The last few weeks, we've all watched a seemingly non-stop rash of horrific, violent incidents unfold. As one has followed another, our hearts have grown heavier, swollen by a gamut of emotions. 

Sorrow. Anger. Despair. Shock. Bewilderment.

You may be having any of those reactions or a mix. Most likely, you're feeling the impact of these events in a somewhat different way than I am. The same goes for the person next to you or any of your co-workers.    

When we come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, as County employees do, we're going to perceive and feel things in a variety of ways. A violent event may touch you more deeply the more you can say, “that could have been me.” They’re all troubling, but attacks on police, the assault at a nightclub, the shootings of young black men, the massacre at a beach – each may strike us differently.

Having the understanding that reactions vary is the fundamental point of our commitment to diversity. Respecting each other's response and saying there is room for them all to exist here is what we mean by inclusion. 

It's only by that inclusion that we can all stand as one. And while we each may have a unique view of events, we must stand united in opposition to violence. It is simply, without question, never the answer. 

That was the message in one of the most moving displays of solidarity I've ever seen in San Diego. Law enforcement, government officials and community leaders came together in Balboa Park last week to denounce the recent wave of violence targeting police.  

A good portion of our County family is law enforcement officers, and they deserve our wholehearted support. Sheriff Gore told the gathering how much it means to them to know they have the backing of those they're sworn to protect. 

The expression of support at the rally was coupled with a pledge to work even harder at strengthening ties to the community. It's only by engaging with and listening to the people we serve that we can build the mutual trust and respect needed as a foundation for public safety. Having this kind of dialogue - understanding residents' perspectives and feelings, involving them in making strategy - is part of the Live Well Communities effort I talked about earlier this year. The recent events add gravity and urgency to that conversation. 

That collaborative approach is at the heart of the Collective Impact concept that we embrace and promote. It's all about working with the community and numerous partners to achieve our goals.

The recent events prompted a few NBA players to open the ESPY awards with a powerful message. They too spoke against violence and the need to unite communities to bring about change. They ended with LeBron James saying, “We all have to do better.”

We do. I demand excellence from our organization, and receive it, but I also demand that we keep improving. We can be better partners, be more responsive to the people we serve. We can learn more from each other and work harder to ensure an inclusive culture that embraces our differences to build a united team of dedicated public servants, supportive of our public safety heroes and committed to ensuring our region is safe, healthy and thriving for all.

Travel back to the 1970s for this Throwback Thursday find. In this black and white photo, children play on "Activity Hill" at San Dieguito County Park. Much has changed in the past 40 years, so enjoy this concrete slide down memory lane.

Share your old County department photos by emailing communications@sdcounty.ca.gov.

A Parks and Recreation activity for children participating in the Spring Valley REC Club made quite the splash this week. Children traveled to Mission Bay on Monday to try log rolling and made their way onto TV.

Watch the Fox 5 clip above.

All rise for the National Anthem. Deputy Roland Garza sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at Petco Park on Friday during a special salute to first responders. The salute featured a thank you to San Diego Sheriff's Department for keeping the community safe. Have a listen.

In honor of its diamond anniversary, the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization received a proclamation from the County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday recognizing the nonprofit for its leadership, generosity and commitment to the community.

“For 60 years they have been lending a hand to diverse groups and communities in the San Diego region and people in need,” Supervisor Greg Cox said as he presented the proclamation to CECO board members. “CECO encourages support of local nonprofit programs and works to ensure that San Diego is a safe and livable community where all of its residents can thrive.”

Through County employee and retirees’ donations, CECO has distributed more than $6.7 million throughout the San Diego region to local non-profit organizations and employees in crisis since its founding in 1956.

Save the date for CECO’s next anniversary celebration: a lunchtime gathering Friday, Aug. 26 at the County Operations Center. There will be a special star-studded, all-employee band performance with tunes from the ‘50s, when CECO formed, food and other surprise festivities! More details to come. So stay tuned to InSite.

