|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. | 
|
|
Brought to you by: WSAC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
|
|
May & June 2020
In this issue:
-
Updates
-
Figure of the Month
-
Upcoming Events
-
Memorial Day Message
-
Pride Month Toolkit
-
Term of the Month
-
Good Reads and Feeds of the Month
|
Updates
- Thank you for your continuous support of the EDI Express! Due to remote work and limited scheduling we have combined May and June’s issue into one newsletter. Hope you enjoy!
- Melia LaCour will be joining WSAC in our June All-Staff to facilitate WSAC’s role in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work in Washington State.
- COVID-19 Resources for Immigrant Community Members. See FAQs for immigrants who want to know more about how the issue of public charge might affect their ability to access healthcare and other services during this COVID-19 outbreak.
- Saying It Out Loud Conference is going Virtual on May 28th. Register Here!
|
 |
|
May Figure of the Month
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita
(1932-2005)
|
Bio:
In honor of Asian American Heritage Month, we celebrate a true pioneer Noriyuki Pat Mortia who Inspired and paved the way in Hollywood for future generations of Asian American Actors. Pat was born in Isleton, California in 1932. He spent most of his childhood in and out of hospitals due to spinal tuberculosis and much of that time in a full body cast. After recovering from the disease Pat went through two Japanese Internment camps with his family during World War II. After the war Pat worked in his family’s restaurant as the master of ceremonies for group dinners where he began his work in comedy. Pat broke the way for Asian American actors with his breakout role as Arnold Takahasi on “Happy Days”. His most memorable role was playing Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid”. He brought unexpected soul and humanity to what otherwise might have been a throwaway, stereotyped role – and was rewarded with a best supporting actor nomination at the 1985 Academy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
June Figure of the Month
Marsha P Johnson
(1945-1992)
|
|
 |
Bio:
Marsha P Johnson was probably the most famous member of the Stonewall riots. She threw the first bottle that cracked the glass ceiling on the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. As a black trans woman she faced many obstacles in life but through it all was a compassionate soul. She worked with Sylvia Rivera to create STAR a group that housed trans people in New York who were more at risk of houselessness. She worked with ACT UP an AIDS activist group. She worked often as a sex worker as this was one of the few avenues of income available for trans women at the time.
May: Asian American Heritage Month
May 25th: Memorial Day
May 28th: Saying it Out Loud Conference
June: Pride Month
June 2nd: Native American Citizenship Day
June 4th: WSAC All-Staff
Ways to help during COVID locally:
SafePlace – Freedom from Violence
Thurston County Food Bank
United Way Covid-19 Response Fund
Providence St. Peter Foundation
|
|
Memorial Day Message from BUILD
Blacks United In Leadership and Diversity (BUILD) are honored to share an important message about Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day -- the year’s most solemn and reflective holiday, which traces its roots back to the Civil War (1861 - 1865), and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
Observed the last Monday in May, the day allows each one of us to reflect on the courage and ultimate sacrifice of our military personnel and their families in service to the United States of America. BUILD encourages everyone far and near, while pondering the true essence of its intent, to HONOR every hero who has ever worn a uniform (traditional or non), and laid down their lives so that others may enjoy freedom. Memorial Day at its core, speaks of self-sacrifice and personal courage, for the greater common good -- community. It resonates in the memories and stories told by others, of extraordinary everyday people, who have served, fought, and died on many fronts, drawing on seemingly supernatural inner strength and determination for the preservation of freedom. And so, as we continue to adjust to a ‘new normal’ way of life, be it by modified traditional community or more personal gatherings, let us also not forget to pause to remember and cherish the fallen.
|
Pride Month Toolkit for State Agencies:
The RAIN Best Practices subcommittee has created a Pride Month Toolkit to assist agencies in showing support for the LGBTQ+ employees and customers! There will be a one page document with a brief overview about the history of pride, and current pride practices in the state. Additionally, will find some printable resources to help get you started.
Every year during the month of June, LGBTQ+ individuals and allies around the world take time to celebrate the distance the LGBTQ+ community has come, reflect on the history of the community, and remember those who paved the way. Why June? Well June Marks the anniversary of the Stone Wall Riots in New York City. One of the most noteworthy events in LGBTQ+ history.
Participating in pride month is a small gesture to show the LGBTQ+ employees and customers in your agency that you support them, and an even bigger step towards creating a more respectful and inclusive environment year-round.
The Toolkit will be available on the EDIC Intranet page or you can sign up for the RAIN GovDelivery to receive the Pride Month Toolkit along with other news and resources as they are released!
|
Term of the month: "Brave Space"
Honors and invites full engagement from folks who are vulnerable while also setting the expectation that there could be an oppressive moment that the facilitator and allies have a responsibility to address.
|
Good Reads and Feeds
Book of the Month - Recommended by Annie Pocklington:
“Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants” - by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Not only does Kimmerer open up the conversation of equity in regards to her own upbringing and family history as a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she also invites readers to think about our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the natural world. “For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return”.
Blog of the Month: Recommended by Kelly Olson “Mapping Racial Equity Among COVID-19” - Brookings
Podcast of the Month: Recommended by Yokiko Hayashi-Saguil: “I’ve Become a Person of Suspicion” - New York Time’s April 10th episode. This episode talks about the impact of racism regarding the COVID-19 pandemic on Asian Americans as the country responds to the crisis.
|
|
If you would like to contribute to the EDI Newsletter please email Kristen at: kristenj@wsac.wa.gov
|
|
