Profiling amazing women working throughout King County: Gabriela Aranda, KCIT IT Systems Specialist Entry
This article is featured courtesy of Jamie Holter, Communications Manager, Department of Information Technology
Gabriela Aranda, KCIT IT Systems Specialist Entry
How did you get your start in IT? Growing up I have always enjoyed working with computers and learning about them from a user standpoint. I always had the feeling that’s what I would do for a living and it wasn’t official until I decided to pursue IT while attending community college. I had no previous experience in IT as far as building computers or knowing how to code. I am very grateful and happy to have chosen IT as my career.
Do you bring a different perspective to IT? It’s easy to assume that if you’re in IT, you’re supposed to know everything. I believe IT is about collaboration and working with others to be successful. Sometimes technology can be intimidating, especially if it’s brand new to the public and as a female in IT, I think we bring comfort and ease to help others feel like they are being taken care of.
Do people treat you differently because you are a woman? Yes. IT is a male dominated field and customers have the tendency to feel that women in IT are not as skilled or capable to complete a task compared to a man. I enjoy this notion because I can always push the assumption out and show people that I am just as good. I love that King County is encouraging in many ways about the importance of diversity.
Do you have advice for young women considering a career in IT? There are a lot of free resources and services out there that will greatly benefit and improve your skills in the IT field. IT is a very broad field with ample of opportunity to grow and learn, so I think it’s very important to dip your toe into different skills and knowledge to help narrow down interest and then become stronger in that area of interest. Having a mentor is a huge investment because they will be able to guide you in the direction you need to go as well as being there for support. Don’t hesitate to ask someone if they will be your mentor!
If you could go back in time, what do you wish you would have done? Build computers and learn programming because I believe those are good foundations to understand in IT no matter what the job title is. I also wish I had taken the opportunities that were given to me such as a free seminar, joining IT club, or joining competitions like Capture the Flag. I think those would have been very valuable and would have helped further my skills and knowledge.
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WorkSource Renton, Code Fellows partner to offer no-cost Coding 101 workshop to residents
King County is helping residents who are underrepresented in the technology field explore careers in information technology through a unique one-day training in coding.
Twenty-one King County residents from the Rainier Valley, White Center, and Tukwila/SeaTac areas explored careers in software development and information technology at a free, one-day Coding 101 workshop provided by Code Fellows at WorkSource Renton in January.
All of the participants come from Communities of Opportunity, a program founded by King County and the Seattle Foundation that aims to improve health and well-being in ethnically and geographically diverse communities throughout King County.
The event was the third such workshop provided by Code Fellows. Attendees learned key elements of software development and how websites are built, and then coded web pages using standard industry tools and coding practices. They also received valuable information about free or affordable IT and coding training programs, and WorkForce programs that can assist with career planning, tuition and fees.
You do not need a four-year degree to be a great software or web developer. According to Dan Bernard, WorkSource integration manager for the Communities of Opportunity, some good, intensive training is what is needed.
“We want to give our underrepresented-in-tech populations a taste of coding, and help them become aware of the options available if the field interests them,” said Dan.
Many people may never consider themselves potential coders. “Once people who never thought they could code realize they can, they get interested and some want to continue learning,” added Dan. “They can now envision themselves as developers, and can act on the insights, information, and options we provide them.”
Communities of Opportunity is creating greater health, social, economic and racial equity in King County so that all people thrive and prosper, regardless of race or place. A diverse group attended the Coding 101 workshop. Of the 21 attendees, 48% were women and 71% were people of color. Including 30 participants in the first two workshops, 51 Communities of Opportunity residents have now attended.
The value of the workshop is about $100, which is a very reasonable price for a twelve-hour session that includes meals. Code Fellows and WorkSource share the costs. The first two workshops each followed a Communities of Opportunity Diversity & Inclusion Industry Panel and Resource event focused on Technology Career Opportunities. The third workshop consisted of the Diversity Tech Career Event attendees who remained interested but who could not attend either of the first two Coding 101 offerings. Another career event and coding workshop are in the planning.
Communities of Opportunity is currently receiving applications for a new COO Advisory Board which will guide the implementation of the COO activities and serve in an advisory role for the COO elements of the Best Starts for Kids levy.
Visit the County’s Department of Community and Human Services site for more information regarding employment and education resources and WorkSource workshops and hiring events.
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Executive Constantine on new travel ban: In King County, we are taking a much different path
King County Executive Dow Constantine
The new Executive Order on immigration announced today may have different words, but the spirit is the same: to exclude people based on their religion and country of origin. Such a policy betrays the fundamental principle that has guided our nation since its inception and been central to our success: that we welcome people who come here fleeing tyranny, fleeing oppression, seeking a better life.
At King County, we are taking a much different path. We are a welcoming community, and I thank Council Chair McDermott and the rest of the King County Council for their fast action on my plan to provide rapid services to help people navigate the naturalization process, as well as supporting community organizations on the frontlines of immigrant rights and education.
In addition, more than 75 local elected officials have signed our pledge affirming King County is a welcoming community, and later this month we will convene regional leaders to coordinate local responses and provide legal analysis on federal immigration policies. With our partners around the region, we proudly uphold the promise of hope, freedom and opportunity for all.
