Check out this WIN BRG-produced video that raises awareness about Washington State as an employer of choice for immigrant communities, showcases the diversity of the state workforce, and promotes the State as a welcoming environment where immigrants can feel valued and appreciated.
WIN Membership Survey
You Belong - So let's make it feel like home!
WIN is all about our members. We would love for you to provide input on what you want to see from WIN this year. Click the link below or use the QR code (via your phone) to access a membership survey.
As a Washington State employee and an Arab American, getting the opportunity to join the Washington Immigrant Network (WIN) was one of the very first times I felt seen as an Arab American at work. It has given me the chance to connect with and advocate for other state employees from my community. This month, WIN invites you to take some time to learn more about some of the contributions of Arab Americans in your field of work. You can start by checking out the Arab American Institute to read about notable contributions made to music, art, fashion, and science and technology innovation!
I am a first generation Arab American. I was born and raised here, but my parents immigrated to the United States in the 80s. My dad is Jordanian, and my mom is a refugee from Iraq. Both learned English, got jobs, and contributed to their communities while raising me and my two siblings. My mom went on to get her master’s degree to become an elementary school teacher. My dad made friends with literally everyone in a 20-mile radius of our home. It wasn’t all easy though. After 9/11, my dad lost his job, and it seems no one would hire him for having an “Arabic sounding” name. My mom worried about my siblings and I getting bullied or attacked at school. This worry is the daily reality of many Arab Americans, especially as our community is increasingly stereotyped due to international politics with the US and the Middle East.
Read more of Nadine's immigrant story on the WIN website.
Share Your Immigrant Story
We are collecting Immigrant Stories to highlight in our newsletter, social media, YouTube and website.
Please submit your short immigrant story by completing the form below or by video recording.
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.
Hosts: Gina O’Neill, Gwen Willis, & Raquel Rice, Professional & Career Development Co-Chairs
Are you interested in improving your public speaking skills for in-person or virtual meetings?
WIN is hosting an event to help you develop public speaking skills for meetings or other events.
This is a supportive and inclusive environment where we will comfortably engage in speaking and evaluation activities.
Please have a two-minute speech prepared that you would like to receive feedback on. It can be any topic. Be prepared to receive constructive feedback.
Each year, WIN celebrates the diversity and contributions from our immigrant communities and family. We extend an invitation for all state employees to join us in-person or virtually.
The WIN Business Resource Group's Immigrant Heritage Month celebration will be held on June 4. 2024, at the L&I Headquarters building in Tumwater, Washington. Save the date and stay tuned for more details!
WIN NEEDS YOU!
Seeking Volunteers
WIN Membership Outreach
WIN is seeking a chair and co-leads for our WIN Membership Outreach subcommittee. These positions will oversee and manage WIN BRG outreach through various agencies and communities. This team is responsible for coordinating outreach events and oversees all immigrant and ally membership outreach and retention.
There are many opportunities to get involved in helping grow the Washington Immigrant Network. Please consider sharing your talents with the community. Thank you!
Research says a good mentor inspires, motivates, stretches, connects, and helps develop your Emotional Intelligence. They also open your mind to your potential and opportunities. A good mentor can also provide a safe space to learn, experiment, and ask questions. The Washington Immigrant Network Business Resource Group Mentoring Program's goal is to retain and support immigrant state employees in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive and advance their careers, as well as recruit new employees from the immigrant community. The program establishes and facilitates direct, trusting relationships between volunteer mentors and their assigned mentees.
How can I connect with a mentor? For current or prospective state employees, visit Meet our Mentors. We have mentors from several state agencies from various ethnic backgrounds with varied expertise and experiences, including multilingual. After reviewing the mentor's profiles, submit your mentoring request here.
WIN's Mentoring Program Now Accepting New Mentees & Mentors
Become a WIN Mentee
Are you new to state service?
Are you seeking guidance on how to manage your career goals?
Do you need someone to talk to and share ideas with?
If yes, then WIN's Mentoring Program maybe a good resource for you. You can view WIN's list of eligible mentors to see if there is someone whose career experience and background would be a good match. After reviewing the mentor's profiles, you can submit your mentoring request here. Questions about the Mentor Program?
Questions about the Mentor Program? Please reach out to Christina Pourarien, Chair & Kathleen Quinene, Mentoring Program Administrator at Washington Immigrant Network, at win@ofm.wa.gov.
Become a WIN Mentor
The WIN Mentoring Program supports immigrant state employees in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive and advance their careers, as well as recruit new employees from the immigrant community at large. Learn more about becoming a mentor at: WIN's Mentoring Program.
We want to hear from you!
Please provide us input on what you would like to see at upcoming WIN mentoring events by completing the survey available at the link or QR code below:
WIN would like to invite you to share with us the holidays and observance you celebrate in your culture. We want to showcase these significant celebrations on or website and social media. If you are interested in sharing your cultural celebrations with WIN, please email us at WIN@ofm.wa.gov
Recent and Upcoming Holidays and Observances:
April 1-30 – Arab American Heritage Month
April 1-30 – Autism Awareness Month
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
April 7 – World Health Day
April 9-10 – Eid al-Fitr
April 22 – International Mother Earth Day
April 25 – World Malaria Day
April 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Public Service RECOGNITION WEEK May 5-11, 2024
Olympia celebration | Wednesday, May 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join us on the East Lawn of the Capitol Campus on Wednesday May 8, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Grab a hot dog, visit vendor booths, chat with fellow state employees and enjoy the DJ and live band.
