CAC Lit to Support Amendment to Enshrine Right to Choose
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The County Administration Center was illuminated Friday in Support of Efforts to Amend the California Constitution to Enshrine the Right to Choose.
Join CSDFEA Admin Analyst Virtual Panel Discussion
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Learn about the different roles and responsibilities of the County’s administrative analysts.
The County of San Diego Filipino American Employees’ Association is hosting workshops on the administrative analyst (AA) series this summer. The first virtual panel discussion will take place at 5:30 p.m. on June 29.
You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about upcoming workshops.
Register and details will be sent to you before the event date. Registration is limited. The workshop is free for CSDFEA ERG members and $5 for non-members.
See flyer below.
County Deepens Learning on Equity with Other Local Governments
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County’s HHSA delegation at the 2022 GARE Membership Meeting
By the Office of Equity and Racial Justice
How do we sustain the work of racial equity in government? One key factor in advancing the movement by developing “bureadvocates” (bureaucrats + advocates) within local governments across the country.
This role of the internal equity advocate is emerging as a key theme and purpose of the 2022 Government Alliance on Race & Equity’s (GARE) annual meeting. This year’s conference was the first for a delegation of County employees who joined a thousand other equity practitioners in Portland, Oregon and hundreds more virtually to deepen learning, discuss challenges and be immersed in best and next practices.
OERJ Director Andrew Strong with keynote speaker john a powell of the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley
Since the Office of Equity & Racial Justice (OERJ) was established in 2021, the County became an enterprise member of GARE, plugging into a vast network of local government organizations across many functions – from public health to safety, to planning and economic development.
OERJ is using several tools from GARE and from peer governments that are helping to shape our County’s recent implementation of equity impact statements for board letters and the Budget Equity Assessment Tool. We look forward to advancing our practice as the County of San Diego continues to prioritize equity and belonging in its organizational strategy and operations.
This year at the conference, participants joined inspiring plenary sessions and dynamic workshops to learn a variety of ways to normalize, organize and operationalize equity in local government. They convened shortly afterwards to debrief the many valuable takeaways.
Read the reflections and access resource lists here: GARE Conference Takeaways & Resource list.
Participants from our Health & Human Services Agency also recapped the lessons learned, see their slides.
As an institutional GARE member, all County employees are invited to sign up for an account at GARE to access recordings from the conference as well as regular online workshops and discussion groups.
Register at https://garemembers.racialequityalliance.org using your County email address and by selecting “County of San Diego” as the affiliation.
Want to learn more? Simply sign up for one of several upcoming GARE informational sessions.
New Applicant Screening Process Aims to Enrich Inclusive Hiring
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The Department of Human Resources (DHR) is continuously seeking opportunities to enhance the County’s recruiting and hiring processes. Beginning July 1, DHR will be applying blind applicant screening to all new recruitments, which blocks a job candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race.
Bias presents itself in many ways, both conscious and unconscious, and research has shown that bias can occur as early as the initial application screening phase.
This new process will help contribute to a fair and equitable recruitment process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Meet Our Newest ERG’s President
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The County has ten great Employee Resource Groups (ERG) and it’s about to have it’s eleventh! The Indigenous Sovereign Nations ERG will be hosting a launch event at the County Operations Center on World's Indigenous Peoples Day Aug. 9.
In the meanwhile, get to know the Indigenous Sovereign Nations ERG President Maria Whitehorse, a human services specialist with Self-Sufficiency Service at the Northeast Family Resource Center.
Q: How long have you worked for the County and what departments have you worked for?
A: I’ve worked for the County for 15 years. I have worked in Child Welfare Services as an office assistant and human services specialist for the Self-Sufficiency Department.
Q: What do you do in your role/what are your job responsibilities?
A: I have been selected to various roles and assignments within my office as a human services specialist. I have been part of intake, the Perinatal Care Network, customer service, continuing, hybrid and specialized groups.
I have conducted eligibility review for public assistance, been a staff adjustment factor, conducted case reviews as a lead worker, assisted in training of new staff, assigned to community-based organizations as a representative, selected as a representative of the County of San Diego to attend fairs such as women’s fair, hunger coalition and community health fairs. And I have acted as supervisor role in the absence of my supervisor.
I have also been involved in tiger teams for my department. I also sit on the board of Children in Need, and the San Diego Latino Association. And currently now I am the founder and president of this new ERG Indigenous Sovereign Nations.
Q: What’s your workplace superpower?
A: I have a remarkable power of perception when it comes to other people. With my antennae up, I pick up on the needs and emotions around me, even when no one is saying anything.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself outside of work.
A: Most of my free time is spent with my husband and my little dog Bella. I have a deep love for animals. We like taking road trips, volunteering in the community, fishing, bike riding and skate boarding. We also belong to a very loving church. We like to travel and attend Pow Wows.
