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WIN Newsletter March 2025
Office of the Governor / Office of Financial Management sent this bulletin at 03/20/2025 03:57 PM PDT
WIN membership is open to all current and former Washington State Employees
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 Says Goodbye to Co-Chair Roy Salonga
WIN's Co-Chair Roy Salonga recently announced that he is stepping down as WIN's Co-Chair and is leaving state service. Roy has been a great leader for WIN, and he will be missed by all of us.
Rokaih Vansot (Co-Chair) Shared a Goodbye Statement for Roy
Dear Roy,
As we come to this moment of transition, I reflect on the incredible journey we've shared together at the Washington Immigrant Network. Your contributions as Co-Chair have been truly invaluable, and it's been an honor to work alongside you.
From the very start of your term, your dedication to our mission and your unwavering support for our immigrant communities have shone brightly. Your leadership has helped shape WIN into what it is today—a stronger, more inclusive platform that effectively advocates for the needs and rights of immigrants in Washington. Your insightful guidance, collaborative spirit, and tireless work ethic have inspired all of us.
Thank you for your immense contribution, Roy. Your positive impact will resonate within the network and the communities we serve for years to come. As you move on to new endeavors, know that you have left a lasting legacy, and you will always be a cherished part of the WIN family.
Wishing you the very best in your future undertakings. May your path be filled with success and fulfillment.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Rokaih Vansot
WIN Co-Chair
Roy's Farewell Message to WIN
Dear WIN members,
I hope this message finds you well. It is with a mixture of gratitude and bittersweet emotions that I write to inform you that I will be stepping down from my Co-Chair role with Washington Immigrant Network. After much reflection, I have decided that it is time for me to pass the baton to someone else who can continue to help this incredible community grow and thrive.
Over the course of my time with WIN, I’ve had the honor of working alongside so many talented and passionate individuals who share a common goal: to support and uplift our immigrant state employees and community. Together, we have made strides, overcome challenges, and created spaces of belonging and opportunity. It has been an enriching journey, and I am immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished.
This decision was not made lightly. Leading WIN has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and I will always cherish the relationships built and the moments of growth I’ve witnessed within the team and WIN. The passion and commitment that each of you brings to the table are truly inspiring, and I have full faith in the continued success of this important work.
While I may be stepping down from my Co-Chair position, I am still deeply committed to supporting this cause and our community in any way I can. I will always be a part of this family, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside each of you.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your dedication, your hard work, and your trust. The experiences we’ve shared will stay with me forever, and I’m excited to see how WIN will continue to evolve and expand in the future.
I know the next chapter will be filled with even more success, and I am excited to see the new leadership take us to greater heights. Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve, for the support, and for making this experience unforgettable.
Wishing you all the very best in the journey ahead.
Warmly,
Roy Salonga
Joanne Lee Returns as Interim WIN Co-Chair!
With Roy Salonga's departure, former WIN Chair Joanne Lee has graciously agreed to return to a leadership role, serving as interim Co-chair, alongside Rokaih Vansot, until July when Teddy Kemirembe will take on the role of Co-Chair.
Joanne is a Deputy Assistant Director for the Equity & Employee Development Division at the State of Washington Department of Enterprise Services. She is a 2023 Excellence in Washington State Government Leadership Award recipient.
In addition to serving as a Chair at the Washington Immigrant Network (WIN), she also served as the Leadership Development Lead for the Hawaiians, Asians, and Pacific Islanders Empowerment Network (HAPPEN), and as a Board Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Seattle SHRM.
Joanne earned her Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix. She holds a Master of Arts in Instructional Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from California State University, San Bernardino. Currently, she is a member of the Business faculty at the Seattle Colleges. On a personal note, Joanne loves to travel with her family.
Joanne will help as we start the process to nominate and elect the next WIN Vice-Chair in May.
