Celebration for Edgemoor Employees and Residents

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Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility hosted a lively Philippine Independence Day celebration on June 8. The event was full of music, dance, karaoke, food, speakers and a parade throughout the facility for their residents.

Lani Ngo, occupational therapy supervisor, shared these photos saying that all Edgemoor departments all came together to make this celebration happen!

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a cool worksite, or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it. One image will be posted to InSite every week and may be shared on social media.

See more of Your View photos.

AAACE Celebrates Juneteenth

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By the African American Association of County Employees

Juneteenth is a time for learning, reflecting and celebrating progress towards unity and freedom in America to strive for a better future. The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times.  

What is Juneteenth and why is it a holiday? 

 In 1865, on June 19 more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln declared all enslaved persons free, Major General Gordon Granger and Union Army troops marched to Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas. Those who were freed celebrated their long-overdue emancipation on June 19.  

Today, celebrating Juneteenth is a chance to celebrate human freedom, reflect on the grievous legacy of slavery, and commit to rooting out systemic racism that continues to plague our society as we strive to deliver the full promise of America to every American. Only through the 13 Amendment did emancipation end slavery through the United States. Juneteenth is America’s second Independence Day.  

 Why do they call it Juneteenth? 

The official name of the federal holiday is Juneteenth National Independence Day; it’s also known as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Freedom Day. The holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, observed annually on June 19. The name Juneteenth comes from a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth.”  

 How is Juneteenth celebrated?  

Juneteenth celebrations in the United States typically include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings, picnics and festivals with food, music and dancing. The day is also celebrated outside the United States and is used to recognize the end of slavery as well as to celebrate African American culture and achievements.  

 When did Juneteenth become recognized as a holiday?  

Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas in 1980 and several other states subsequently followed suit thereafter. In 2021, Juneteenth was made a federal holiday. The day is also celebrated outside the United States, being used by organizations, several countries, to recognize the end of slavery and to honor the culture and achievements of African Americans. 

 The Meaning of the Flag  

The red, white and blue color scheme that mimics that of the American flag was a conscious choice. It is meant to connote that enslaved people (who were not granted citizenships) and their descendants were and always have been Americans. It also signifies the United States’ continued responsibility to do right by those affected by the continued injustices faced by Black Americans.  

The Juneteenth flag has a white star in the center, meant to represent both Texas (the Lone Star State), as well as the freedom of enslaved people in all 50 states. The Juneteenth flag was created in 1977 by activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, with the help of illustrator Lisa Jeanna Graf. The deliberate process of designing the flag, which is brimming with symbols of the day’s meaning, has made it an integral component of the holiday. 

Source documentation for the write up is based on the information from the following website.

Please see the flyer below for upcoming local events open to the public: 


Do You Know the Code?

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Know the Code is a monthly series highlighting different sections of the County of San Diego Code of Ethics. The mission of the Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC) is to assist in fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and compliance.

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

What distinguishes us as one of the best counties in the nation is our mission and values which includes our commitment to ethics.

As a county employee, you are a valued member of our talented team. Each of you has the power, and the responsibility, to make this organization one of unquestionable ethics. The way you act, and the way your fellow teammates act, establish our cultural ethics – what is and is not acceptable behavior.

So many people in varying roles and responsibilities means different challenges when it comes to ethics. With ethics, three things typically come to mind.

  • First, like a doctor’s oath, do no harm.

  • Second, treat others appropriately.

  • Third, do the right thing.

Ethics are at the core of any successful government or business. This holds true for us both as individuals and for your work unit, division, department, agency and the County as a whole.

The County’s guiding principles are our values: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Remember, everything you do should help build the public’s confidence in government, not shake it.

Check out the OEC webpage on InSite for information about upcoming Ethics and Compliance program events, training, and resources including monthly “Know the Code” articles and micro-training videos such as this month’s video for Conflict of Interest.

If you have questions about Ethics & Compliance training or how to access the training and other

Ethics & Compliance resources, please contact the OEC team at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-531-5174. HHSA staff may also contact the dedicated HHSA Agency Compliance team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-338-2807.