To learn how to donate to CECO, visit them online.

You don’t need to break a sweat negotiating a membership deal at the gym. Save your energy for the workout and consider joining the YMCA. They are now waiving the $50 registration fee for County employees!

Plus, a Y membership now grants you access to all 17 San Diego County YMCA locations and entry to unlimited group exercise classes. This means you have the flexibility to hit the weights, hop onto a treadmill, swim a few laps or pop into a fitness class near your home or office.

Have a family? Getting healthy at The Y is for everyone! Include family members of all ages. Child Watch for ages 0-12 is included in all Family level memberships.  The Y also allows children ages 7 and over to work out in the fitness area with you!

Monthly membership fees are $45 for a single adult, $70 for two adults, $40 for seniors (65+), $34 for teens and young adults (13 to 25),  $65 to $85 for families, and 10 percent off rates for military. For additional information on rates or for information on financial assistance, visit the YMCA online. To be eligible for the offer, you must be a current County employee. Visit your local Y with your employee ID to sign up.

A survey is coming your way.

You should fill it out because your responses will help shape food choices and culture at your worksite, from the snacks on your vending machine to the dishes and beverages served in your cafeteria.

Led by the Health and Human Services Agency in partnership with the Employee Wellness Program, the survey will assist in the development of the County’s Eat Well Standards:  nutrition criteria for all foods and beverages offered by the County. The Eat Well Standards are part of the County’s Food System Initiative, which plays a critical role in creating healthy, accessible and affordable choices.

The survey results will not be used in any way to dictate what you eat or bring into the office for personal consumption. The survey takes about five minutes to complete. All responses are confidential.

“We are reaching out to employees to get their input on what foods and beverages they desire and what changes should be made,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Their responses will help us develop the County’s Eat Well Standards.”

The short survey includes questions such as:

• Does your worksite have a County-operated or leased cafeteria or café within walking distance or access to food and beverage vending?
• Do you purchase food from the cafeteria or café?
• Are the foods and beverages served at the cafeteria or café healthy?
• Does the cafeteria or café promote and offer local or organic foods and beverages?
• Does the cafeteria or café offer recyclable, compostable, or reusable plates, cups and silverware?

“The County’s vision is to have healthy, safe and thriving residents and communities. That vision starts with our employees,” said William Erese, County wellness coordinator. “The survey is a great opportunity for employees to let their voices be heard and help us achieve that vision.”

The survey will be available to employees until August 22. Employees with no access to a computer at work can get the survey link from their supervisors and complete it at home or using their smartphones.

For more information about the Eat Well Standards survey, contact JuliAnna Arnett, Food System Specialist for HHSA at JuliAnna.Arnett@sdcounty.ca.gov or (619) 692-8248.

Diversity and inclusion are important topics being discussed across the nation right now, and they’re issues that are important to the County and our customers. Watch this video to see why diversity and inclusion are a priority for the County of San Diego, and learn more online or by requesting a speaker.

Get a firecracker of a deal on tickets to a San Diego State University football game! County employees can purchase tickets for $10 to SDSU’s 2016 season opener game against New Hampshire. The Sept. 3 game at Qualcomm Stadium will be followed by the 41^st annual KGB SkyShow fireworks spectacular.

Kick off for the Aztecs vs. the Wildcats is 5:30 p.m. Come early to enjoy free carnival rides in the tailgating area of Qualcomm’s parking lot prior to the game.

The Aztecs are coming off an 11-3 season in which they tied a school record for the most wins in a single year and went on to beat Cincinnati in the Hawaii Bowl 42-7.

Visit this Ticketmaster link and use promo code “COUNTY” to purchase tickets. This offer expires at 5 p.m., Sept. 2.

You don’t need to wait until game day to support the Aztecs. Get pumped up for the game with a pep rally at the County Operations Center on Aug. 30. The SDSU Marching Band will drum up spirit starting at noon near the Commons.