To request an accommodation or enquire about accessibility, please contact shrplanning@ofm.wa.gov by April 25. ASL interpreters will be available at the information tent as well as on-stage during the program from 12 to 12:30 p.m.
Spokane celebration | Thursday, May 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join us at the National Guard Readiness Center, Bldg. G, Thursday, May 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Spokane PSRW Celebration! We will have lunches, vendor booths, activities and prizes.
Tri-Cities celebration | Thursday, May 9, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate with us at the Southridge Sports Complex in Kennewick. Hamburgers, hotdogs and beverages will be provided. Enjoy rides on the Gesa Carousel from 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Join us at the ballpark for a celebration of Washington State Employees Night Saturday, May 11, at 6:40 p.m. The Seattle Mariners are proud to recognize the work you do to make our communities stronger across the Pacific Northwest. Take advantage of specially priced tickets and bring your co-workers, friends and family to watch the Seattle Mariners take on the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park!
In the spirit of recognizing public service, the Office of Financial Management opened nominations earlier this year for the Excellence in Washington State Government Leadership Award, and the Extra Mile Award. OFM will award recipients during PSRW.
Join us in person for the 2024 Fatherhood Summit where we will release findings from the State of Fathers in Washington Study and roll up our sleeves together to accelerate system transformation for fathers and families.
This year's event theme is Counting Fathers Because Kids Matter. We highly value the voices of fathers in this work, and some support for travel costs is available for dads to attend the event, including mileage, hotel, childcare expenses, meals for overnight attendees and compensation for lived experience for a limited number of fathers (contact us with any questions).
Keynote Speaker: Dr. David W. Willis, MD, FAPP
Dr. Willis is a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy and a national expert in pediatrics, early childhood systems and early relational health.
Nurturing Connection for Fathers, Families and Communities:
“There is overwhelming research and understanding that makes it clear that all children and their families benefit from strong, positive and nurturing father and father-figure relationships to grow and thrive. To solve complex issues that often marginalize fathers’ roles, we must build bridges and listen to and trust one another. We will spend the day listening to one another and building bridges and connections around the findings in the State of Fathers in Washington Study to increase fathers’ access, equity and belonging.”
Additional Event Features
Washington Dads Panel sharing their experiences and hopes for greater access, inclusion and belonging in our child and family systems.
State Agency Partner Panel sharing their findings and priorities for the near and long term.
Department of Corrections
Department of Children, Youth and Families
Department of Social and Health Services, Economic Services Administration
Health Care Authority
Department of Health
Group Discussions for attendees to bring their expertise and support to the collective work of moving priorities forward.
The Washington Fatherhood Council is excited to announce our new annual award to honor and celebrate the amazing dads and allies who help make our state a great place to parent and raise children.
Click here to nominate dads and professionals who make a difference for fathers and families. Winners will be announced during lunch at the 2024 Fatherhood Summit.
Nominations close at midnight on April 19, 2024.
Thank you to our 2024 Fatherhood Summit sponsors!
Dept. of Social & Health Services; Dept. of Health; Dept. of Corrections; Commerce; Children, Youth, & Families; and Health Care Authority
Share your Voice!
PEAR Nominations - Open
The Washington State Office of Equity is excited to announce that the 2024 PEAR (Pro-Equity Anti-Racism) S.T.A.R. (Show, Transform, Act, Reflect) Award nominations are open!
The Office of Equity understands the value of uplifting the remarkable work happening within agencies and our communities. We want to know who is showing up and making a difference. Please nominate those who serve as great examples of how we can all be instrumental in creating a sense of belonging for all. We are accepting nominations for one state agency and one community organization for each of the 15 Determinants of Equity. Thank you in advance for your efforts to ensure the unrecognized are now celebrated in this area.
The winners will be recognized at the first-ever PEAR S.T.A.R. Awards ceremony during the 2024 We the People Convening!
Statewide business resource groups (BRGs) bring together groups of employees and their allies who have a common interest or characteristic. All BRGs have a charter, mission, goals and bylaws and contribute to an overall statewide business strategy. BRG members bring their unique knowledge and perspectives, making them an asset to state business needs, such as recruitment and retention. (OFM.wa.gov/BRGs)
Support the professional development of immigrant state employees. Recommend strategies to advance recruitment, retention, career progression and leadership development. Educate state agencies on the experience, skills and knowledge of immigrants and the value of a diverse workforce.
WHAT WE DO:
Provide a support structure, educational resources and leadership assistance for immigrant state employees. Encourage immigrants to consider the state as an employer of choice through inter-agency and external outreach activities. Serve as a resource for the Office of Financial Management, State Human Resources division and state agencies in creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.
