Multnomah County Employee Resource Group for Immigrants and Refugees September 19, 2013 By Victoria Cross

Everything Works Better When Everyone Works Together

Reflection on WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO

Purpose To provide resource and support for employees who are refugee and immigrants. To identify challenges and opportunities faced by this employees group. To provide for this group of employees training, career mapping and opportunity to bring their advanced skills to the work place and increase customer and employee satisfaction.

Mission To identify challenges and opportunities faced by this employee group; To assist the organization to gain better self-awareness on issues faced by this group; To advance this group’s knowledge about the American workforce;

Mission To enhance and utilize these employees’ skills; assist employees in achieving their full potential; To help employees in their career progression; To prepare Multnomah County workforce to meet future needs of this diverse workforce.

Benefits to Mult Co Builds EMPLOYEE support network and skill utilization Enhances ORGANIZATIONAL effectiveness Strengthens COMMUNITY connection to the organization

Charter requirements Group Purpose Group Mission Statement Governance /Parameters Way the ERG serves business needs of your organization Define your membership How do you recruit membership

Accountability requirements Establish metrics and goals. ERG for Immigrants and Refugees submits an annual report containing: A) a summary of last year’s accomplishments toward the work and plan, B) identified business value added by the group, and C) a work plan for the coming year.

Governance structure We come together in the form of: CHAMPIONS across the organization Passionate ACTION-TAKERS within the group INCLUSION vs. exclusion (allies, immigrants, mentors, supporters together)

We are ALL Leaders We provide opportunities for emerging leaders to network and stretch yourselves! We are a safe place for people to have the kind of trial and error that is fundamental to human learning!

Recognition of Our ACCOMPLISHMENTS Our CONNECTIONS Our GROWTH

FIRST, let’s highlight a few of our BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS

October 2012

at the NW Diversity Conference

at the NW Diversity Conference

Multnomah County Diversity and Cultural Competency Award May 2013 Multnomah County Diversity and Cultural Competency Award Pic of Victoria here

Proclamation by the Board of County Commissioners June 20, 2013 World Refugee Day Proclamation by the Board of County Commissioners

at the Proclamation

Let’s look at how our monthly meetings and organizational collaborations build Our CONNECTIONS and Our GROWTH

organizational collaboration: DCHS Race and Ethnicity Data Collection August 2012 organizational collaboration: DCHS Race and Ethnicity Data Collection

with Leadership Academy Alumni September 2012 monthly meeting: “We Are Leaders” with Leadership Academy Alumni

“The Paradise That Wasn’t” video viewing & discussion November 2012 monthly meeting: “The Paradise That Wasn’t” video viewing & discussion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odRtnfNz9Fw http://vimeo.com/49455416

November 2012 Central HR Strategic Plan organizational collaboration: Focus Group and Feedback

December 2012 Brainstorming on Outreach Strategies organizational collaboration: Brainstorming on Outreach Strategies with DCHS Outreach Coordinator

Celebration and Holiday Potluck! December 2012 Celebration and Holiday Potluck!

Celebration and Holiday Potluck! December 2012 Celebration and Holiday Potluck!

Honoring and acknowledging our commitment and struggles: ERG members face a tough challenge in juggling their job duties and the responsibilities of leading and organizing the volunteer groups.

Multnomah County Interfaith Initiative collaborative discussion January 2013 monthly meeting: Multnomah County Interfaith Initiative collaborative discussion

February 2013 monthly meeting: “What is challenging about parenting in the US or being raised by immigrant parents?” with Multnomah County Parents ERG

Strategies for Career Management with DCHS Outreach Coordinator March 2013 monthly meeting: Strategies for Career Management with DCHS Outreach Coordinator

Career Management Training with Steve Joiner of Talent Development April 2013 monthly meeting: Career Management Training with Steve Joiner of Talent Development

Honoring and acknowledging our connection to other ERGS: Collaboration is key!

GROUP DISCUSSIONS: brainstorming What was most valuable or meaningful last year, and why? What do we want to do more of, or less of next year? What new activities or topics should we focus on next year?

Folk Songs! Boris Smolyansky

Office of Diversity and Equity Roberta Phillip, J.D. AA/EE Specialist Office of Diversity and Equity

Middle Eastern Dance! Denise Holm

THANK YOU