King County Affinity Groups

The King County Native American Leadership Council is a forum where First Nations, Indigenous people and our allies can come together to build community, leadership, employee enrichment and cultural preservation.

Our mission revolves around the following central goals:

• To increase the visibility of American Indians, Alaskan Natives, First Nations, Native Hawaiian and indigenous issues and initiatives within local, state and federal governments and their surrounding and tribal communities.
• To promote, further and strengthen Equity and Social Justice.
• To provide educational opportunities that further awareness and recognize the contributions of Indigenous people.
• To enhance the recognition and reputation of King County in American Indians, Alaskan Natives, First Nations and Native Hawaiian and other Indigenous communities.
• To support and increase Native American recruitment and retention.
• To provide a safe and positive workspace that is respectful, inclusive and welcoming.

Our membership is made up of American Indian, Alaska Native and Indigenous employees and community leaders, and our allies across King County departments and Seattle/King County population.

The official name is Asian Pacific Islander (API) Affinity Group

Our mission in the API Affinity Group is to create a community where we can:

• Build a community of API employees to identify and implement pro-equity, anti-racist actions across King County;
• Lead change in equitable policies and procedures that impact the API community;
• Achieve representation and recognition in decision making;
• Support opportunities for leadership, career development, and growth for API employees;
• Liberate the API narrative and interrupt internalized racial inferiority/superiority, stereotypes and;
• Educate non-API communities by promoting and advancing equity and social justice change at the individual, organizational, and community levels.

• Stay respectful to self and each other
• Create a brave space of support and belonging
• Learn from and with each other
• Practice shared leadership and engagement
• Build and nurture strong, inclusive relationships
• Collaborate to embrace all ideas, talents, and input

The Asian Pacific Islander (API) Affinity Group is committed to helping our community thrive and celebrate our diverse cultures. We come together to network, learn, build common ground, collaborate, share resources, grow professionally, and support one another.

• For our group: We are rooted in love and relationship building, commit to understanding, learning more, and inspiring those to do the same.
• For King County: We seek to interrupt racism and white privilege in King County workplaces and service delivery by communicating awareness and truth with people across all cultures. By working with senior leadership to support the efforts of the group and collaborating with other affinity groups, we advocate for cultural change within King County, the equitable distribution of professional development resources, and serve as a resource to inform efforts within King County.
• For our community: We aim to advance equity and social justice across King County by offering our voices where they are often overlooked. Whether that be through cultural and technical support, such as translation or representation, or participating in other types of community stewardship, such as volunteering, event sponsorship and coordination, we aim to increase our visibility within the community.

All King County employees who self-identify as being Asian and/or Pacific Islander and who are committed to the vision and mission are welcome to join. To be an active member, we ask that you review and agree to the Group Charter and participate in the agreements.

The API Affinity Group has a shared leadership structure, with members volunteering to facilitate the monthly meetings and supporting functions of the group.

• Co-Chair: Renee Hosogi, Performance Metrics Manager, DES
• Co-Chair:Phoebe Naguit, Fiscal Specialist III, DNRP
• Julia Yen, Best Start for Kids Program Manager, DCHS
• Chan Saelee, Best Start for Kids Prevention Specialist, DCHS
• Rey Sugui, Intergovernmental Relations Manager, DLS
• Emmanuel Rivera, Health and Environmental Investigator IV, DNRP
• Iva So’Oto, Customer Service Specialist IV, DES
• Christine Alba, Contract Specialist I, DNRP

The official name is King County Anti-Racist White Action Group

ARWAG’s mission is to ready, support, and guide white-identifying employees to be constructively useful and active in anti-racism efforts in King County.

Intentionally in development - ARWAG is creating values/principles to focus on:

• Members are encouraged and expected to engage in continuous education to gain awareness, competencies, skills, and abilities.
• All members are expected to engage in activities that identify and interrupt racism and white privilege in King County workplaces and service delivery.

• Collaborate with, take guidance from, and support other Employee Resource and affinity Groups (ERGs) toward pro-equity and anti-racist institution and system changes.
• Among white-identifying employees, increase the awareness of white privilege and build readiness to interrupt privilege and racism.
• Build a community of white-identifying members who support and hold one another accountable to identify and implement pro-equity and anti-racist actions in our agencies and communities.
• Unpack and interrupt internalized racial superiority in ourselves.

All King County employees who identify as white and are interested in the mission and purpose of the group are invited and welcome. Membership is voluntary. Members can use up to three work hours a month to participate in ARWAG meetings and activities. Time spent in ARWAG meeting and activities is not eligible for overtime.

ARWAG has a shared leadership structure, with members volunteering to facilitate the monthly meeting. A planning group - open to all members - provides support via outreach to new members, MS Teams site support for meeting facilitators (regarding guest speakers, readings and community building ideas), meeting scheduling, and serving as a liaison between ARWAG, other Employee Resource Groups, and the King County Office of Equity and Social Justice.

• Richard Gelb
• Rachel Miles
• Steve Klusman
• Barbara Ramey
• Therese (Teri) Bednarski

The Black African Affinity Group (BAAG) is a collective that recognizes the importance of centering our cultural strength through community. We are comprised of employees of the Black culture, including but not limited to those of African, Caribbean, European African, Afro-Hispanic and African American backgrounds.

Officer Positions:

• Co-Chairs: Debra Baker
• Co-Chairs: Jabari Hampton
• Chair-Elect: TBD
• Treasurer: John Miller (interim)
• Administrator: Natasha Sable
• Communications Officer: Jabari Hampton
• Membership Coordinator: (vacant)
• Community Health and Outreach Officer: Miesha Vaughn
• Strategic Advisor: Ebony Frazier
• Employee Advocacy Officer: Pervis Willis
• Senior Advisor: Arthur Hendricks

From its inception, the primary goal of BAAG has been the support and retention of Black employees through a holistic environment. Historically, the focal point of African American life has centered around community such as family, churches, neighborhoods, and volunteer organizations. Community is how we connect, share resources, and share knowledge. We are strongest when we work together, support one another, and lift each other up. Through our culture we will cultivate the success of all Black employees.

At King County having a community to connect with is crucial. This is especially evident in the context of institutional and systemic racism, colorism, and health disparities. The Black/African Affinity Group centers on providing employees with a community platform. We strive to provide opportunities for members to engage, build community and make connections while growing each other culturally, professionally, and socially.

Mission Statement: The King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group provides guidance, resources, and mutual support to our network of veteran and military employees. We strive to make King County a more equitable workplace that attracts, retains, and develops veteran and military employees so they may achieve their full potential and thrive.

Motto: Service – Integrity – Commitment – Equity

Values:

1. We epitomize the core values learned through our military service; showcasing to others the positive impacts that Veterans bring to the King County workplace and community.
2. Leading with integrity, we uphold King County’s True North vision.
3. We are committed as guides, mentors, and resources for our fellow Veterans.
4. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of other Affinity Groups striving to achieve equitable outcomes.

Affinity Group Co-Chair: Renita Borders, Council

Affinity Group Co-Chair: Fred Seaton, DAJD

Membership Chair: Keith Clarke, DHR

Events Chair: Jennifer Broadus, KCIT

Communications & Social Media Chair: Elizabeth Inglese, KCIT

Finance Manager Chair: Van Badzik, Executive Office

Policy Liaison Chair: Chris Franco, Office of Equity & Social Justice

HR Liaison Chair: Susan Navetski, DHR

Content Manager/Administrator Chair: Walt Ames, DHR

To be notified of upcoming meetings, events and other important information, please subscribe to the V-MAG email list by leaving your email address (no phone numbers please)