First Employee Resource Group Celebrates 40 Years

SDCLA members at Chollas Lake HIke in 2015.

The County’s first Employee Resource Group (ERG) will be celebrating its 40-year anniversary on Sept. 29.

San Diego County Latino Association (SDCLA) is a dynamic group that promotes professional excellence, leadership, and awareness of Latino cultures, while serving as a strategic partner for community achievement and the County’s success.

Daniel Izaguirre, the president of SDCLA, said the most significant change that he’s seen over the years is the progress through leadership and membership of the organization.

“To have the first Latina chairwoman for the Board of Supervisors only begins to show where we are at and how far we can go,” Izaguirre said. “There is a bright future ahead and it will be incredible seeing our Gen Z-team take leadership to the next level.”

In 1983, The San Diego Union wrote the article featured below about a group of Hispanic County employees coming together to form SDCLA out of a need to help the County keep, promote and recruit more Latino employees.

Yolanda Rinaldo, who was the group’s interim president at the time, said about 40 Hispanic County employees decided to form the group “in response to the need for an improved communication system for Latinos in County government and from a deep concern about the recent losses of key Latino employees in the County.”

Throughout the years, SDCLA was featured in other Latino community newspapers, as well.

San Diego Union writes article about county’s first lATINO eMPLOYEE rESOURCE gROUP IN 1983.

SDCLA’s collaboration with the County’s 11 other ERG organizations has also grown. This includes the very popular Administrative Analyst Prep Series, Book Club events, Live Well San Diego 5k, ERG holiday mixer, summer bonfires and hikes.

Alexandra Talaro, the vice-president of SDCLA, said in the earlier years a great importance was placed on recruiting interested and talented Latino employees to join County public service.

“We've witnessed a transformation in the composition of the workforce, aligning more closely with the diverse communities we serve as County employees,” Talaro said. “Now, our ERG encompasses not only County employees, but also community members and proprietors of small businesses.”

sdcla mEMBERS AND fAMILY AT cHICANO pARK FOR “wALK THE bLOCK” EVENT IN 2021.

SDCLA looks forward to continuing this collaboration effort for many years to come.

“Now more than ever we are one team who have different demographics we represent,” Izaguirre said. “By enriching people to our culture erases the unknown and fear of who we are and how we can all help one another achieve success.” 

Employee Resource Groups are an important resource to the County and to their respective members. If you would like to become a member, click here.