See you at the game!

Paralympic Soccer Team player David Garza (L) stands with dad Israel Garza, who works in TTC and is president of an ERG.

Four years ago, Israel Garza’s son David was near death. He had been involved in a single-car accident and had spent a month in a coma. He needed tubes to breath, to eat. He had suffered a broken jaw, an open wound on his left knee and his left eyebrow had been completely ripped off.

Once an avid soccer player, the 19-year-old was left with a traumatic brain injury and, after he came out of the coma, was told he wouldn’t walk again. After years of dedicating his life to the field, the young athlete was faced with years of physical and mental confinement. It was a foreign concept for the soccer player and his family.

“We have video of him kicking a ball when he was a baby,” said Garza, who’s a manager in the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office. “He actually started playing organized soccer when he was seven with the local YMCA, then AYSO, then 'club' soccer, then high school soccer, then college soccer.”

Garza said he rarely missed a game or practice. Being involved with both of his son’s sports activities was one of his important roles as a dad.

Israel Garza with both of his sons in an undated photo.

“I was fortunate that I was able to help coach David when he first started, though I eventually turned it over to professionals,” he said. “I helped manage his teams, helped run the soccer club by being on the board of directors and even referee soccer games.”

After his accident, despite what his doctors said and thanks to much determination, David was able to walk, run and even play soccer again. But Garza wanted his son to have a back-up life plan.

“David’s goal was to play professional soccer, but after his accident I encouraged him to consider the military as a backup career after he graduated from college,” said Garza, who served four years in the Navy as an operations specialist.

David met up with the local Army ROTC unit at his college and joined. He graduated in May and was commissioned into reserve duty to lead part-time in the Army.

But professional soccer hasn’t been completely ruled out. David has been part of the U.S. Paralympic soccer team for a few years and on Aug. 1, he was officially notified that he will be competing in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

Garza said he was overwhelmed with emotion when he found out.

“[I felt] proud of my son, blessed, emotional, proud to be an American, humbled, grateful, thankful.  It’s hard to put into words what this meant for me and my family.”

Garza and family are flying down to Rio Sept. 4-18 to cheer on David and his teammates, all of whom are ambulatory but have a diagnosis of non-progressive brain damage that is associated with motor control dysfunction (such as cerebral palsy), traumatic brain injury or stroke.

“To see my son David go from playing soccer at a young age, to a near death experience from the auto accident to Olympian is a tribute to his fight to live, his hard work during rehab, his extra efforts during the many U.S. Paralympic soccer camps and his determination to be a winner makes me a very proud dad,” Garza said. “Go Team USA!”

What if you could make the world a better place — just by eating?

It could happen: less hunger, less disease, better health, economic prosperity.

You can find out how by coming to see a free, cool movie, eating some free, tasty food, and being introduced to the Live Well San Diego Food System Initiative.

County employees are invited to come Tuesday, Aug. 30 to the County Operations Center to watch a free cooking demonstration, eat free food and see a free 50-minute screening of “In Defense of Food.”

The acclaimed documentary film is based upon Michael Pollan’s New York Times best-selling book of the same name, which tackles the question, “what should I eat to be healthy?” The film, which will start about 5:10 p.m., will be followed by a short question and answer period.

Seating is limited. To attend, RSVP by registering online.

The event will be held in the COC’s Conference Center Hearing Room, at 5520 Overland Avenue. The Live Well San Diego Food System Initiative, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors in June and is currently working to create new County nutritional standards, is hosting the event.

Food and refreshments are scheduled to be served from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. A healthy cooking demonstration sponsored by the Employee Wellness Program will be held at 4:30 p.m.

Supervisor Greg Cox, who along with Board Chairman Ron Roberts recommended the food system initiative to the Board, will welcome everyone and give a brief overview of the initiative at about 5 p.m.