How to Avoid Microaggressions

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During simple conversations, how many times have we heard, “that was not my intention,” or “that's really offensive?” Microaggressions are usually not intended to cause harm, but they do. 

The County has rolled out a new training for employees to learn about microaggressions. It gives you some examples of microaggressions and explains the effect they can have on people. You’ll learn how to avoid microaggressions and how to respond if they are directed toward you.

In workplaces across the country, people are having real conversations around race, justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. The County of San Diego is committed to providing a workplace that is diverse and inclusive and provides a safe working environment for employees from all walks of life. We've made great strides towards these goals through departments and groups like the Department of Human Resources' Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division, the Office of Equity and Racial Justice, Employee Resource Groups and more.

There are always more steps we as employees can take to help ensure that our coworkers feel welcome and included on a day-to-day basis. One of those steps is being aware of the use of microaggressions.

Take the training now.

County Recognizes Juneteenth

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A Juneteenth flag Raising Ceremony was held at the County Administration Center Tuesday morning. The African American Association of County Employees, Supervisor Joel Anderson and Chairwoman Nora Vargas partnered with the Black American Political Association of California, Young Black & N’ Business and others for the event.

Following the ceremony, the County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth. Watch members of AAACE and the Office of Equity and Racial Justice accept the proclamation.

County Gets a New Brand

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You may have seen something new in the County’s budget outreach and other materials – a symbol of the County’s focus on community engagement and our values of integrity, belonging, equity, excellence, access and sustainability. These core components of the General Management System (GMS) are now reflected in a new County logo.

Last year our Chief Administrative Officer assembled a broad team of County employees from across the enterprise to explore strategies to enhance community engagement and access, along with furthering the understanding of what the County does and stands for.

They conducted extensive outreach and focus groups with the community and our employees, including surveys that engaged upward of 800 people, including representatives of nearly 150 organizations across diverse sectors like education, healthcare, private business and others. Thank you to all of the employees and community partners who participated in the process and provided valuable input.

The feedback showed that a new logo and brand should reflect the region’s geographic diversity, the County’s new energy and take inspiration from the County seal and the Live Well San Diego brand.

Throughout the development process, more than 100 logo options were created. Respondents selected a winner whose elements tell a dynamic story about the County and our mission, vision and values. Here are some of the highlights:

  • The central element of the logo is the iconic downtown San Diego County Administration Center. The building represents the foundation for the myriad of programs provided to those who seek County services.

  • The blue colors of the sky and curved ocean waves represent open spaces, peace and tranquility, but also symbolize trust and responsibility.

  • The soaring seagull represents freedom and fearlessness, as a nod to the County’s quest for innovation and resourcefulness.

  • The orange color of the shoreline wraps around the building to symbolize security, optimism and new energy.

  • The five green arched rays at the bottom of the logo symbolize hope and opportunity while providing a foundation to the logo that the artist intended to represent each of the County’s five Supervisorial districts.

  • The green color represents local agriculture, but also growth, self-sufficiency, economic vitality and sustainability while the stripes represent equality across the region.

The logo is meant to complement our County seal which has been in use since 1937. The seal will continue to be used for formal official documents like Board of Supervisors policies, County proclamations and others.

You may have already seen the new logo in use in the County of San Diego’s budget materials, in email signatures, on the County’s official social media accounts and in other places.

The County will formally adopt the logo July 1, when we’ll put out information on County News Center and on our website sharing brand details and guidance externally.

All County business groups, departments and programs will be expected to use the logo in accordance with the brand guidelines by that time. Resources including templates and FAQs for using it are available on the County Communications Office intranet site.

To request a logo or get additional information on branding, communication, community engagement or language services, email communications@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Join Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

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A Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony will be held at the County Administration Center on June 13 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The event is sponsored by Supervisor Joel Anderson and in partnership with the African American Association of County Employees, the Registrar of Voters and other organizations.

The flag raising ceremony will be followed by a proclamation presentation at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

See the flyer below.