A Message from the Interim Chief Administrative Officer and the Diversity and Inclusion Executive Council: Hate Has No Place Here

Our County team members are diverse – each of you bring your background, culture, lived experience and authentic self to work every day as we collectively strive to fulfill the County’s vision of a just, sustainable and resilient future for all. But we recognize we are also living in complex times – and that the frequency of divisive issues impacting our communities, the nation and the world can weigh heavily on us.

Here at the County, please find comfort in knowing that hate has no place here. It’s a sentiment that is often shared but is always worth reemphasizing. It is the County’s commitment to you.

We stand committed to this promise and act on it by creating safe spaces for exchanging ideas and experiences through a lens of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

What does that look like? One way we act on this promise is through virtual listening sessions and fireside chats covering a wide variety of timely and meaningful topics. These events bring together team members from different roles, departments and backgrounds to engage in thoughtful conversations and share perspectives. The next event is a virtual fireside chat May 31 at noon focused on cultural and career identities. It is hosted by the Employee Resource Group Council.

The Diversity and Inclusion Executive Council also coordinates with Employee Resource Groups to organize healing circles, an opportunity for participants to work together to explore ways to relieve suffering and deepen the capacity to heal.

Visit the County’s employee website for information about all these opportunities and more.

If you have yet to participate in any of these events, we encourage you to do so, but we recognize that with diversity comes a wide variety of ways our team members display and practice belonging in the workplace.  

Through each of our actions, we are all reminded daily that hate has no place here. We thank you for supporting the County’s values and for serving as an example for our community.

Sarah Aghassi, Interim Chief Administrative Officer

D&I Executive Council:
Smitha Arons, Senior Deputy County Counsel
Natalia Bravo, Chief of Staff
Susan Brazeau, Director, Human Resources
Dahvia Lynch, Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Land Use & Environment Group
Nadia Moshirian Binderup, Special Assistant, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, Sheriff’s Department
Andrew Potter, Clerk of the Board, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Racial Justice
Michael Vu, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer