum, MANA de San Diego, NAMI San Diego, Solutions for Change and Union of Pan Asian Communities.

See your donations at work.