ERGs Invite Employees to Inspiring Speaker Series

A new Speaker Series at the County is sure to spark conversation about diversity and leadership.

Local civic leader Tom Hom will be the first speaker at the inaugural program, presented by two Employee Resource Groups on Wednesday at the County Operations Center. Hom will discuss his journey to overcome adversity as the son of Chinese immigrants in San Diego and his recently released autobiography “Rabbit on a Bumpy Road, A Story of Courage and Endurance.”

Hom will share his San Diego success story to inspire others at the event hosted by the Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees (APACE), the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees’ Association (CSDFEA) and the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.

Now 88, Hom was the first minority elected to San Diego City Council in 1963 and was only the second Asian elected to the state legislature, representing the 79th District in San Diego County. He states in his book: “Diversity: There is good in every race and culture. It is just a matter of accepting it.”

In addition to Hom, Ha Dang, Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures, Michael Vu, Registrar of Voters, and Dr. Alex Stewart, San Diego Chinese Historical Museum Senior Education Coordinator will speak at the event.

Vanessa Cabiling, vice president of CSDFEA, said the new Speaker Series offers County employees access to community leaders, experts and advisors. Cabiling said she hopes the program will spark dialogue about diversity and leadership, plus promote professional and personal development.

“We are trying to inspire our members,” she said. “And we’re hoping to do so quarterly with this Speaker Series.”

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25 in the Chambers at the County Operations Center Commons, 5520 Overland Ave., San Diego. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP online.