Celebrating Pride: A New Milestone on Our Journey of Diversity and Inclusion

A message from the Diversity and Inclusion Executive Council:

As we celebrate Pride this month, it's an ideal time for the Diversity and Inclusion Executive Council to share the County team’s progress towards inclusivity and belonging. Our organization is dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Our latest milestone is the rollout of the Gender Identity feature in PeopleSoft, enhancing our mission to create an inclusive workplace.

This feature allows employees to update their gender identity using PeopleSoft Self-Service. It promotes a universally designed workplace, which creates environments that respect diversity and promote the inclusion of all people.

Check out the available video guide. For further assistance, contact your Departmental Human Resources Officer.

This new feature reaffirms our commitment to belonging and marks another significant milestone on this journey together as a County team.

The creation of a Pronouns Policy in April 2021 in collaboration with the LGBTQ & Allies Employee Resource Group marked a pivotal step, acknowledging the importance of pronouns in affirming someone's gender identity.

A collaboration by the Health and Human Services Agency and the Office of Equity and Racial Justice aimed to deepen our grasp of gender identity and pronouns. These resources help ensure a workplace for transgender and nonbinary individuals experience safety and affirmation. 

The knowledge and understanding deepened through events like the Inclusive Language and Communications Townhall, inviting County team members to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Earlier this year, the County Technology Office coordinated with the Human Resources Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Team and the LGBTQ&A Employee Resource Group to introduce the ability to display pronouns in Microsoft Teams. It is another significant move towards inclusive communication.

Remember, at the County of San Diego, “You Belong Here!” And, we will continue to collaborate as a County team to create and celebrate a workplace where everyone is seen, respected, and celebrated for who they are. 

Happy Pride! 

Sincerely, 

D&I Executive Council: 
Smitha Arons, Senior Deputy County Counsel 
Natalia Bravo, Chief of Staff, Chief Administrative Office 
Susan Brazeau, Director, Department of Human Resources 
Dahvia Lynch, Director, Planning & Development Services 
Nadia Moshirian-Binderup, Special Assistant, Sheriff’s Department 
Andrew Potter, Clerk of the Board 
Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Racial Justice 
Michael Vu, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer