The County has 11 great Employee Resource Groups. They are each led by respective board of directors who all demonstrate commitment and stewardship of its members to the various sectors of our community. Get to know our Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees ERG Director Kathy Jung.
Q: How long have you worked for the County and what departments have you worked for? What do you do in your role/what are your job responsibilities?
A: I’ve worked in the Library department for over 15 years. In my current role, as the Poway branch manager, we provide resources and services to support the community. We offer educational programs for all ages, host cultural programs and support civic engagement by serving as a ballot drop box location. As a diversity and inclusion champion for the Library department, my goal is to partner with every ERG to host a program.
Q: What’s your workplace superpower?
A: I love planning large cultural programs that bring people together! Our biggest event is our Lunar New Year Celebration. The library partners with APACE and other local organizations to host a traditional dance performance, music, crafts, red envelopes and a lion dance.
Q. Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?
A: While there are numerous people that have inspired me, the former Director of the Escondido Public Library Cindy Smith has been an important figure in my life. She challenged me to seek out experiences that make me uncomfortable. For me, it was public speaking so I joined Toastmasters. This motivated me to share my story to empower others to face challenges courageously.
I’m also inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers: The Story of Success.” In his book, he examines achievement and failure to determine what factors contribute to success. Based on his findings, the most successful people don’t rise on their own, but as a result of history, legacy, community and opportunities. I’m grateful for the community of people that mentored me to achieve success in my career. As a manager, I strive to lift up my staff and colleagues to help them be successful and am proud when they reach their goals.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?
A: The best advice I received is to “embrace the uncomfortable” and “never stop learning.” This advice changed my approach and outlook when facing challenges. I try to keep a positive attitude and view challenges as growing pains that build character. I think it’s important to lean in and leverage resources to uplift the community.
Q: What are some resources that you find useful and recommend to others?
A: As a librarian, I recommend downloading the Libby app to get 24/7 access to the library’s eBook and eAudiobook collection. If you’re interested in learning a language, we provide free access to 30 languages on the Rosetta Stone app with your library card.
When traveling internationally, I use Tripadvisor to research popular attractions, find reputable tour companies, read reviews and look at pictures for restaurant recommendations. I also use ChatGPT to come up with a sample itinerary for the destination.
Q: Who are you outside of work and types of activities do you enjoy?
