Hello RAIN Community,

Please see the below message from our friends at the Blacks United in Leadership and Diversity (BUILD) BRG. RAIN’s leadership joins with BUILD in expressing our love and support for all of those affected and suffering due to the tragedy in Buffalo, NY over the weekend. We specifically hold members of the LGBTQ+ community, who have faced discrimination and abuse, in our thoughts and encourage our community to seek ways to uplift and support those and other marginalized voices in this conflict.
​
In Solidarity,
Taja Blackhorn, Co-Chair
Ryan Douglas, Co-Chair
Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network (RAIN)

Original message from RAIN

​Today, we express solidarity with the people impacted and suffering because of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict in Europe.  We mourn with those who have lost family and friends, and we sympathize with the refugees that have been displaced.

Our thoughts are with all of them in these darkest hours, and we call on the world community to provide them with practical support, aid, and refuge. The civilians and their families and friends have the right to go about their daily lives in peace. 

Washington Immigrant Network’s leadership team is committed to supporting our state employees impacted by this conflict. We stand in solidarity with all peaceful efforts to commit to providing a platform for dialogue among diverse groups about this crisis.
WIN will be hosting a Solidarity Gathering on Thursday, March 3rd from 12 pm-1 pm. You can download the calendar - Solidarity Gathering.ics

You can also visit our website for additional information here. 

We’ve also included some resources from the Employee Assistance Program for your reference. You can also contact EAP at (877) 313-4455 for support.

In Solidarity,
Washington Immigrant Network Leadership Team

Seriously, like, this is AMAZING! Check it out as a webpage. The pdf is simply too cool, you need to see this!

The RAIN employee business resource group will be hosting a special guest speaker to celebrate Black History Month. Register here.

Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter is the Scott Waugh endowed chair in the Division of the Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology and African American Studies at UCLA, coined the term #BlackLivesMatter, and author of four books. His research, activism and commentary have been featured in various journals, social media platforms, and news media. Join us as we have a conversation with Dr. Hunter as he discusses the quest for systemic racial equality in America.

Auto live captions will be enabled and ASL services provided for this event. Please email [email protected] for any additional accommodation requests.

In 1977, U.S. Representatives Norman Mineta and Frank Horton introduced legislation to designate 10 days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga proposed supporting legislation in the Senate. The lawmakers chose May to mark two historical events. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States. More than two decades later, on May 10, 1869, the golden spike was driven into the First Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed using Chinese labor.

President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution for the celebration on October 5, 1978.  In 1990, George H.W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress to extend Asian-American Heritage Week to a month, and May was officially designated as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month two years later.

The Latino Leadership Network (LLN) would like to share an opportunity with all members of BUILD. 

The State Parks Department is an inclusive place for enjoying our state’s lush green spaces and allowing time for health and healing. On May 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Millersylvania State Park (less than 12 miles south of Olympia), Ranger Janet Shonk will lead a two-hour guided hike with options along the route for folks to turn back if they prefer a shorter excursion. The group size will be limited to 15 or 20 for the guided hike portion, but feel free to stay and network or socialize afterwards.

If interested in the guided hike, please preregister here.

There is no charge for the guided hike, however a Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to state parks. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the Discover Pass web page. If purchasing a pass is a barrier, passes are often available for checkout at local libraries.

If you need more information or have questions, contact Makaela Kroin, Folk & Traditional Arts Program Coordinator of the State Parks & Recreation Commission.​

Originally published February 19, 2021.

​"Yesterday I had the pleasure of announcing Dr. Karen Johnson as the first director of Washington state’s new Office of Equity. Dr. Johnson has been a Washington state employee for over a decade, working with state agencies to transform our institutions to better and more equitably serve Washingtonians."