Rokaih Shared a Welcoming Message for Joanne
Dear Joanne,
On behalf of the Washington Immigrant Network (WIN), I am thrilled to welcome you as our new Co-Chair. Your appointment comes at a significant time, and we are excited to have you on board as a past WIN Chair to share your expertise, passion, and dedication with us.
As we honor Roy's remarkable contributions, your presence offers continuity and fresh perspectives, ensuring our mission remains vibrant and impactful. Your commitment to the cause and your previous advocacy work makes you an ideal leader to guide us through this transition period until the end of June.
We are confident that your co-chairpersonship will bring new energy and inspiration to our initiatives. We eagerly anticipate the great ideas and progress that will come under your leadership as we continue to champion the rights and needs of immigrant communities across Washington.
Thank you, Joanne, for stepping into this role and joining us on this journey. We look forward to working together and achieving great things under your guidance.
Warm regards,
Rokaih Vansot
WIN Co-Chair
Immigrant Story - Yan Heng
At the February 4th General Membership meeting, Yan Heng shared the dramatic and difficult story of her journey from Cambodia to Washington. Here is some of what Yan shared with the group:
My name is Yan Heng. As a first-generation Cambodian immigrant, I am proud to say that I am the first in my family to graduate from 4-year college from The Evergreen State College. I have four sons. My family escaped from Khmer Rouge in 1974. I came to America in 1983. About ten years of my childhood, I suffered in the refugee camp. I settled in Tacoma and never lived outside of Washington state.
I started with state service in 2000 in the Community Services Office, as GAU and SSI facilitator. A year later I was promoted into a Social Services Specialist 3 position in Bremerton. I worked there for five years and received cross training to provide case management and assessments to clients in their own homes, residential settings, nursing facilities and hospitals. I transferred to the Tacoma HCS office in 2006 as a residential case manager and was in that position until a recent promotion to HQ. Before working for DSHS, I worked as a certified chemical dependency lead counselor for five years at Pierce County Alliance, and, prior to that, I worked as a Cambodian Mental Health case manager for seven years.
When not working, I am involved with the Cambodian Classical and Folkdance of the Pacific Northwest. I perform traditional and cultural dances throughout Washington in different ethnic and mainstream events. I enjoy traveling, hiking, camping, exercising, dancing, and gardening.
Be sure to join us at the next WIN Membership Meeting on April 1st to hear (and share your own) stories like these.
Share Your Immigrant Story
We are collecting Immigrant Stories to highlight in our newsletter, social media, YouTube and website. Fill out our online form to share your Immigrant Story with us and submit a release form.
Thank you! We are looking forward to amplifying your story!
Share Your Voice! Help Shape Our Belonging Workshop
The Committee is preparing for the next training session, scheduled for April 23rd, and the topic is Belonging.
As we prepare for our upcoming Belonging Training, we want to ensure it reflects the real experiences and needs of our members. Your input is essential in shaping a meaningful and impactful session.
Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey and share your thoughts on what belonging means to you, the challenges you face, and the topics you’d like us to focus on.
Your feedback will help us create a training that is relevant, supportive, and valuable for our community. The survey will be open until March 28th 2025, so we’d love to hear from you soon!
Thank you for your time and for being part of this important conversation. If you have any questions or additional thoughts, feel free to reach out.
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Empowerment Conference will be held June 4, 5, 11, & 12 and they need volunteers!
The DEI Empowerment Conference is a unique learning opportunity designed by and for Washington state employees. The goal of the conference is to foster a culture, systems, and practices that prioritize inclusion and belonging in our state workforce. Sessions highlight lived experience and ideas for creating inclusive Washington communities and workplaces.
The organizers are in need of Session Moderators, DEI Production Assistants, and Zoom Production Specialists. If you are interested in helping share your skills to deliver a successful conference experience, please take this survey and select any roles and sessions you would like to be considered for.
