County Celebrates Earth Day at the County Operations Center

The County celebrated Earth Day this week with an in-person fair at the County Operations Center. Attendees had fun learning new ways to help protect and improve the environment and address climate change with everyday actions.

Attendees who visited the County’s Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice booth were able to participate in a scavenger hunt. Participants were given a list of questions and had to walk around to other department’s booths to find the answers. Once completed, attendees received an environmental-friendly gift.

To learn more about events you can join, how-to videos and proactive ways to live more sustainably, visit www.sandiegocounty.gov/earthday.

Your View: Agua Caliente County Park

Aqua Caliente County Park

This photo was submitted by Jake Monroy from the Facilities Management Department. Agua Caliente County Park is a camping park nestled in the huge, Anza Borrego Desert State Park and is best known for its heated springs and rugged desert hiking. 

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it.

Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. Images may be posted to InSite and shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos. 

Join a VALOR Meeting During Military Appreciation Month

Celebrate Military Appreciation Month with VALOR. The Employee Resource Group will host it’s general meeting with a guest speaker on May 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Andre S. Hobbs, a Navy veteran and realtor, will share his insights and experiences. With a wealth of knowledge in veteran resources, Hobbs has been instrumental in assisting veterans in transitioning to civilian life and leveraging their military background to thrive.

This event is open to all ERG members, colleagues, friends, families and community. It will be held at Filippi’s Pizza Grotto Kearny Mesa, 5353 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, CA 92123.

For more information, contact valor@sdcounty.ca.gov.

See the flyer below.

Your View: Julian Library’s Expansion

juLIAN lIBRARY nEW cOMMUNITY rOOM

Julian Library’s new community room opens in May! The County’s General Services Department shared this photo of the 2,900 square foot expansion. The entire red door section is the expansion. It can be split into two rooms and has additional restrooms for visitors.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it.

Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. Images may be posted to InSite and shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos. 

Attend Resume Workshop Series

Join the Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees and County Library for a series of free, in-person workshops designed to jumpstart your career.

Resume Building Workshop: Learn how to create a strong, impactful resume. Discover techniques to beat Applicant Tracking Systems. And compare and contract resume types.
Date: Thursday, April 25
Time: 2 to 4 p.m.

Job Interview Preparation: Gain confidence by preparing effectively for interviews. Answer tough questions, including the dreaded “weakness question.” And discover the language to sell yourself.
Date: Thursday, May 2
Time: 2 to 4 p.m.

Resume Review & Certification Opportunities: Have your resume reviewed by industry professionals. Explore certificate programs to jump start your career in healthcare, construction, manufacturing and the IT sectors.
Date: May 9
Time: 2 to 6 p.m.

All events will be held at the Poway Library, Community Room, 13137 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064.

To learn more and register, visit bit.ly/powayseries.

See the flyer below.

Employees to Receive One-Time Wellness Payment

On April 9, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved a one-time payment to address impacts related to increases in employee healthcare costs for all regular employees.

The one-time payments are based on your health plan level of enrollment for calendar year 2024 and you must have been employed on or before December 29, 2023, to be eligible to receive the one-time payment. The one-time payment amounts are listed below and will be reflected on your April 26 paycheck.

Health Plan Level of Enrollment and One-Time Payment Amount:

• Waive healthcare coverage: $100.00

• Employee Only coverage: $275.00

• Employee + 1 Dependent coverage: $600.00

• Employee + 2 or More Dependents coverage: $925.00

If you have any questions, please contact your Departmental Human Resources Officer.

Meet the County’s Newest Equity Impact Managers

A message from the Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ):

We are excited to announce that Alejandra Chaidez and Chiara Leroy have joined us here at the Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) as the newest equity impact managers.

Among the projects they will lead, Alejandra will manage the Equity Impact Grant Program and rollout of the Equity Indicator Report. Chiara will spearhead the County’s Anti-racism Strategy and Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Ordinance.

Many of you may already know Alejandra and Chiara as they are not new to the County.

Alejandra Chaidez

Alejandra is rejoining OERJ from the Finance and General Government Group (FG3) Executive Office. While at FG3, she served as a Chief Administrative Office staff officer for the past year and a half. Before coming to the County, Alejandra worked for community-based organizations and universities in research, data analysis and program evaluation.