HHSA’s Child Health Medical Officer, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, and Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Karen Melvin from the Land Use and Environment Group, will also talk about the initiative and introduce the film.  So, come! Eat, drink, and find out how we can change the world — just by eating!

How many sandwiches can you make with 698 pounds of peanut butter? It’s an inexact science, as some spread it on thicker than others, but the San Diego Food Bank says it will provide hundreds and hundreds of meals to people who otherwise wouldn’t have one.

That was the inspiration behind the peanut butter drive recently headed by Jacqueline Hamed, an analyst in the Health and Human Services Agency’s Office of Business Intelligence.

“During a recent tour, Food Bank President Jim Floros shared stories and facts regarding the Food Bank and the community it serves. He mentioned peanut butter being a highly desirable item that the Food Bank normally doesn’t purchase as it is more expensive than other proteins, but is a great item to give those in need,” she said.

After the tour, Hamed and her colleagues were so in awe of everything the Food Bank does for the community, they wanted to be part of giving back.

“We remembered Jim’s comment about the peanut butter being like ‘gold’ and this motivated our effort to start our peanut butter drive. It started off trying to get everyone to bring in one jar of peanut butter and we collected a decent amount just within our department. “

Then, Hamed and her colleagues reached out to other HHSA departments.

“We ended up collecting a total of 551 jars which weighed in at 698 pounds,” Hamed said. “This will allow the Food Bank to provide 582 meals to those in need.”

The three-year County employee said everyone was shocked at how much they collected.

“We had no idea that it would get this big and are beyond grateful that so many people got involved for such a great cause.”

Hamed and her coworkers took the large donation into the very happy and grateful Food Bank on Aug. 22. She said they plan to make the peanut butter drive an annual event, with the hopes of surpassing this year’s heavy donation.

“Our food drive was focused on peanut butter but there are so many other ways people can support the Food Bank,” Hamed said. “The Food Bank also relies a lot on volunteers, so if anyone is interested in volunteering or getting information on their programs, they can visit their website at www.sandiegofoodbank.org.”

Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales accepts his Communidad Award from Tom Seidler, Padres senior vice-president of community & military affairs, at the Aug. 23 game. Photo courtesy of San Diego Padres.

San Diego County Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales hit a home run with a San Diego Padres Comunidad Award, receiving recognition under the award’s “Serve” category at the Aug. 23 evening game.

Gonzales, the first Latino to serve as Chief Probation Officer for San Diego County, accepted the award on the ballfield. The Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards were established to recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations whose work makes a positive impact on members of San Diego’s Hispanic community.

“With nearly four decades of law enforcement experience, Gonzales is one the most respected and sought-out leaders in the County for his work and dedication towards making San Diego County one of the safest places in the country,” Eloisa Orozco wrote in her nomination of Chief Gonzales. Orozco is an Area Communications Manager for Waste Management of Southern California.

She noted that Gonzales’ priorities include a heavy focus on reducing recidivism and bolstering partnerships with law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations and other County departments such as the Health and Human Services Agency.

Orozco said she has known Gonzales since his years with the National City Police Department and felt he has a long-standing career of community service and is deeply committed to improving the lives of Latinos and all community members alike. He accomplishes this by continuing to serve as a volunteer for many organizations such as the Jackie Robinson YMCA and Reach One Teach One, a nonprofit with a mission to reduce violence, promote unity, and improve the quality of life in the communities.

Gonzales, who holds a master’s degree in education from San Diego State University and a doctorate of education in leadership science from the University of San Diego, is also known as an advocate for higher education and takes every opportunity to encourage Latino youth to pursue their studies.

San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization marked 60 years of giving with a “Rock Around the (Lunch) Clock” celebration Friday at the County Operations Center. The ‘50s-inspired festivity included a performance by Dona & the Servicemen, a band made entirely of County employees, food and an opportunity drawing. If you missed out on the fun, see some highlights below and consider giving.

