Past Events

ICSEW and the Washington State Business Resource Groups (BRG's) are pleased to invite your participation in a State Book Club where we will read and discuss the book ‘So You Want to Talk About Race' by author Ijeoma Oluo.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the following form so that you may receive the Microsoft Teams meeting invitations (you will not need to resubmit a form if you have already filled it out).

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=F-LQEU4mCkCLoFfcwSfXLSibZhztF9pEkmbTYza_gQVURUhEMFg5RFNNQVlBVzdFU1AxMU9TWDQ3Vi4u

The orientation and discussion dates are as follows:

• State Book Club Orientation - October 9th at 2 PM

• Book Club Facilitation Training – October 16th at 11 AM

• Discussion #1 – October 23rd at 1:30 PM

• Discussion #2 – November 6th at 1:30 PM

• Discussion #3 – November 20th at 1:30 PM

• Discussion #4 – December 4th at 1:30 PM

• Discussion #5 – December 18th at 1:30 PM

Places to Obtain a Copy of ‘So You Want to Talk About Race?'

Check local libraries for digital, audio, and physical copies for the book:

• Seattle Public Library - https://www.spl.org/

• Tacoma Public Library - https://www.tacomalibrary.org/

• Timberland Public Library - https://www.trl.org/

• Yakima Valley Library - https://www.yvl.org/

• Spokane Public Library - https://www.spokanelibrary.org/

• Library finder - https://libraryfinder.org/

List of diverse owned bookstores:

https://diversebooks.org/diverse-owned-bookstores-you-can-support-right-now/

List of independent bookstores in Washington

https://www.newpages.com/independent-bookstores/washington-independent-bookstores/

Please feel free forward this email to those who may be interested in joining us in these discussions (you do not have to be a state employee or a member of ICSEW/ the BRG's to join this book club!)

If you have any questions, please email us at icsew@ofm.wa.gov.

Register for Real Talk! 2023

Thank you to every person who participated on the Real Talk panel in September and spoke on equity within AI. We also want to extend gratitude to the folks who spoke on their experience within the Hispanic & Latine community. We appreciate you all bringing your experience to Real Talk!

We hope you are able to attend the next Real Talk, Wednesday, October 11th, from 11:00 –12:00 pm, for our Real Talk! session and from 12:00–12:30 pm for our Post Talk.

We invite you to lean in, be curious, and engage in honest dialogue about racial equity, justice, and belonging to co-create a state government system that works for everyone.

Centered in belonging, we will unpack truth, reconcile the past, learn from one another, connect, and together, experience healing from harm. We encourage you to lean in, be curious, and explore experiences different from your own.

Through the 7 Office of Equity Values: Access, Justice, Ubuntu, Love, Equity, Dignity, and Belonging, we talk about healing, love, truth, and reconciliation and what that looks like in state agencies.

This is the moment and place to have real talk to truly transform our agencies into places where real people experience equity, justice, and belonging every day, now and for generations to come.

Register for Real Talk and Post Talk 2023 Series

Subscribe to monthly Real Talk news

Watch the Real Talk Introduction for more background.

Thursday, October 5, 2023, 12 pm to 1 pm

Zoom Registration

In this presentation, we will discuss the world roots of contemporary Latine (both Latin American and US Latine) music including influences from North African, Sub-Saharan African, Middle Eastern, Romany, Iberian, and Native American musical traditions.

Presenter: Nohemy Solórzano-Thompson, DSB

Connection to the Land
and Access to the Outdoors

Thursday, September 28, 2023, 12 pm to 1 pm
Zoom Registration

Vamos Outdoors Project will be joining Latino Leadership Network to present their work in connecting Latine, Migrant, Multilingual, and Newcomer youth and families in Whatcom and Skagit counties with outdoor and academic programs. This work contributes to the breaking down of barriers which have prevented these communities from accessing outdoor recreation, while also supporting many facets of youth development.

2023 HHM Lunch and Learn
The History of Us – from migration to immigration
Thursday, September 21, 2023 12 pm to 1 pm

Many immediately associate our Latine community with the immigration narrative. Let's be reminded that ours is a story of migration, community and resilience. Presenter: Herminia Esqueda, DSHS

Zoom registration

Register for Real Talk! 2023

The Office of Equity invites you to join us in 2023, beginning Sept. 13, from 11:00 –12:00pm for our Real Talk! sessions and from 12:00–12:30 pm for our Post Talks, where we will have an interactive discussion on the Real Talk! Topic.

We invite you to lean in, be curious, and engage in honest dialogue about racial equity, justice, and belonging to co-create a state government system that works for everyone.

Centered in belonging, we will unpack truth, reconcile the past, learn from one another, connect, and together, experience healing from harm. We encourage you to lean in, be curious, and explore experiences different from your own.

This is the moment and place to have real talk to truly transform our agencies into places where real people experience equity, justice, and belonging every day, now and for generations to come.

Register for Real Talk and Post Talk 2023 Series

Subscribe to monthly Real Talk news

Watch the Real Talk Introduction for more background.

OHANA means family, and the spirit of OHANA is that no one gets left behind. In the wake of the devastating fires in Lahaina, we have seen stories of people coming together in the spirit of OHANA to lend comfort and support.

