Congratulations, DIN Leadership Team!

Please join us in congratulating the DIN Leadership team as the recipient of the Extra Mile Award at the PSRW 2024!

"The 2023–24 Leadership for the Disability Inclusion Network (DIN) Business Resource Group has a passion for evolving an inclusive and accessible workplace for people with disabilities throughout the state enterprise.

As volunteers to the work of DIN, the DIN leadership team of Linda, Stuart, Maggie and Sarah have been responsive and informative, leading conversations, action and concrete guidance in braiding inclusive practices around ASL, neuro-divergence, mental health, digital accessibility, recruitment and reasonable accommodations into the fabric of state agencies. They partner with peer BRG groups, agencies and individuals to support the DIN mission.

They reformatted the DIN general meetings to allow more time for members to engage in committee work and advocated strongly for ASL and CART usage in all BRG general meetings as a way to also welcome Deaf and Deaf Blind state employees into the broad work of the BRGs.

The DIN leadership understand the intersectionality inherent in disability—people with disabilities exist within all communities and identities—and the leadership group forges alliances and collaborations to ensure the belonging of people with disabilities of all backgrounds in the state enterprise. The DIN leadership is passionate, caring, creative, motivated and seemingly tireless in forwarding the mission of the Disability Inclusion Network"

Nominated by Michael MacKillop

Tenemos que hablar del Cinco de Mayo - We need to talk about Cinco de Mayo

Hola,

The arrival of May means we will begin seeing beer and bar advertisements for Cinco de Mayo celebrations. While this US holiday seemingly celebrates Hispanic heritage, it is misunderstood and presents opportunity for misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and for folks to feel as if they are not included and don’t belong. This means that while agencies may hold Cinco de Mayo events intending to be inclusive, these celebrations may be harmful or backfire.

Over the last few years, the Washington State Latino Leadership Network (LLN) has received multiple contacts from state employees concerned with or offended by Cinco de Mayo celebrations and advertisements. We’re raising this issue for awareness so that we can more broadly address the issue.

Some quick notes on Cinco de Mayo

• Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day (that’s September 16th and occurred 50 years before Cinco De Mayo).
• Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over France in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla.
• Outside of Puebla, Mexico largely does not celebrate Cinco De Mayo or recognize the day as a holiday.
• In the 1960’s Chicano civil rights activists used Cinco de Mayo as a way to inspire the Latino community contributions and history.
• In the 1980’s beer maker, Coors Brewing, provided a $350 million donation to Latino organizations ending a long-standing boycott by Chicano activists. This began the shift to the current mass-marketed, commercialized fiesta seen today.

Recommendations on inclusivity and Cinco de Mayo

If your agency or team is considering holding a Cinco de Mayo celebration, consider some of the following to provide a more inclusive work environment.

• Recognize that this is largely a US celebration, and the Latino community includes members from a wide variety of backgrounds and identities. Referring to any and every member of the Latino community as “Mexican” is harmful erasure.
• Review and update flyers or celebration materials for cultural appropriateness or offensive imagery. Just because you have seen similar décor in a restaurant does not make it appropriate for a celebration in the workplace. (remember Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexican Independence Day)
• If an employee raises concerns about an event or flyer, listen to them and make changes to be more culturally sensitive.
• Consider holding an event during Hispanic Heritage month instead (September 15th – October 15th).
• Include employees who identify as Hispanic, Latino, Mexican-American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, South American, Central American, others of Latino and Hispanic heritage and allies in the planning for Cinco de Mayo events.

While we recognize the intention may be to provide an inclusive environment or celebrate Mexican-American culture, the impact of stereotypical representation perpetuates othering and may have negative impacts on your belonging efforts.

Sincerely,

The Washington State Latino Leadership Network

Tenemos que hablar del Cinco de Mayo.pdf

ICSEW 2024 Professional Development Conference - Musician Call to Action

ICSEW's annual professional development conference is scheduled for October 8 and 9, 2024. The conference theme this year "Making HERstory: Breaking Boundaries, Building Bridges" emphasizes breaking barriers and forging connections to create a more inclusive and collaborative business environment. Their hope is to encourage women to expand their horizons and provide support to one another.

ICSEW is looking for musicians and solo artists who would love to provide 1 – 3 recorded songs that fit our theme. ICSEW will play these song(s) during the breaks between speakers. You can provide a video, a link to a video, an audio file, or link to an audio file. ICSEW will display a photo or biography of you while your music plays if you don’t have a video.

If you are not a state employee, you may be compensated for the use of your recording. ICSEW is also very happy to accept any recordings that may be provided free of charge.

The audience will have access to a recording of the entire conference (including music played) for 30 days following the presentation. ICSEW is made up of state and higher education employees of all ages, races, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. ICSEW meetings are open to anyone regardless of gender or employment status, so they do occasionally have attendees who are internal/external partners.

Time Commitment   The conference will be held virtually over two days with speaker slots from 45 minutes to 90 minutes and limited 2-hour interactive workshop style formats (including a break). There are breaks built in between each speaker session to allow for highlighted musicians and solo artists. ICSEW would love to help promote local talent.

Platform  The conference will be held virtually via Zoom.

There may be an in-person networking opportunity the day after the conference has ended (October 10th, tentatively) at a location yet to be determined. If you are interested in providing music in person in the Olympia area on October 10, please include that information, along with fees, in the application.  

Please let ICSEW know if you are interested by May 10, 2024.    

ICSEW will need the following information: 

• Artist Name/Group Name (Is anyone in your group an employee of WA State? Who?) 
• Contact person’s name, mailing address, phone number, preferred pronouns and email. 
• Short Bio (which will be displayed in our conference materials and on our website.) 
• Title and length (in minutes/seconds) of each song and if there is a theme or meaning behind your song choice. 
• Links to your audio file, website, or music videos 
• Your desired fee (if not a state employee) – Are you already a registered vendor with the State of WA? (If not, and you charge a fee, ICSEW will help you get registered.) 

Apply/Express Interest Here

APIC AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration