Past Events

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.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Host: Lorraine Lee, WIN Executive Sponsor

Guest Speaker: Lily Woo and Christal Lee

This is a virtual event and open to anyone to join us in a guided conversation about the challenges children from immigrant backgrounds face growing up in a household of parents and elders unfamiliar with the American school system. This is a conversation that will explore the cross-cultural and intergenerational tensions between students and their parents/grandparents.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://ofm-wa-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlfuqhrjojEtI23dL_uc4LYK84hArsY69_

Lunch and Learn - Survey Responses

Register for Real Talk! 2023

The Office of Equity invites you to join us in 2023, beginning May 10, 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.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023, from 11am to 1pm.

Hosts/Presenters:, Tahir Khan, DOR (WIN), Rathapol Chullanandana, DDS Spokane (VERG), Anupama Rao, DSHS (HAPPEN), Roy Salonga WSDOT (HAPPNE), Raquel Rice, DOR (WIN), Sanyu Tushabe, ESD (WIN), and Christina Pourarien ESD (WIN)

WIN, VERG, and HAPPEN BRGs have organized a career development workshop. This is a virtual event and open to anyone who is interested in learning about career opportunity searching tools, resume and interviewing tips. There will be breakout rooms mock interviews.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://ofm-wa-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sc-utrT8vGtYQAldNDasoteZklaJj1pJK

Find more job search resources at WIN's Career Development page.

Register for Real Talk! 2023

The Office of Equity invites you to join us in 2023, beginning April 12, 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.