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Kudos! Mobile My Commute Map proves valuable during February snow and ice event!
More than half of the visits to King County Road Services Division’s newly enhanced My Commute Map were made from a mobile device during the snow and ice event in early February.
The site provides information about the status of roads in unincorporated King County to the public, the media, and other agencies. It also provides travel alerts and feeds from King County and Washington State Department of Transportation traffic cameras.
The mobile-friendly version of the site was introduces last fall, and performed well during the winter storm. The heaviest day of use, February 6, included more than 5,300 visits. Those visiting could also see where Automated Vehicle Location-equipped plows were operating, and visit the division’s Twitter feed.
Well done, Road Services!
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Featured Job: Administrative Specialist III
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 03/13/17 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $22.94 – $29.08 Hourly
Job Type: Career Service
Location: Chinook Building, Downtown Seattle, Washington
Department: Department of Public Health–Administrative Services
Description: This Administrative Specialist III (AS III) position supports the BSK Implementation Team which includes the Communities of Opportunity (COO) staff team. This individual will work in a fast-paced environment, leading and managing complex administrative projects that involve multiple tasks and partners. The Administrative Specialist III reports to the Communities of Opportunity Initiative Director within Public Health’s Office of the Director.
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs .
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RASKC on Univision: Angel Fund (story no. 9)
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
This is the last of the nine segments which Univision Seattle, KUNS Channel 51, is proudly airing on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. This segment focuses on RASKC’s Angel Fund, but provides an underlying message about its support to victims of domestic violence. Learn more about RASKC’s stories on Univision.
Read more at Tails from RASKC
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Tech Tip: Sharing a specific job post with someone via a link from the King County website
We often have people email asking how to share a job post with someone. They know how to print it or send the link to the jobs page but are unsure how to send a single job to someone. Below are the easiest instructions to share a specific job.
- From the jobs search page, right click on the job you are interested in and a menu will appear (see attached image).
- Then select the option for “Open link in new tab” OR “Open in new window” which will open the job in its own tab or window within your internet browser.
- On that new tab/window with the job listing, right click within the link at the top and another menu will appear.
- From here choose the option for “Copy” and the entire link will then be copied, and you can paste it wherever you would like, including with an email.
The link will be very long, but as long as you have the entire thing copied, anyone should be able to click on and open it. For example, the link would look similar to this:
Alternatively, here is a slightly different way that produces a shorter URL:
- From the jobs search page, click on the job title.
- When the job opens, click on “Print Job Information”
- This will open the link in a tab or window.
- On that tab/new window, right-click within the link at the top and another menu will appear.
- From here choose the option for “Copy” and the entire link will be copied, and you can paste it wherever you would like.
This link will be shorter, appearing as this: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/kingcounty/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=1671707
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DNRP, Lower Duwamish Work Group begin Activated Carbon pilot study
An innovative sediment cleanup technology is being tested by the Lower Duwamish Work Group. Activated Carbon, common in household water filters, was placed on three plots in the Lower Duwamish. Three years of monitoring now begins to evaluate the effectiveness of Activated Carbon in trapping contaminants and the effects the filtering has on organisms living in the sediment.
The Lower Duwamish Waterway Group is composed of specialists from King County, the City of Seattle, the Port of Seattle and the Boeing Company. The County’s Wastewater Treatment Division constructed the pilot project and is contracting the monitoring work on behalf of LDWG.
For more information, enjoy watching Jennifer Kauffman, King County WTD project manager, on our YouTube channel, read Lindsay Peyton’s story in the West Seattle Herald, and visit the County’s Our Duwamish site.
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Area code changes are coming to western Washington
What you need to do know to avoid disruption
On July 1, 2017, western Washington will incorporate the new area code 564. The new area code is an overlay for phone numbers issued in the current 206, 360, 253, and 425 area codes and will cover new phone numbers only. What this means is: As phone numbers in the current area code are no longer available, a new phone number will be assigned using the 564 area code.
As of July 1, 7-digit dialing when making local calls within the same area code will no longer be an option; everyone must dial all 10 digits for 206, 360, 253, 425, and 564 area codes when making local calls.
King County employees dialing from non-Skype (Lync) prefixes 263, 205 or 296, must dial 9+ their 10-digit number even if dialing another 206 employee.
To avoid disruption, please review and update or ask your maintenance providers to verify and reprogram all your dialing systems settings prior to July 1. Any system or device with a phone number that has been pre-programmed may be affected. Affected systems can include, but are not limited to: speed dial lists, FAX machines, credit card machines, postage machines, internet dialup access, voicemail access, medical alert devices, safety alarm security systems, gates, and ankle monitors; Many modern devices default to 10-digit dialing, but not all.
Questions? Contact HelpTicket@kingcounty.gov for assistance.
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Forest Carbon/Forest Health Lunch and Learn, March 8
Join us at this month’s Climate Preparedness Lunch and Learn to hear from the WLRD Rural and Regional Services team about how the County’s Forest Health plan is preparing us for climate change impacts.
Wednesday, March 8, from noon to 1 p.m. King Street Center, 6th Floor, King and Chinook Rooms
All King County employees welcome, but space is limited. Please sign up here.. For more information, please contact Jessica Engel at Jessica.engel@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-3132.
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