The Department of Enterprise Services offers free courses for Washington state employees. Boost your skills and grow your career with their free workshops and e-learning courses. Exclusively for Washington state executive agencies, these sessions are designed to help you learn, develop, and succeed. Use the links below for course registration information.
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 18, 2025, at the L&I Headquarters building in Tumwater, Washington. Save the date and stay tuned for more details!
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The event organizers are looking for volunteers to help plan and deliver a fantastic event. If you are interested in helping, please email Amel Alsalman (DSHS/FFA). She will invite you to the next planning meeting.
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.
Washington Immigrant Network Business Resource Group Mentoring Program mentors are current or former state employees that have experience navigating the various routes to state employment and career advancement. Mentors are ready to share their experience with their mentees, whether those mentees are current or prospective state employees.
The program’s goals are to facilitate a more culturally and ethnically diverse state workforce which, in turn, will allow us to serve our customers better, and 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.
Research shows that 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.
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?
Get support from a WIN mentor. Become a WIN mentee.
Start by meeting our mentors. Review their bios and see if there is someone you would feel comfortable connecting with.
Establish a formal mentoring relationship by completing our online Mentoring Request Form
Become a WIN Mentor
Mentors must be current or former state employees that have experience navigating the various routes to state employment and career advancement. Mentors must be ready to share their experience with their mentees, whether those mentees are current or prospective state employees. Submit a Mentor Application Form if you are interested in being a WIN Mentor.
Louder Together: Intersectionality in Uncertain Times
The Office of Equity and Washington State's Community-Focused Commissions invite you to participate in a panel discussion for WA State Employees. Come join us at this virtual panel discussion to spotlight the importance of intersectionality in coalition-building, community support, and systems change.
Event Date & Time: March 26, 2025 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm
SAVE THE DATE! for two upcoming WIN programs that will commemorate historic events.
April 24, Noon – 1:30 pmCelebrating 50 Years of Resilience – Vietnamese Americans in Washington.
Next month will be the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, which marked the end of the Vietnam War. It was the start of three waves of Vietnamese immigrants coming to the U.S. since 1975. Speakers will share their immigrant journeys and reflect on the resilience of the Vietnamese American community in Washington state.
Tam Bui, District Court Judge, Snohomish County. She and her family fled Saigon on April 30, 1975.
Nam Nguyen, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. Born in Saigon, he came to the U.S. in 1989 as a young child.
My-Linh Thai, Representative, 41st District, Washington House of Representatives. At the age of 15, she immigrated to as a Vietnamese refugee with her family.
Come hear their stories and reflections on the challenges and successes they have experienced as immigrants.
May 22, Noon – 1:30 pmBirthright Citizenship & Wong Kim Ark’s Victory.
Who is Wong Kim Ark? What was his story? Why does his victory before the U.S. Supreme Court matter? On March 28, 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grant birthright citizenship to all persons born in the United States regardless of race or nationality. The court reviewed and decided Wong Kim Ark’s lawsuit based the language of the 14th Amendment.
Come hear what happened to Wong Kim Ark and why the court’s decision from 128 years ago is important now. Judge Andrea Chin, Seattle Municipal Court, and Lorraine Lee, WIN Founder, will present on Wong Kim Ark’s story and why the court’s decision was significant then and now.
Former WIN Executive Sponsor Lorraine Lee has provided a bit of fun and a thoughtful message for readers of this newsletter. Lorraine is creating a book of Word Search Puzzles with an American theme, and this month she has shared one based on the 14th Amendment.
Did You Know? The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, Section 1 states:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Now that you have read the 14th Amendment, have some fun by solving the word puzzle below.
The objective of this puzzle is to find and mark all the words listed at the bottom hidden inside the box. The words may be placed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. They may be written forward or backward.
You can print out this portion of the newsletter to use a pen or highlighter to mark the words you find, or you can just look at the screen and try to spot each word.
Working for Washington State is work that matters!
For a complete listing of Washington State career opportunities, go to:
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.
