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… Read More
From the Hip: Martha Cohen, Manager, Office of Interpreter Services
A voice for all King County ranks nationally as a top county in numbers for refugee and immigrant resettlement. Indeed, 98198 is one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the U.S. It can be said that what New York City was to cultural diversity in 1905, Seattle/King County is today. Since 1992, this office has provided interpreters in 161 different languages including ASL for all Superior Court departments: civil and criminal cases, deaf jurors and court related programs at the KCCH (Seattle), MRJC (Kent) and Youth Services Center (12th and… Read More
National Women’s History Month profiles trailblazing women in King County labor and business
This article is featured courtesy of Jamie Holter, Communications Manager, Department of Information Technology Profiling amazing women working throughout King County: Tamara Davis, KCIT IT Project Management How did you get your start in IT? I started in GIS as an analyst and quickly realized I had two choices: one, pursue GIS as an IT career developing databases and applications, or two, pursue using GIS as a helpful tool in support of a particular line of business most likely transportation planning. I picked number one. Do you bring a different perspective to IT? Female employees bring different… Read More
Deepening the dialogue and hoping for a better tomorrow
by Kirsten Garcia, Wastewater Treatment Division This is the start of a poem by Quenton Baker that he shared at one of last year’s Reflecting on Race and Racism events organized by an employee ESJ team. The poem, which is titled “Drip” and is dedicated to George Stinney, Jr., begins with a genial image – ice cream on a sunny day. But the story of George Stinney, Jr. is anything but genial. Stinney was a fourteen-year-old African-American boy wrongly accused of murdering two white girls in Alcolu, South Carolina in 1944. He… Read More
Reflecting on Race and Racism: Deepening the Dialogue, March 21
King County employees are invited to participate in a candid conversation on race and racism with a panel of literary artists of color and a skilled facilitator. The event will provide attendees the opportunity to listen to and exchange ideas and confront discomfort on issues of race and racism. Deepening the dialogue through story sharing can elicit new ways of thinking, bring self-awareness to unconscious biases, foster understanding and compassion, and guide us in cultivating a workplace culture of equity and social justice. Tuesday, March 21 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. King… Read More
King County Sheriff’s Deputy recently featured on Q13FOX
Jamie Deer, a Sheriff’s Deputy who has been with King County 19 years, was profiled on Q13FOX for sharing his personal journey in the hope of helping others. Jamie is one of the first openly transgender law enforcement officers in Washington state. And he went through his transition later in life, in a very public way — on the job. “I can’t imagine working anywhere else. I love and respect the men and women I work with. I don’t want to go anywhere else. So, I just decided to take a chance on these guys,” says Jaime…. Read More
Celebrating Black History Month in King County
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed February to be Black History Month in King County. “The contributions to science, technology, business, arts, and cultural innovation by African Americans have been essential to the progress of our nation,” Executive Constantine said in his Proclamation. “We will continue to honor these accomplishments every month and every day in Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., County.” You can read the Executive’s proclamation here (on SharePoint).
ESJ book winners and the continuing conversation on racism, new series to begin March 21
By Rowena Johnson, Department of Natural Resources and Parks Earlier this year an Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) project team in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks held a drawing to give away five books by poets featured in the 2016 “Reflecting on Race and Racism through Spoken Word, Story, and Conversation” series. To be eligible for the drawing, King County employees were asked to submit their reflections on the 2016 reading series, particularly on what they had learned and what they hope to see in future ESJ literary events. Those… Read More
Long-standing planning committee guides celebration to uphold MLK values
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Thursday, January 12. The event was widely attended and featured guest speakers, live music and group singing. It can be viewed online here. A special thank you goes out to the 2017 King County MLK Celebration Planning Committee. Their hard work throughout the year culminated in a wonderful event, praised by both employees and the public. This internal, ad-hoc committee, a multi-year fixture, is currently made up of members from various departments within King County. It… Read More
Interested in speaking with alumni of diverse universities
Are you a graduate of a HBCU, or a Native American or Tribal College or University? Are you a Morehouse Man or a Spelman Woman? Did you graduate from Diné College or Northwest Indian College? The county’s Workforce Equity Manager would love to talk to you about recruiting at your alma mater. For more information, please contact Paula Harris-White at paula.harris-white@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-2444.
Employee News 