Past Events

The Office of Equity is excited to host another amazing webinar series as part of our Equity Learning Series. This series will feature speaker Jolene Jang who will create a collaborative environment to discuss Black and Asian Perspectives. 

Join us for an impactful session where we kick off with a fireside chat with our Director Megan Matthews and Asian American Ambassador Jolene Jang as they lead a raw and unfiltered discussion on the current challenges facing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We'll explore the importance of solidarity, understanding, and mutual support between Black and Asian American communities. This meeting aims to model the openness and vulnerability we wish to see in our organization and beyond.  

Click to register for January 15, 2025

Topics:  

• Embracing Authenticity and Identity: Discover how your history, culture, and identity shape who you are and why bringing your whole self to the table is essential.   
• Leading with Vulnerability: Understand the power of vulnerability in leadership and how it fosters acceptance and unity among diverse groups.   
• Black and Asian Solidarity: Learn from historical examples of Black and Asian solidarity, exploring commonalities and shared struggles to build stronger alliances.  

Seats are limited to 500 attendees so register today! 

• January 15, 2025 – 10am – 12pm: Fireside Chat with Office of Equity Director Megan Matthews and Speaker Jolene Jang   

Please join us in congratulating Indira Melgarejo as she transitions from OFM State HR as our BRG Coordinator to into her dream job of being a Mental Health Therapist in the private sector. 
 
Over the last 3 years Indira has positively impacted thousands of lives by laying the foundation and consultation for all of the. Your brilliance will be missed by all of us.
 
OFM staff and all BRG members will be invited to celebrate Indira and give her flowers and well wishes on Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the L& I Auditorium 7273 Linderson Way SW Tumwater, WA 98501. 
 
This will be a potluck event so please bring your favorite dish to share with everyone.
 
We look forward to seeing you.

During this season of transition each BRG has reached out with questions regarding the new administration’s vision and how they will support the communities that you represent.

We heard you and in response we have arranged a 30 min meeting for all state employee BRG members to listen to Attorney General Elect Nick Brown this Thursday, January 9th, from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  

AG-Elect Brown will share his vision, mission, and priorities on how the AG’s Office and Team will support all Washingtonians. We hope there is time for a question-and-answer session. 

We know that this is a short turn-around time and want to acknowledge the impact that may cause to your workflow, but we wanted to make sure this meeting occurred before the busy legislative session begins.

The Office of the Attorney General has many responsibilities that impact the lives of all Washingtonians, including:
• Proposing legislation to further protect families and children and provide clear, just and enforceable laws.
• Conducting education campaigns consistent with the policy goals of the office.
• Representing the State of Washington before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and trial courts in all the cases involving the state’s interest and defends in court state officers or employees ethically acting in their official capacities.
• Protecting the public by upholding the Consumer Protection Act and enforcing laws against anti-competitive business practices.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from the incoming Attorney General.

Register for meeting with Attorney General Elect Nick Brown.

General Membership is open to all current Washington State employees, including full-time, part-time, hourly, and salaried employees who are committed to supporting and advancing the mission of WIN.

Online Meeting Information

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86787447524?pwd=aTdsWXFpU3JrUEVLYlBhNjlDNVRLdz09

Meeting ID: 867 8744 7524

Passcode: 312248

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

Supporting our Voices, Empowering Rights and Indigenous Governance (SOVEREIGN) will be holding its first general membership meeting November 20 from 10 a.m. - noon.

Join

Join us for the Veterans Day Ceremony, “A Legacy of Loyalty and Service,” on November 6th, 2024, from 1pm to 3pm at the Legislative Building - Columbia Room, 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98504.
 
Veterans Day is a time to honor and recognize the brave service members who have served in the United States Armed Forces. This ceremony is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to express our gratitude and appreciation for their dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our nation.
 
Please share this message with your network to help us honor our veterans.
 
For any questions, email Verg.information@dva.wa.gov.
 

General Membership is open to all current Washington State employees, including full-time, part-time, hourly, and salaried employees who are committed to supporting and advancing the mission of WIN.

