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The West WIND

The California Natural Resources Agency's Wellness Information and News Digest

January 13, 2021

Happy New Year!

We hope your holiday season was filled with relaxation and opportunities to create new fond memories. As we enter 2022, many of us may commit to New Year’s resolutions. Now is the opportune time to better our personal wellness and the wellness of those around us.

Bring in the New Year with Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot as he delivers his 2022 Priorities in a special Secretary Speaker Series. 

Recent COVID-19 Cases Remind Us to Stay Vigilant

A new surge of COVID-19 cases fueled by the Omicron variant reminds us of the importance of staying vigilant in reducing our exposure to the virus. The individual actions we all make will affect the spread of the virus. Governor Newsom announced significant investments in the state's ability to respond to the virus in his 2022-23 proposed budget. Visit the California Department of Public Health's website for the latest information on COVID-19.

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we commemorate Dr. King’s lifelong efforts and historic achievements in the civil-rights movement. On this day we honor the civil-rights leader’s legacy and reflect on the values he uplifted throughout his life. In his fight for racial justice, Dr. King emphasized that “all life is interrelated”—a message our team works to uplift through our shared priorities of preserving California’s biodiversity, building climate resilience, and expanding equitable access to the outdoors.

The California African American Museum, one of the many entities within the California Natural Resources Agency, will be hosting virtual events in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with additional events in January we encourage you to attend.

• King Day 2022, January 17, 11:00 a.m. PST – 1:00 p.m. PST
• In Conversation: Margo Jefferson and Allyson Hobbs, January 18, 7:00 p.m. PST – 8:30 p.m. PST
• In Conversation: Patrisse Cullors and Angela Davis, January 27, 7:00 p.m. PST – 8:30 p.m. PST

Hero Chronicles

Our hero chronicles in this West WIND highlights all those who works to keep communities safe during the 2021 fire season. Accelerating impacts of climate change are making a near year-round wildfire season, and we are so appreciative of those risking their lives for the safety of others. Check out CAL FIRE's year-in-review video here.

If you know of a person or group who has stepped up in an extraordinary or unexpected way, we want to feature them. Please share uplifting and inspiring people – sharing, giving, sacrificing – to Mark Borges.

Featured Photo - Scenic California

David Vives captured this photo of California Sea Lions on Pier 39 of San Francisco.

If you would like to submit a photo you’ve taken to be shared in the West WIND, please email Mark Borges with a brief description.

A Day in the Life

Meet Erica Uhor, Environmental Planner for the California Tahoe Conservancy and the next contender on our Day in the Life series. After nearly 8 years of fighting fires seasonally for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the United States Forest Service (USFS), Erica began to look into other State Departments and Agencies that could align with her long-term personal and career goals.

Now with the Tahoe Conservancy, Erica handles a range of land management issues arising on the Conservancy’s land and serves as a lead for urban lot restoration projects. “My favorite part of my current role is working and collaborating with different agencies to implement projects that benefit the Tahoe Basin,” says Erica.

Visit our full Day in the Life series for coverage on team members throughout the Agency.

Virtual Water Cooler

Tweet of the Day

Telework Tip

Have plenty of ventilation. A workspace with poor ventilation can leave you feeling worn out or tired. Working in a stuffy room can lower the air quality in the room. It’s a good idea to make sure you have good air circulation so that you stay cool and your computer equipment does not overheat. Additionally, try to avoid placing your computer equipment in direct or filtered sunlight, as this can contribute to overheating your equipment and your workspace. Use an overhead fan or floor fan, if it helps, to help maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the day.

Visit more telework tips at Telework.govops.ca.gov.

Digital Cork Board

Click on the images below to learn more!

Live Webinars

Start Anew in 2022 - January 19, 12:00-12:45 p.m.

Start the new year with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of excitement for what the year will bring. Whether you are thinking about a new health goal or maintaining good health, join us as we start anew in 2022!

Registration Link

Be Your Own Personal Trainer-Let's Move - January 26, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Becoming the best version of yourself requires continuous edits to your fitness habits. Together we’ll work to overcome barriers and practice some fun short workouts to include cardio, strength exercises and flexibility, and provide tips to keep you moving.

Registration Link

Past Healthier U Connections Webinars

Visit the webinar recording webpage to access a list of previously recorded wellness webinars.

If you have an event or item you would like highlighted on the Digital Cork Board, please email Mark Borges.

Upcoming Webinar

It’s My Budget & I’m Sticking to It! - Thursday, January 27th

Register Here for 9:00-10:00 a.m. PST 

Register Here for 12:00-1:00 p.m. PST

What is Thrive@Resources?

Thrive@Resources is a movement across our agency aimed at helping us grow as employees and people to innovate, diversify, and empower one another. It provides resources to transform our workplace and support our workforce, enabling us to build dynamic teams that work together to advance our mission. Learn more at thrive.cnra.ca.gov. 

On a mission to restore, protect and manage California's natural, historical and cultural resources