Kwanzaa was established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, an Author, Professor, and Chairman of the Black
Studies Program at California State University. It is an annual celebration observed by African Americans and the wider Pan-African community. The observance takes place from December 26 to January 1 each year. The name "Kwanzaa" originates from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which translates to "first fruits." This reflects the festival's focus on celebrating the first fruits of the harvest. Click the PDF to read learn more about Kwanzaa! KwanzaaPDF Highlighting employee resource groups across the state –Employment Security Department Black Employee Inclusion Networking Group (BEING)Provided by BEING Chair, Tennille Johnson Learning and growing as a leader, a black woman leader, feeling a sense of belonging and getting to support and be supported by staff across the Agency..... It is my why,” said BEING Chair, Tennille Johnson. “The ERG BEING has given me that place.” Did you know that several agencies are increasing the culture of belonging and expanding equity amongst their agency with employee resource groups? Employment Security Department (ESD) is an agency leading the way in equity and creating ERGs for state employees to connect with. Along with five other ERGs, ESD has an ERG that is focused on supporting their black employees. da·ta
Noun Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. "There is very little data available" When we hear the word “data” one of the first things that comes to mind are numbers. For the state employee, more often than not these numbers are part and parcel of a process of performance measurement and an assessment of some kind. However, when we look the word data up in the dictionary, we find that the word data is used to refer to facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. I.e., data is nothing more than information that is collected for understanding what it relates to. Data can be used in a variety of ways. Today data is leveraged to inform and support critical decision making, as well as identifying opportunities, and evaluating the effectiveness of methodologies currently in practice, but data isn’t just about numbers and statistics. In a speech celebrating the life of Eduardo Mondlane, leader of the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO), who was assassinated by Portuguese agents in February of 1969, Amilcar Cabral notes how, “The principal characteristic, common to every kind of imperialist domination, is the negation of the historical process of the dominated people by means of violently usurping the free operation of the process of development of the productive forces.” Recap Washington State’s second annual Black Lives Matter Day virtual event sponsored by BUILD! This event focuses on Embracing Black Joy and Blacknificience! Also check out the following Links and Resources:
The City of Olympia are currently seeking community members to join a collaborative design process involving the Social Justice and Equity Commission and select members of the Olympia Police Department. The goal is to establish a framework of transparency and accountability in Olympia's Law Enforcement that fosters collaboration, builds relationships and enhances accountability.
Currently looking for 8-12 community members, with an emphasis on those most impacted by policing and historically underrepresented individuals. To provide more information and address any questions people may have, we have organized drop-in information sessions to learn about the project, how to participate, and the timeline. Olympians envision a community with equitable access to opportunity and believe that there are likely instances where people in our community are experiencing discrimination.
The City of Olympia’s new Social Justice and Equity Commission’s and City staff are working with Truclusion, a third-party research consultant, to complete a human-centered, inclusive assessment of discrimination in Olympia. Truclusion is engaging with the community to craft a report detailing where there are opportunities to better meet the desires, needs and challenges of community members; particularly those who may be excluded from the Olympia experience currently. To help inform that work, Truclusion is conducting a survey of the Olympia community. Residents and those who spend time in Olympia can take the anonymous survey online: http://s.alchemer.com/s3/539f1d5d6c8a. Truclusion is attending community events and working with local stakeholders to help drive community participation. The digital survey is available to all community members in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog through July 16.
“Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.” -- John Lewis
Additional Juneteenth Coverage BUILD Family and Allies, Well, the time has come for me to move into the BUILD Past Chair role. It is hard to believe that it has been two years serving in the BUILD Executive Leadership, and the experience has been an honor representing the BUILD Business Resource Group. I look forward to continuing to serve and represent BUILD in the Past Chair role and am excited for the new executive leaders to make their mark. When I was nominated for the Co-Chair position in 2021, I realized the responsibility required a three-year commitment. In accepting the role, I wanted to ensure that I honored that responsibility and followed thru as BUILD’s Co-Chair, Chair, and soon-to-be Past Chair, especially being part of the first elected executive leaders to lead the business resource group following the inaugural Chair. It has been a privilege to represent the BUILD Business Resource Group. This is an amazing space and platform to elevate the Black voice in Washington State Government and the communities we serve. "Gary Lott’s upbeat leadership skills help to boost agency morale, according to former WDVA Director, Alfie Alvarado. “There is no task, big or small, that he will not accept if it is to help others,” former WDVA Director Alvarado wrote in nominating Lott for a South Sound Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award in 2019. If you've been to one of our public events, chances are you've seen Gary running around with a camera, networking with media and assisting with sharing our BUILD message across numerous platforms. Gary is a highly motivated, passionate, and skilled communications expert who has experience working in many aspects of media. Gary has worked briefly in the Governor's Office, recently was with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, is currently working for Employment Security Department, and even works during gamedays as a photographer for the Seattle Seahawks...GO HAWKS!!! “Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do.”
— Barack Obama Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, serves as a day to reflect on the journey to freedom for Black people in America. As Washington State, along with the rest of the United States of America, seeks to celebrate Juneteenth, the black community reflects on our history and the significance of Juneteenth in this country. Many Americans are unaware that enslavement of our people did not end once the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It ended two years later in 1865, when more than 2,000 troops arrived in Galveston Bay Texas to enforce the freedom that belonged to black people. The impact of delayed action from a promise that was given and not fulfilled for 2 years is an all too familiar feeling. |
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