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As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of our HAPPEN Business Resource Group community.
This year has been filled with learning, collaboration, and meaningful conversations, and none of it would be possible without your engagement, ideas, and support. Together, we’ve continued to foster connection, inclusion, and growth within our organization.
As we enter the holiday season, we hope you have time to rest, recharge, and celebrate in ways that are meaningful to you. We look forward to continuing our work together in the new year and building on the momentum we’ve created.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a healthy, successful year ahead.
Warm regards,
HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team
What's HAPPENing in the BRG Family
HAPPEN is hosting our 3rd annual ANHPI Heritage Month Celebration. Save the date in your calendar and join us as we celebrate the diverse cultures of our BRG.
 Join the ANHPI Planning Committee! Do you love bringing events to life? Enjoy coordinating resources and creating memorable spaces for your community? We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help plan and make our ANHPI events unforgettable. Email HAPPEN@ofm.wa.gov to volunteer.
Get involved and make an impact!
Special Elections:
Communications Coordinator
The Communications Coordinator position is up for special elections on the HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team (ELT):
Nominations
Nominate yourself or someone else by completing our nomination form.
- Nominations form will remain open until candidates are confirmed.
Nomination Form
Elections
Nominations are now open for the upcoming HAPPEN election. Once the slate of candidates is confirmed, all HAPPEN members—as defined in Article IV, Section I of our bylaws—will be invited to vote for their preferred candidate(s)
Once the nomination period ends and election polls officially open, members will be able to cast their votes by completing the election form.
The Equity Learning Series
Small Business Inclusion Webinar
The Washington State Office of Equity is excited to continue our Equity Learning Series into 2026! We start the new year off with an amazing partnership with Earl Key. Earl is the Senior Director of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Webinar Details
Webinar Description
This webinar will discuss the current state of affirmative action in public contracting and WSDOT’s efforts to implement race-neutral small business initiatives in response.
Earl Key has been kind enough to bring his experience, knowledge, and subject matter expertise around supplier diversity. He is an experienced lawyer, advisor and advocate who is recognized for his work to improve minority representation, equal opportunity hiring and compliance.
Preventing Veteran Suicide by Combating Stigma: Building Awareness and Support Webinar
The Washington State Office of Equity is excited to announce that we have rescheduled our Combating Stigma webinar.
We have partnered with Nicole Vreeland, the Suicide Prevention Program Manager with Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Together we felt this was a perfect opportunity for another Equity Learning Series webinar: Preventing Veteran Suicide by Combating Stigma: Building Awareness and Support.
Webinar Details
Webinar Description
This session will explore the critical issue of stigma surrounding mental health and suicide within the Service Member, Veteran, and Family (SMVF) community. Stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking help, contributing to isolation, misinformation, and lack of access to essential mental health services.
This training focuses on understanding the types of stigmas – self, public, and institutional. We work through how stigma impacts mental health and practical steps to reduce its presence. Participants will engage in meaningful discussion to challenge and address stigma, foster supportive peer networks, and promote help-seeking behavior.
Through interactive breakout sessions and guided discussions, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the emotional and cultural factors that contribute to stigma. Attendees will walk away able to identify barriers to mental health care within the military community, Finally, they will be able to develop actionable strategies for creating a more supportive and empathetic environment.
Preventing Veteran Suicide by Combating Stigma: Building Awareness and Support aims to empower participants to take an active role in reducing stigma and supporting suicide prevention efforts in their communities. The goal is to foster resilience, normalize conversations about mental health, and reduce the risk of suicide by promoting early intervention and a strong network of support.
What's HAPPENing in the News
 We’re proud to share that Gary F. Locke, former Governor of Washington State, has been selected to receive the National Academy of Public Administration’s Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service. This prestigious national honor recognizes individuals who demonstrate integrity, principled leadership, and a deep commitment to serving the public good.
This recognition highlights Governor Locke’s distinguished career and lasting contributions to public service, and we are pleased to share this milestone with our BRG community. For more information: Congratulations to C100 Chair Gary Locke
Cultural Events & Activities
The following are some activities you may want to check out HAPPENing:
The Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) is once again hosting its annual A&NH/PI Legislative Day in Olympia on February 5th.
This event brings together community members from across the state to meet with legislators and advocate for policies and programs that impact Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. APIC invites community members to join in this important day of advocacy.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/2026anhpilegday
In a time of unprecedented anti-immigrant sentiment, this legislative day is an opportunity to show elected officials that—rain, shine, or snow—our communities show up. Even during a short legislative session, it is critical to send a clear message that Washington State must protect its most vulnerable immigrant communities.
The day will begin with a rally at the Capitol to ensure elected leaders see, hear, and feel the strength of our communities. Following the rally, constituents will meet with their state legislators to advocate for APIC’s legislative priorities, including:
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Continuing essential programs and services for immigrants
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Protecting immigrant workers
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Ensuring the state budget is not balanced on the backs of working-class families
All registered participants will receive lobby training and materials outlining APIC’s legislative priorities in advance.
Join APIC in making voices heard and collective power felt. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/2026anhpilegday
Additional important dates leading up to A&NH/PI Legislative Day:
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Virtual Legislative Briefing: January 14th at 5:30 PM (register here)
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Virtual Lobby Training #1: January 21st at 3:00 PM (register here)
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Virtual Lobby Training #2: January 28th at 3:00 PM (register here)
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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