by Yolanda Salgado-Tovar, CalWORKs/WTW Supervisor
On August 26, the staff of the DSS Camino del Remedio building in Santa Barbara came together for a celebration of every employee’s individuality and uniqueness. The theme was inspired by nature, and how differences enrich the landscape.
With the motto "The Beauty is in our Differences," the event tied into the County's Diversity, Equity, and Includsion (DEI) initiative.
Everyone in the building was invited to partake in simple lunch of pizza, salad, drinks, and cookies in the atrium. The spirit of the celebration was vibrant! People ate together, laughed and shared stories. (See this slideshow of pictures from the event.)
Maria Paz-Salazar described it as a party-like atmosphere that was inviting and conducive to everyone coming together in celebration. Alma Vaja noted that it “was well received by all of us employees and is incredibly valuable.”
As part of the event, people were given an opportunity to share something they are proud of, something that makes unique, by writing it on a flower or bird for our “diversity garden”, currently displayed in the atrium of the building. People were also encouraged to share their thoughts on diversity countywide through an online survey. The feedback will be used to create more programs that will promote greater success and inclusion for everyone in the County.
This event highlighted the fact that everyone is a contributor to our diverse workforce. Diversity is much less about what we look like, or the box we check when asked about our race. It is more about how we as individuals think, the values we hold, and how we approach situations. The varied thoughts, experiences, and beliefs each person brings, are necessary in order for us, as an organization to operate and grow successfully.
Similar events were held at other district offices during the month of August.