HAPPEN and WIN feel that spirit and will host a “Community Solidarity Gathering” in partnership with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, to allow our members, community, and families to come together in the spirit of OHANA for comfort.

When: Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Time: 9:00 am – 10 am

Click to join Zoom meeting

A resource to stay informed is provided below:

• Maui Fire updates: Strong winds fuel Lahaina, Kula, Pūlehu/Kīhei fires; more evacuation orders issued : Maui Now

• This article includes a comprehensive list of charities supporting the relief efforts on Maui, https://www.kqed.org/news/11957996/how-to-help-the-people-of-lahaina-on-maui-after-devastating-wildfires

Our hearts and prayers are with all those impacted by this disaster.

Register for Real Talk! 2023

The Office of Equity invites you to join us in 2023, beginning August 9, from 11:00 –12:00pm for our Real Talk! sessions and from 12:00–12:30 pm for our Post Talks, where we will have an interactive discussion on the Real Talk! Topic.

We invite you to lean in, be curious, and engage in honest dialogue about racial equity, justice, and belonging to co-create a state government system that works for everyone.

Centered in belonging, we will unpack truth, reconcile the past, learn from one another, connect, and together, experience healing from harm. We encourage you to lean in, be curious, and explore experiences different from your own.

This is the moment and place to have real talk to truly transform our agencies into places where real people experience equity, justice, and belonging every day, now and for generations to come.

Register for Real Talk and Post Talk 2023 Series

Subscribe to monthly Real Talk news

Watch the Real Talk Introduction for more background.

HAPPEN

Washington's Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander Business Resource Group will be hosting its first mentorship meeting July 26 from 1-2:30 pm.

Click to learn more

Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from 12:30 to 2:30

June is Immigrant Heritage Month, a time to celebrate diversity and immigrants' heritage. The first celebration occurred in 2014 to recognize and honor immigrants in the United States.

A Proclamation on National Immigrant Heritage Month, 2023

In recognition of Immigrant Heritage Month, Washington Immigrant Network is hosting a celebration highlighting the stories of our immigrant state employees, allies, and community partners. While some of these stories may share sadness, suffering, fear, and frustration, they will also provide insight into the bravery, ingenuity, caring, and love of immigrants and people who have been displaced from their countries. This celebration will also include fun activities and networking opportunities.

Location:
Labor & Industries (L&I) Bldg.
7273 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501

Register here

Take Survey

Celebration Tentative Agenda:

• 12:30 – Welcome

• Opening Remarks – Christina Pourarien, WIN Chair

• Immigrant story and dance presentation

• Immigrant story: Sharing experiences they encountered on their way to America, when we got to America and while in America

• Guest Speaker – Rick Garza

• Share personal stories as immigrants as well as play traditional musical from their cultures

• Cultural Celebration: Dia de Los Muertos

• Dance Performance: Caña Dulce

• Guest Speaker – Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

Closing Remarks – Lorraine Lee, WIN Executive Sponsor

Alex Young left China at 14, and then rose to prominence as a designer of a lot of our state's highway infrastructure. L&I's Asian Pacific American Employee Resource Group brings Mr. Young as the featured speaker for L&I's June 21 Equity and Belonging event on Zoom.

Alex Young worked for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for more than 30 years. He designed and beautified the bridges, overpasses, and pedestrian walkways that many of us see on the major highways of the state. Mr. Young used his love of modern design and his artist's talent to elevate the quality and eye-appeal of drab and dreary concrete.

Join the listening session to hear Mr. Young speak about leaving China and coming to a country where he didn't know the geography nor the customs of the U.S., and didn't speak English. Learn how he became the first in his family to graduate college then became one of the pre-eminent designer-architects at WSDOT.

L&I's Equity and Belonging Manager Sally Elliott of Human Resources will interview Mr. Young — who just happens to be her father!

Come join the session on Wednesday, June 21 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. To attend by computer, click the Equity and Belonging Zoom link and enter the passcode 56843305 at the prompt. To take part by phone, call 253 205 0468 for Webinar ID 820 6949 9898 and enter the passcode 56843305 when prompted.

If you have questions or comments or need special accommodation for the meeting, contact Sally Elliott or Hannah Stoelb.

2023 WA State Employee DEI Conference (formally known as the WA DEI Summit) is in June!

Theme: Bridging Gaps and Leaning into Action

The theme for the 2023 WA DEI Empowerment Conference "Bridging Gaps and Leaning into Action." The conference will take place each Wednesday in June 2023 and will be held virtually over Zoom.

DATES:

June 7 (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM)

June 14 (8:15 AM – 5:00 PM)

June 21 (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM)

June 28 (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM)

We are committed to supporting statewide and agency-specific equity and anti-racism work, with the goal of building more just systems and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging with our state workforce

Who is this conference for?

Admission is free and open to all employees from Washington state agencies, boards and commissions. While DEI practitioners and agency leadership will find the conference relevant to their work, all employees have the power to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplaces.

State Employee Registration is Live in May!

For more information, and to stay informed on updates, visit the WA State DEI Empowerment Conference Website.