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Newsletter - January 10, 2022

2022 Legislative Session Opens

The 2022 legislative session opens today, January 10th in Olympia. Legislative buildings remain closed due to COVID-19 and session will be conducted remotely via Zoom.

 Known as 'short session,' this year's meeting is scheduled for 60 days but will address critical issues such as use of force by police officers. Consider participating in the legislative process by submitting written or video testimony on bills. Helpful guidance about how to give testimony can be found by going to www.leg.wa.gov.  Be sure to reach out to your representatives by contacting their offices by phone or email. The Legislative Hotline - 1-800-562-6000 - can be used to send a message to multiple members with one phone call.

With the onset of session, our weekly Legislative Update resumes this Friday, January 14th with the bills CAAA will be tracking this session.

Sidney Poitier was the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. During his career, he also won two Gold Globe Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award and a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. The ground-breaking actor, film director and ambassador died last week.

The Poitier family were tomato farmers living in Bahamas. Sidney Poitier was born several months premature while his parents were visiting Miami. He grew up in the Bahamas until age 15 - when his parents worried he was getting into trouble, sent him to live with an uncle in Miami.  At age 16, living with relatives in New York City, he joined the American Negro Theater to pursue acting. He played understudy to Harry Belafonte and spent months learning how to speak without his Bahamian accent by modeling his legendary speech pattern after a radio personality. Soon after, he landed a breakthrough role as a high school student in the film Blackboard Jungle. 

Particular about his onscreen persona, Poitier refused to play subservient, stereotypical roles and starred in monumental films such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and In the Heat of the Night.  He was the lone, leading Black actor in Hollywood – winning the 1964 Best Oscar for Lilies of the Field and voted the US’s top box-office star. Off screen, Poitier attended the 1963 March on Washington and met with civil rights workers in Mississippi. During the 70’s, Poitier moved into directing but returned to acting during the late 1980’s. He was a 1995 Kennedy Center Honoree and received  a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Sources: APnews.com; Biography.com; Blackpast.org; CNN.com; NYTimes.com; Wikipedia.com; 

Community Events

Employment Opportunities

Featured here are a few of the state agencies seeking applicants. Many more can be found at www.careers.wa.gov or via our website, www.caaa.wa.gov/employment

The Washington State Department of Equity is recruiting for a Senior Equity Policy Analyst provides values-driven, data informed policy solutions for effective, community-centered outcomes. You will assist state agencies in centering equity in policymaking, so individuals and communities thrive regardless of ethnicity, social identity, or geography. This is a tremendous opportunity to partner with others to systematically transform how the state delivers services to the community. 

Learn more about the position and application process via the job posting or by contacting Senior Recruiter William Penzo at William.Penzo@ofm.wa.gov or 360-791-3716. This position will remain open until filled. The Office of Equity is an equal opportunity employer.DSHS ESA IT Requirements Development Administrator – IT Business Analyst – Manager
   
DSHS seeks an IT professional to join the Economic Services Administration IT Solutions in a leadership role as the Requirements Development Administrator.
 
This is a role where you will be able to devise the work methods and serve as a leading expert within IT Solutions on requirements development, providing advice and consultation to ESA leadership on the design and development of the organization’s multiple computer systems

The role of Chief Nursing Officer of Eastern State Hospital is a highly valued member of the Behavioral Health Administration executive leadership team committed to the DSHS mission to transform lives by ensuring the delivery high quality, safe and appropriate nursing care. DSHS BHA supports sustainable recovery, independence, and wellness of patients through effective prevention and interventions services for youth and families as well as treatment and recovery services for people with addiction or other behavioral health needs.

If you know of people that would be interested in becoming the next leader of the Nursing Department at Eastern State Hospital, please feel free to apply here. This important role that serves patients in Medical Lake, WA.