Join a Tree Planting Event with EWA

/

The Emerging Workforce Association invites employees to join a fun-filled morning of tree-planting at Los Peñasquitos Canyon County Preserve on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon County is located at 12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92129.

Bring your gardening gloves for a morning of environmental stewardship and community bonding. No experience necessary. You bring your gardening gloves and EWA will provide all the tools and guidance you need to plant trees successfully.

Help beautify our parks and create a lasting impact for future generations. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference!

  • Participants must wear closed-toed shoes, pants, a hat and long-sleeves. Gloves and sunglasses are highly recommended.

  • Consider carpooling. There is limited parking. The $3 parking fee will be waived for volunteers.

  • Don't forget your water. Eco-friendly water bottles are encouraged.

  • Get ready to get your steps in. There will be a 1-mile hike to reach our tree planting destination.

Register for this event now.

See the flyer below.

Attend Speaking Our Stories IV

/

Join “Speaking Our Stories IV” from noon to 1 p.m., May 2. The lunch and learn, which coincides with Mental Health Month, will feature a panel of speakers who will touch on their experiences of trauma.

The event is in collaboration between the Middle Eastern Employee Resources Group, San Diego County Latino Association, County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees Association and the Emerging Workforce Association.

“Our trauma can affect our mental health, and speaking about our stories serves the purpose of healing and relating with one another, as often what we have experienced has been experienced by others.”

Moderator: Claudia Silva, County Counsel

Speakers:

  • Davinder Kaur, human services specialist with HHSA; author of “Forced to Marry Him” and forced marriage survivor

  • Tamara Murphy, departmental budget manager with HHSA and mass shooting survivor

  • Payzee Mahmod, leading campaigner with Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation and child marriage survivor

  • Mary Rodriguez, program coordinator with Outside The Lens and abuse survivor

Join on Teams

Register Now (Open in the Edge browser. If you have trouble, join with the Join on Teams link.)

You can also watch the past events:

See the flyer below.

Join Bee & Butterfly Sustainability Festival

/

See what the buzz is about. Join the Bee & Butterfly Sustainability Festival at Valley Center Library from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 20.

The event, cohosted by the Indigenous Sovereign Nations Employee Resource Group and the County Library, is free and open to all.

Activities include crafts, presentations, photobooth and more.

Valley Center Library is located at 29200 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center, CA 92082.

There will be a shuttle for this event.

  • Valley Center Community Church: 29022 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center, CA 92082.

  • Adams Park-VC Elementary School: 28751 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center, CA 92082.

See the flyer below.

Rewind: Holding Space During Times of Conflict

/

Did you miss the Employee Resource Group Council’s “Fireside Chat” on holding space during times of conflict? You can now watch the virtual session on InSite.

The ERG Council’s Fireside Chats are quarterly sessions with County leadership on the secrets to their career success. This quarter, the Middle Eastern Employee Resource Group (MEERG) hosted a lively discussion with Flood Control Manager Sarah Agahi, Public Works Assistant Director Nicole Alejandre, Assistant Director, Public Works and Planning and Development Services Deputy Director Rami Talleh.

Resources discussed in this session included:

Interested in attending a healing circle hosted by MEERG? Fill out this interest form.

Book Discussion: ‘All You Can Ever Know’

/

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month with a book discussion on “All You Can Ever Know”.

This memoir is Nicole Chung’s story of adoption and the search for her Korean birth family, when she becomes an expectant mother and is about to start her own family.

The event in partnership with the Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees and the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees Association will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 4 at the Poway Library.

The Poway Library is located at 13137 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064.

Register now.

See the flyer below.

Meet the 2024 CSDFEA SHEroes

/

In celebration of Women's History Month, the County of San Diego Filipino American Employee Association (CSDFEA) is showcasing the personal “sheroes” of County of San Diego employees.

CSDFEA explained that a shero is defined as “a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; a heroine.” A shero can be a family member, friend, teacher, coach, co-worker, mentor, community advocate, famous trailblazer, etc. 

Meet the 19 amazing women in CSDFEA's 2024 SHERO program.

Get to Know AAACE Board Member Brianna Hamilton

/

The County has 11 great Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). They are each led by a respective board of directors who all demonstrate commitment and stewardship of its members to the various sectors of our community. Get to know our African American Association of County Employees Board Member Brianna Hamilton.

Q: How long have you worked for the County and what departments have you worked for?

A: I have been working with the Document Processing Center for HHSA since February 2023.

Q: What do you do in your role/what are your job responsibilities?

A: I am currently a senior office assistant. I supervise seven staff members, who are a mix of staff working permanently from home (GWOW- Government Without Walls) and staff physically in the office. I am responsible for monitoring staff activities, training, identifying additional training needs, planning daily work assignments, evaluating staff performance and counseling any staff that may be experiencing performance issues. I am responsible for writing and issuing performance appraisals on a timely basis, reviewing and approving employee timecards and conducting monthly one-on-one conferences. 

Q: What’s your workplace superpower?

A: Being able to multitask and keep a schedule that allows me to have versatility in many different aspects of my job.

Q. Who are your mentors? 

A: As of now, I am navigating my path without the support and guidance of a mentor.

Q: Who inspires you?

A: Self-motivation drives me. As I mature, I am determined to improve my own life and create a different narrative for my children. Thus, I find inspiration within myself to persist in my education, career and future aspirations.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?

A: Don’t ever stop doing what makes you happy.

Q: What are some resources that you find useful and recommend to others?

A: Resume building and joining an employee resource group have allowed me to collaborate with many people in different classifications within the County.

Q: Who are you outside of work and what types of activities do you enjoy?

A: I love nature. I like to hike and spend time with family and friends.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: Making sure I can provide generational wealth for my future self and family.

AAACE Board Members

Q: Tell us about your ERG.

A: The African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) serves as an employee resource group within the County of San Diego, welcoming County employees, students and community members interested in diversity and professional development, while also celebrating African American culture locally.

Q: How has being in your ERG improved your experience working at the County?

A: My experience working at the County has been greatly enhanced by my participation in our ERG. The ERG has created a more inclusive and supportive atmosphere by engaging diverse perspectives and promoting collaboration. It has empowered me to contribute meaningfully to our organizational goals and has fostered a stronger sense of belonging and community for me.

AAACE board members

Additionally, the ERG has facilitated valuable networking opportunities and encouraged collaboration across departments, leading to increased productivity and innovation.

Overall, my involvement in the ERG has not only improved my personal satisfaction but has also positively influenced the work environment, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values within our County.

Q: What are your 3 favorite places to eat in San Diego?

A: Mana Korean Barbeque, L&L Hawaiian Food and Epic Wings and Things.

Q: Who was the top artist from Apple Music last year?

A: Brent Faiyaz or Tems. 

Also read: Get to Know APACE Director Kathy Jung

CSDFEA Wants to Honor Your SHEroes

/

Do you have a female hero or “shero”? Nominate them to the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees’ Association’s Sheroes program for Women’s History Month. 

CSDFEA explained that a shero is defined as “a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; a heroine.” A shero can be a family member, friend, teacher, coach, co-worker, mentor, community advocate, famous trailblazer, etc. 

Email CSDFEA your shero’s name, picture (optional) along with why she is your shero by March 22. Many nominees will be included in CSDFEA’s 2024 Women’s History Month Newsletter to be published at the end of March and on InSite.