She has also worked with California state legislation and international treaties and for events such as the United Nations 9th Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations 3rd Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, which was held in Quito, Ecuador.

Alejandra is a graduate from the University of California. She has a Master of Public Policy from the UC San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Social Welfare from UC Berkeley.

Born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana, Mexico until the age of 14, her binational experience has inspired her desire to work on improving the opportunities of communities in San Diego County and along the border region.

Her research and policy interests include mental health and well-being, disability rights, equity and inclusion, transnational and immigration issues, and issues in bilingual and English as a second language education.

During her free time, Alejandra enjoys spending time with her family, especially her one-year-old, Brisa, and trying new places and restaurants in San Diego and Tijuana.

Chiara Leroy

Chiara joins OERJ after more than seven years with the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). During her time with HHSA she held several roles, including the County’s CDC-grant funded Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program.

In addition to her work on OD2A, her County experience includes supporting administration and operations for the County’s Public Health Lab; serving as the co-lead for the Healthcare Sector COVID-19 response; participating in Black Infant Health programming as part of Maternal, Child, and Family Services; supporting revitalization efforts in the rural areas in North Regions; and served as communications lead in the Public Health Department Operations Center for the Hepatitis A local health emergency.

She is a first-generation Haitian-American who moved to San Diego from Anaheim to attend San Diego State University (SDSU). Chiara earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from SDSU and began working in stem cell research studying diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and therapy treatments for stroke victims. She later went on to achieve her Master of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and began working as a grant writer for a San Diego-based federally qualified health center.

Chiara has a long-standing history of advocating on behalf of “opportunity youth” to connect them to resources throughout the community and provide them safe spaces to learn, work and play. The term “opportunity youth” refers to youth who are neither in school nor working.

She continues to build on her years of local community work, including promoting S.T.E.M. to students of all ages, providing mentorship to youth, conducting global health research, and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

For over two decades, she has participated in community-based and national organizations that promote access to health care and S.T.E.M., including board member service.

In her free time, Chiara enjoys reading, playing soccer, traveling and anything else that allows her to enjoy life to the fullest.

To learn more about OERJ’s staff, visit them online.

Celebrate Earth Day at the County Operations Center

The County will put on an Earth Day Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 22 at the County Operations Center at 5500 Overland Drive. This event is open to the public and it’s free!

Come celebrate our planet and learn how the County is working to create a greener world. The global theme this year is, Planet vs. Plastics.

County Parks officials will be there to talk about tree planting, farmers’ markets and organic food. You can also learn about sustainable gardening and volunteer opportunities.

Interactive and informative booths will feature information about recycling, stormwater protection, food waste prevention and ways people can help protect and improve water quality with everyday actions. There will also be electric vehicles on display and resources to help answer your questions about owning an electric vehicle.

Attendees can also hear updates about the County’s Climate Action Plan Update and Regional Decarbonization efforts to move the entire region to zero carbon emissions.

In addition to Monday’s event at the COC, other County activities are also scheduled to take place throughout the month of April. To learn and explore all these activities, visit www.sandiegocounty.gov/earthday.

Your View: Two Pigs in a Pen

🐷🐷 Winnie (left) and Dorris at the Los Peñasquitos Ranch House

Winnie (left) and Dorris enjoy a lazy afternoon at the Los Peñasquitos Ranch House. Human Resources Analyst Jeffrey Boco shared this photo and the video of the pair below in their pig pen.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it.

Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. Images may be posted to InSite and shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos. 

Join a Tree Planting Event with EWA

The Emerging Workforce Association invites employees to join a fun-filled morning of tree-planting at Los Peñasquitos Canyon County Preserve on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon County is located at 12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92129.

Bring your gardening gloves for a morning of environmental stewardship and community bonding. No experience necessary. You bring your gardening gloves and EWA will provide all the tools and guidance you need to plant trees successfully.

Help beautify our parks and create a lasting impact for future generations. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference!

• Participants must wear closed-toed shoes, pants, a hat and long-sleeves. Gloves and sunglasses are highly recommended.

• Consider carpooling. There is limited parking. The $3 parking fee will be waived for volunteers.

• Don't forget your water. Eco-friendly water bottles are encouraged.

• Get ready to get your steps in. There will be a 1-mile hike to reach our tree planting destination.

Register for this event now.

See the flyer below.