Honoring Arab American Heritage Month
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The County Administration Center was lit in red, green and white on Friday night in honor of Arab American Heritage Month.
Webinar: Learn Auto Buying Basics
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Join our LGBTQ&A ERG and SDCCU for an informative online session on the basics of buying a vehicle. This session will walk you through the complete process, including ways to shop and find your vehicle, the pros and cons of new vs. preowned vehicles, loan vs. lease, 0% financing offers and how to make the financing process smooth and convenient for you.
Please join this free educational webinar:
Date: Tuesday, May 4
Time: noon - 1 p.m.
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4560610819412684813
Amplified Voices: Hear ACAO Michael Vu's Stories During AAPI Heritage Month
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Grab your lunch and listen to Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Michael Vu’s stories that shaped what it means for him to be an Asian American as Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees (APACE) opens the 2021 celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
The theme for this year’s virtual event is Amplify AAPI Voices.
The new APACE Leadership Team for 2021-2023 will also be announced at the event.
Amplify AAPI Voices
Guest Speaker: Michael Vu, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer
When: Thursday, May 6 at noon – 12:45 PM
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93943510577
For questions, please email APACE at apace@sdcounty.ca.gov.
New Pronouns Policy
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The County has approved a new policy on the use of pronouns. The policy, which fosters an environment of inclusiveness and belonging, supports employees who wish to be addressed by their expressed pronouns and name.
The guidelines in the policy will help you navigate the use of pronouns whether they are “he, him, his,” “she, her, hers” or “they, them, theirs.”
The use of correct pronouns is important because it acknowledges and respects someone’s gender identity.
“It is heartening to see the County implementing this pronoun policy. This action demonstrates our commitment to diversity and inclusion is more than just on paper, it is part of our County culture,” said Ben Parmentier, chair of our LGBTQ&Allies Employee Resource Group. “Using correct personal pronouns shows respect, and fosters an inclusive environment for coworkers and our customers.”
Learn more about the guidelines, voluntary steps you can take and find resources in the policy.
If you have questions, reach out to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division at 858-505-6620.
Microaggressions Are a Big Deal
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Microaggressions are the everyday, thinly veiled instances of racism, homophobia, sexism and other biases that come across in gestures, comments or insults. But the "micro" doesn't mean that the acts don't have a big impact. Have a listen and learn more.
Book Club: A Beginner's Guide to America For the Immigrant and the Curious
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Join the County of San Diego Filipino American Employees Association (CSDFEA) and Middle Eastern Employee Resource Group (MEERG) for a discussion of "A Beginner's Guide to America For the Immigrant and the Curious" by Roya Hakakian on June 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Register to attend via Eventbrite. Online event details will be provided to registrants.
Book Synopsis:
A stirring, witty, and poignant glimpse into the bewildering American immigrant experience from someone who has lived it. Also, a mirror held up to America. Into the maelstrom of unprecedented contemporary debates about immigrants in the United States, this perfectly timed audiobook gives us a portrait of what the new immigrant experience in America is really like. Written as a "guide" for the newly arrived and providing "practical information and advice", Roya Hakakian, an immigrant herself, reveals what those who settle here love about the country, what they miss about their homes, the cruelty of some Americans, and the unceasing generosity of others. She captures the texture of life in a new place in all its complexity, laying bare both its beauty and its darkness as she discusses race, sex, love, death, consumerism, and what it is like to be from a country that is in America's crosshairs. Her tenderly perceptive and surprisingly humorous account invites us to see ourselves as we appear to others, making it possible for us to rediscover our many American gifts through the perspective of the outsider. In shattering myths and embracing painful contradictions that are unique to this place, A Beginner's Guide to America is Hakakian's candid love letter to America.
COVID-19 Doesn't Slow LUEG Customer Service
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Customer service; It’s what we do — the HEART of our Customer Experience Initiative.
And it’s a tribute to all our County employees that customer service wasn’t slowed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic, with social distancing and limits on public gathering, has been a challenge. But County employees recognized it as a customer service opportunity.
Here are just a few examples of ways some of our Land Use & Environment Group departments have ratcheted up customer service to meet that opportunity.
Expanding Technology
Planning & Development Services live-streamed San Diego County Planning Commission meetings before the pandemic. But to protect the public and enable them to participate, PDS instituted a phone-call system for public comments. In addition, they started video-taping and posting Planning Commission presentations online a few days before the meetings. That allowed the public time to watch those presentations at home and not have to worry about missing information if their Internet connections are interrupted during the meeting.
In addition, PDS extended virtual meetings for Code Compliance appeal hearings and piloted them for some building code inspections. Public Works used Skype and Microsoft Teams to do virtual watershed protection, flood control and recycling meetings.
PDS also increased online services to help customers access services and stay safe. Those included online zoning verification requests, building permit modification requests, building plan check and permit renewals, electronic discretionary pre-applications, and discretionary permit digital approval processing.
The Agriculture, Weights and Measures department conducted virtual field inspections. And Parks and Recreation offered a virtual recreation center for students, complete with virtual tours, hikes, education and more.
Summer Movies in the Park — at Home and Beyond!
DPR is planning to offer a hybrid version of the popular Summer Movies in the Park series this summer to accommodate all comfort levels DPR will be offering virtual movies as we did in 2020 and will transition into drive-in and traditional live events that meet all health and safety guidelines.
Virtual Earth Day Celebration
San Diegans love the outdoors and the County’s annual Earth Day celebration gives residents more than a dozen ways to celebrate. The LUEG team banded together last year in 2020 and again this year, 2021, to build a web page full of games, virtual experiences, educational videos and live online events.
The celebration featured Facebook live videos that let people talk with park rangers, learn how to plant a tree, or about birds of prey, reptiles and snakes, or about clean air and clean energy. There were Earth Day related coloring books, word-scramble games, puzzles and videos. Visitors could learn about what the County is doing about climate change and reducing greenhouse gases. There were virtual scavenger hunts, hikes and tours. It was, in all, a celebration!
Again, these are just a few examples of how LUEG employees met the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. No surprise. They did it with HEART.
Remember that our Customer Experience Initiative website is a resource for you. You can get information on training, find a printable HEART job aid and review our Journey to a Positive Experience.
Go Fishing with PISCE
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Join the Pacific Islander Society of County Employees (PISCE) for a half-day of deep sea fishing on May 15. This is a family-friendly event is open to County employees, family and friends.
Tickets include a one-day fishing license, use of a fishing pole and tackle, live bait, food and other goodies.
Space is limited. Register early so you don’t miss the boat. It will be “reel” fun!
Tour Our Trails with EWA
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The Emerging Workforce Association (EWA) challenges you to opt-outside for the “Tour Our Trails” Challenge with County Parks & Rec at the Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch on Sunday, April 25.
Adventurers should meet between 9 and 9:15 a.m. at the Goodan Ranch staging area located at 16281 Sycamore Canyon Road in Poway. The trek starts at 9:15 a.m. and should be completed by noon.
Wear comfortable clothing/footwear, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and anything else you may need. All COVID-19 protocols and Public Health Orders must be adhered to. (To learn more about how County Parks is taking actions to help slow the spread of COVID-19, click here.)
For more information and to register to join EWA on the Sycamore Canyon Hike this Sunday, please click here.
Before you hit the trail, take a virtual tour with the video below.
How to Talk with Children About Social Identity
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Update: Additional resources have been added to this article.
How do you talk to your kids about race, ethnicity, gender, religion or class? Those conversations can be hard. NPR and the team behind "Sesame Street" have been collaborating on a podcast for parents. Listen to this 3-minute clip or dive deeper into the topic with this article.
Visit HERE for more resources.