Online Meeting Information

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86787447524?pwd=aTdsWXFpU3JrUEVLYlBhNjlDNVRLdz09

Meeting ID: 867 8744 7524

Passcode: 312248

With racist anti-immigrant rhetoric growing in the past few years, we felt it was important to acknowledge National Immigrants Day on October 28. 

President Ronald Reagan officially established National Immigrants Day in 1987 on the 101st anniversary of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty to celebrate the unique history of the U.S. as a nation built and developed by immigrants.
In honor of National Immigrants Day, we encourage you to learn about immigrant experiences. 
Explore Immigrant Stories shared by our members.  

Watch “My Name Story”. “My Name Story” is a portrait-video project that examines the AANHPI experience through the lens of our names at the intersection of race, gender and class. This project explores themes of identity, belonging, and reclamation in a country that oftentimes labels AANHPIs as the other and perpetual foreigner. The project includes women from different generations, ethnicities and experiences who have had, at one point or another, struggles with their names and the meanings attached to them.
Visit I Stand with Immigrants/I Am an Immigrant.

Join the Solidarity Gathering on Thursday, October 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. hosted by the Office of Equity.  

Learn how language and accent biases impact the lives of your colleagues - both The Solidarity Gathering series is a platform for state employees to connect with one another by centering our lived experience and collective grief around events happening in our communities.

Many of today's world events impact state employees in their personal lives that may seem “taboo” to bring to work. This causes many of us to suffer in silence. Our current construct is not relational and does not allow space for us to speak on how we are impacted while also maintaining professionalism and productivity in the workplace.  The Solidarity Gathering is a brave space to unlearn and relearn, foster psychological safety, and celebrate diversity, culture, and history. Join us in cultivating community and solidarity.

Solidarity Gathering hosts: 

• Jean Paul, he/him - Shared Power Consultant, Washington State Office of Equity -
• Kalimah Ujaama, she/her - Washington State Patrol Pro-Equity Anti-Racism Consultant, Washington State Office of Equity -
• Nadine Nabass, she/they - Pro-Equity Anti Racism (PEAR) Specialist, WA State Employment Security Department

Solidarity Gathering sessions are hosted quarterly in partnership with WA State Business Resource Groups and State agency employees.

Register for the Solidarity Gathering

CSEW and the Washington State Business Resource Groups (BRG’s) are pleased to invite you to participate in the third Statewide Book Club sessions where we will read and discuss the book The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman.
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP!!
If you are interested in participating, please send your request to WIN@ofm.wa.gov by 5pm on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. 

The orientation and discussion dates are as follows:

• Book Club Facilitation Training – September 5 at 1:30-2:30 p.m. (COMPLETED)
• Discussion #1 – September 19 at 1:30-2:30 p.m. (COMPLETED)
• Discussion #2 – October 3 at 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Discussion #3 – October 17 at 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Discussion #4 – October 31 at 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Discussion #5 – November 14 at 1:30-2:30 p.m.

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 Regional 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/

Feel free to share this invitations and links 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 or a BRG to join this book club!)

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

General Membership is open to all current Washington State employees, including full-time, part-time, hourly, and salaried employees who are committed to supporting and advancing the mission of WIN.

Click to join meeting

Meeting ID: 867 8744 7524

Passcode: 312248

We’re excited to announce that the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) and our nonprofit partners will be hosting a Citizenship Application Workshop on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, at the Delridge Community Center in West Seattle. This free event aims to provide essential legal support to 130 legal permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship. We’d love to have you join us! 

Event Details:

• Date: September 28, 2024
• Location: Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106
• Time: All-day event. 8:30 AM – 6:OO PM.

If you are eligible for citizenship and need help with the application process, we would like to encourage you to register for the workshop. Our team of experts will be on hand to help with screening, filling out forms, and answering any questions you may have. To register, please call (206) 623-2105 or fill out our Citizenship Clinic Registration Form.  

Please invite family and friends who might benefit from the workshop or want to join us in supporting the event. 

We are grateful for your support and would happily provide additional details about the workshop. If you have any questions, please email Javiera Wood at javiera.wood@seattle.gov. We’re looking forward to having you with us on September 28th!