Dr. Eric McDonald, medical director of the HHSA Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch

Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available to County employees starting Sept. 6. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of this free benefit. No appointment is necessary. County employees will only need to present their County ID.

Flu shots will be available at more than 40 County worksites, near and far.

While it may seem early to think about your annual flu shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the vaccination as soon as it’s available. Getting vaccinated before the start of the flu season gives the body a chance to build up immunity to the influenza viral strains in the annual vaccine, before they begin to spread in the community.

Find the full schedule on the Department of Human Resources’ Employee Benefits Division page.

Additional Tips to Stay Healthy

In addition to getting vaccinated, people should also do the following to avoid getting sick:

• Wash hands thoroughly and often
• Use hand sanitizers
• Stay away from sick people
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Clean commonly touched surfaces
• If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others

Back to school season is not just for your children; it can be for you too. The County of San Diego formed partnerships with six universities and colleges to offer education discounts to County employees. Continued learning offers a variety of benefits including career development opportunities and greater earning potential.

You don’t need a degree to know that saving money while pursuing higher education is the smart move.

The County’s Education Partnerships include:

• Ashford University: County employees are eligible for a 10 percent tuition grant, technology fee waiver and free required course material for all mandatory courses.
• DeVry University: County employees are eligible for 10 percent off tuition and waiver of application fee. The discount does not apply to Master of Science in Education and graduate certificate programs.
• Excelsior College: County employees and their spouses/domestic partners are eligible for a 20 percent tuition reduction in the associate and bachelor’s degree programs, and a 15 percent reduction on all masters programs.
• National University: County employees are eligible for 15 percent off tuition and waiver of application fee.
• Penn State University: County employees are eligible for a 5 percent tuition reduction when enrolling in any online courses, certificates and degree programs.
• University of Phoenix: County employees are eligible for a 10 percent tuition reduction when enrolling in any degree program, certificate program or individual course.

To be eligible for the education discount, be sure to indicate you work for the "County of San Diego" on your college application or notify your college representative.

 For additional information please visit the Tuition Reimbursement page.

Understanding a budget, even a $5 billion budget like the County’s, should be as easy as pie — or a pie chart, bar graph, movable line graph or explanatory video.

And now it will be!

Today, the County’s Office of Financial Planning is rolling out a new online application, “Open Budget,” and a Learning Management System tutorial to explain how it works.

The idea is simple and empowering. Open Budget lets people turn thousands of pages of numbers and text into simple and immediately understandable visuals — like charts and graphs — just by clicking a button. And not just for one budget. Open Budget contains all the information for four fiscal years.

People can manipulate all that data to compare it, without ever having to scroll or leaf back and forth through those documents. It makes our budget — what some people thought of as solely the domain of number-crunchers — usable, clickable and sortable.

Say you want to look at your department’s revenue, or expenses, or staffing for a year, or over four years. Or you want to compare that to another department. Or you want to “drill down” that information for all the departments in your Group. Or compare groups; or even break that information down for individual programs!

Just picture that! Well, now you can — literally — with a click.

But Open Budget is more than just pictures. The application’s About section includes explanatory text and videos that explain what the County does, the differences between the public sector and private sector, how the County’s budget process works and how we manage debt.

It also allows you to access the County’s website, department websites and download information to create spreadsheets.

The goal of Open Budget, like its concept, is simple: increase financial literacy and promote civic engagement by making it easy for everyone to access and use County budgets.

Ultimately, Open Budget will be made available to the public as well. But we, as County employees, are getting a first look!

So open it up. Take that LMS training.

You’ll see our budget in a whole new way!

Open Budget Resources:

Website

LMS Training (Editor’s note: to access this link to LMS, use it in Internet Explorer)

LMS for Sheriff, DA, SDCERA

What did you do on your vacation or staycation this year?

Email your best photo, along with the location where it was shot and who is pictured to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov. 

See the gallery here!