Leadership Team Update
Thank you to all who participated in HAPPEN's Executive Leadership Team (ELT) election this summer! We're proud to announce our community leaders who've accepted new roles in the following positions:
Administrative Liaison
Leilani Martinez
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Co-chair
Evelyn Tuiaana
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Community Outreach Lead
Naghmana Sherazi
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Membership Coordinator
Jason Lim
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Mentorship Lead
Kennly Asato
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Treasurer
Titu Hariharan
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November 13 General Meeting
Please join us on November 13th!
HAPPEN general membership meetings are scheduled the second Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 810 6147 0109 Passcode: 571168
One tap mobile +12532158782,,81061470109#,,,,*571168# US (Tacoma) +16699009128,,81061470109#,,,,*571168# US (San Jose)
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HAPPEN does not meet in December. We look forward to seeing you November 13, followed by January 8.
We would like to spotlight our communities’ Veterans for the month of November by posting their bio and a photo on our website. Please consider sharing a little about someone in your life who served and who you’d like to honor in this way. You can submit yourself, a relative, or someone you consider family. If you would like to submit a Veteran to honor, please complete the form below by COB November 8, 2024. We will get them posted as quickly as possible. |
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Reminder: SmartHealth $125 wellness incentive deadline approaching
Don’t miss your chance to qualify for the SmartHealth $125 wellness incentive!
The deadline is November 30 for most eligible subscribers. For new employees whose benefits begin between October 1 and December 31, the deadline is December 31.
How to qualify
Each year, complete the SmartHealth well-being assessment (worth 800 points) and reach a total of 2,000 SmartHealth points by the deadline. Eligible PEBB subscribers can qualify for a $125 wellness incentive.
Learn more
Visit SmartHealth (PEBB) for more information, including step-by-step log on instructions and answers to frequently asked questions.
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What's HAPPENing in the BRG Family
The Disability Inclusion Network (DIN) WANTS your input!
The Disability Inclusion Network (DIN) business resource group's annual Attitudes and Beliefs about Disabilities in the Workplace survey will close Nov 6th, 2024 at 5pm. Things to know about the survey:
- It seeks to better understand the experience of state employees with disabilities in the workplace.
- All responses are anonymous unless you chose to give your name.
- You do not have to have a disability to fill out this survey.
- This data is used to help the DIN create resources and opportunities to improve the employment experience of people with disabilities working for the State of Washington.
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Thank you very much for your time and for helping further our work of making WA state the employer of choice for people with disabilities! Read more in DIN's announcement and share your input. |
AAPI Latino families share how they combine their cultures
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Did you know that the number of people who identify as AAPI and Latino has more than doubled since 2000? California is home to roughly 300,000 of them. This article follows the lives of several AAPI Latinos and their joys and struggles of identifying with both cultures.
Pacific Islanders fill the gaps in medical studies
Pacific Islanders are often left out of medical studies — resulting in inadequate healthcare data and solutions for their communities. This University of Hawaii team is working to change that, by pushing for more inclusive research to better address the community's needs.
New short film features a Sikh superhero
The South Asian and Sikh American cartoonist Vishavjit Singh released a 10-minute animated film called “American Sikh”, which follows his life between the U.S. and India as he navigates post 9/11 hate and examines his identity.
Cultural Events & Activities
The following are some activities you may want to check out HAPPENing:
 Viewing Opportunity for Not Your Model Minority
The Seattle Colleges and Student Leadership are pleased to host award winning documentary filmmaker, Jon Osaki and his film, "Not Your Model Minority". This poignant film explores the myth and the intersections with past and present anti-Asian violence. The film reveals the ways the model minority myth has been used to create a wedge between communities of color, while also examining opportunities to build power towards addressing systemic racism in America. Osaki will also preview his upcoming film, Making Waves. The Rise of Asian America (which features Seattle) and engage in Q&A.
When: Thursday, October 31 from 10:30 am to noon
Where: Broadway Performance Hall
To request disability related accommodations, please contact Accessibility Resource Cener at arc.central@seattlecolleges.edu.
 Nearly 3 in 4 AA/PI adults recently participated in civic or political actions to reduce or resist racism. Whether that be through learning more about the history of racial discrimination in the U.S., sharing experiences to raise awareness, or engaging politically like contacting elected officials, AA/PI communities are showing up in big numbers.
“From Pain To Power: Asian American and Pacific Islander Activism in the Face of Hate,” which combines Stop AAPI Hate's reporting center data with key insights from their first annual national survey with NORC at University of Chicago to examine current state of anti-Asian American and anti-Pacific Islander (anti-AA/PI) hate, the impact on AA and PI communities, and how it’s driving civic engagement and political activation.
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Almost half (49%) of AA/PI adults experienced an act of hate in 2023 due to their race, ethnicity, or nationality — a reminder that hate remains pervasive across AA/PI communities.
- People who experienced hate were 5.6 times more likely to report moderate to severe anxiety and depression compared to people who did not.
- Among victims of hate, there is an alarming gap between the support people need and the support they receive. Over one-third (37%) did not receive legal assistance, mental health support, language services, and other kinds of needed support.
Stop AAPI Hate presented our findings at a D.C. press conference with leadership from the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and again at the White House Initiative on AA & NHPIs Policy Summit. They also distributed the report to all 535 members of the U.S. Congress, sending a clear message about the growing influence of AA/PI voters and the policies we need to keep our communities safe.
You can visit their website to learn more about the current state of anti-AA/PI Hate — including selected incidents from the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center, and recommendations for candidates, lawmakers, and committed individuals like yourself.
Have Something to Share?
We try our best to curate meaningful and relevant content, opportunities, news, etc., we think will be of interest for our members and allies. Representing over 100 countries and more than 50 communities makes it difficult to stay apprised of everything HAPPENing related to our collective community. We greatly appreciate when opportunities are shared from our members.
This is your bulletin. Feel free to send articles, resources, event information, etc., to be included in future bulletins, and eventually, our website and social media.
Process:
- Submit items by emailing them to HAPPEN@ofm.wa.gov by Thursday morning for the following week's bulletin.
- Time sensitive items submitted will be reviewed and included in the next bulletin.
- Non-time sensitive submissions will be added to the list to be included in future bulletins when we may be looking for content to share.
- Bulletins will usually be distributed on Mondays. Special bulletins will be sent only as needed to provide an update on something already shared or of an urgent nature.
Thank you in advance for sharing, uplifting, and elevating our voices, culture, and opportunities! This is what community looks like.
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