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: Being the youngest of three and the only girl, I developed a passion for being a fixer. I must always make sure my surrounding family and friends are OK and have what they need. I will never allow anyone to go without. My passion for people extends currently to what I do as a human service specialist.
Q. What is the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?
A: Forgive and let go.
When we carry unforgiveness, it’s like taking a massive rock, putting it in a backpack and carrying it around. It weighs us down, saps our energy, our motivation, and enjoyment of life. Additionally, it causes us to see people and life through the lens of bitterness and anger. We find ourselves getting offended and upset at minor things that happen to us. It harms not only our relationships with friends and family, but also with colleagues and clients.
Q: What are some resources that you find useful and recommend to others?
A: If you’re interested in volunteering, this a great source to find local places to volunteer -volunteermatch.org.
Q: Tell us about your ERG.
A: Indigenous Sovereign Nations was established to bring culture education and awareness. The indigenous culture has a rich history that needs to be unlearned and taught. It is our hope through this group, together with the surrounding local tribes we can bring more visibility and understanding of our culture. We will also provide support to all County employees by bringing supportive services to build and strengthen professional and personal goals. We will also serve as a bridge to our County leadership.
Q: Why are ERGs important?
ERGs serve as a connection between all employees throughout the county. They provide various trainings, speakers, professional educational development and cultural education. ERGs can also provide a resource for leadership regarding staff/community issues, needs and policies.
Q: What is your ERG looking forward to this year?
A: Getting off the ground and running. We will be hosting a launch event Pow Wow with dancers, drummer and a guest speaker from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the County Operations Center. Join us!
For membership or additional information about the newest ERG, email ISN.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Also read:
Get To Know MEERG President Mehdi Khalili
Get To Know EWA Board Member Diana Eid-Chammas
Get To Know SDCLA Secretary Alex Talaro
Get To Know LGBTQ&A ERG Board Member Ryan Trabuco
Get To Know APACE Vice President Annamarie Hernandez
Get To Know PISCE Treasurer Isobel Kinsang
Get To Know AAACE Secretary Nikki Horton
Get to Know DiverseAbility ERG Secretary Valerie Prado
CAC Lit for Juneteenth
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The County Administration Center was illuminated on Sunday to honor Juneteenth. It will also be lit on Monday for the holiday.
Recognizing Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
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The County Administration Center is lit tonight for Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.
Juneteenth Flag Raising at CAC
/The County hosted its first Juneteenth flag raising event at the County Administration Center today. The flag will fly over the building through Monday, June 20, when the County will observe the holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
Today’s flag raising celebration was hosted by Chair Nathan Fletcher, the Office of Equity & Racial Justice, the African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) employee resource group and several community groups.
Attend Film Screening with ERGs
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Join a film screening and discussion of “Vincent Who?” a documentary about the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin and the Asian American Civil Rights Movement it ignited.
In partnership with the County of San Diego Filipino American Employees' Association (CSDFEA) and Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees (APACE), this event will take place at the Poway Library at 1 p.m., June 26.
See the flyer below.
CAO Message: Commemorating Juneteenth
/By Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer
On Monday, the County will be taking its first holiday in observance of Juneteenth.
I hope everyone enjoys the time off, and I also hope everyone takes at least a moment to reflect on the significance of the day.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. For anyone unfamiliar with the story, the name was formed from June 19, the day in 1865 when Union troops in Texas delivered word that all slaves were free – an announcement that came two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
It’s now a day to celebrate freedom for Black Americans, and for all of us to acknowledge the truth of our history and the enduring impact slavery, and the racism that supported it, has on our society. That recognition underlies the steps the County is now taking to work toward equity in our community. Understanding how we got here is essential to creating the path forward.
Built right into Juneteenth’s origin story is the recurring theme that continues to challenge us today. The government declared slaves free, but then took years to make the very people affected aware of the fact. It was one more instance of justice delayed being justice denied.
Juneteenth is a time for us to consider the gaps between promises and fulfillment. Between the signing of a paper and the reality for people’s lives out in the world.
The County is taking concrete actions to examine and close those gaps in our own operations. The budget equity assessment tool we used to develop this year’s operational plan lets us better prioritize dollars to address inequality. We’ve restructured our health agency to focus on equitable communities. A cannabis program is designed to redress harms that were done due to the war on drugs and past criminalization that fell disproportionately on the Black community. We’re launching initiatives to uplift boys and men of color, and to give children with little access to the outdoors more opportunities to have that experience.
These are moves in the right direction, but of course, much more remains to be done. Earning trust and undoing historical wrongs will take time and effort.
Juneteenth can speak to each of us in multiple ways. No matter what you do on this day to celebrate freedom for all, let the spirit of the day move you toward the work ahead to create a more just San Diego.