Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at the County are fundamental partners in our efforts to cultivate community and build bridges for opportunity. ERGs are a conduit for employees to have a collective voice, influence policies and initiatives, and forge lasting relationships. These voluntary, employee-led 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations are sponsored by County executives and guided by four pillars:
The ERG Council, comprised of the eleven ERG Presidents, is a collaborative body that serves to provide all County of San Diego Employee Resource Groups with the resources and support they need to help achieve their respective goals and the collective ERGs’ efforts. Their leadership this year has produced such transformational opportunities, such as the introduction of Listening Sessions, community panel dialogues, and participation in the Champion Showcase.
TIMELINE OF COUNTY EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS | ||||||||
1983 |
1985 |
1989 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2022 |
San Diego County |
Gay & Lesbian |
County of San Diego |
African-American |
Lesbian, Gay, |
San Diego County Middle Eastern Employee Resource Group |
“Pacific Islander |
DiverseAbility ERG |
Indigenous Sovereign Nations |
(SDCLA) |
(GayLA) |
(CSDFEA) |
(AAACE) |
(LGBT&A) |
(MEERG) |
(PISCE) |
(DiverseAbility) |
(ISN) |
Asian Pacific |
Veterans Employee Resource Group | |||||||
(APACE) |
(VALOR) | |||||||
Emerging Workforce Group | ||||||||
(EWA) |
2021 ERG Summit
In February 2022, the group launched Fireside Chats, a quarterly informal mentorship series with leaders. The employee resource groups will take turns moderating these virtual conversations in partnership with the County’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion team.
Fireside Chats:
The mission of AAACE is to recruit, promote, and inspire African American employees. To connect members and enhance the possibility of their success through education and charitable causes that accomplish County initiatives in unifying goals that result in improved career opportunities for the community. Our objective is to meet the needs of our members and align with County initiatives through promoting diverse and inclusive work environments. We foster efforts to enhance cultural awareness, equity and strengthen connections of African American employees. We share cultural heritage and engage in health initiatives that support the wellbeing of the African American community.
Members: 69
APACE is dedicated to building a sense of community and belonging through celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander culture; ensuring diversity and serving as a strategic partner to the County of San Diego; and providing opportunities for professional growth so that new ideas and leaders can flourish.
Members: 105
Our mission is to create spaces to learn and grow, celebrate and advance diversity and inclusion, and give back to our community. We strive to strengthen cultural awareness and multi-cultural competency in the County of San Diego; promote and support the professional development of County employees; give back to the community; and support common goals with the County of San Diego.
Members: 162
The mission of the DiverseAbility ERG is to advance awareness and inclusion for people with disabilities in the County of San Diego. In doing so, we hope to provide a safe and welcoming environment for people with disabilities and their allies to share their stories, be heard, understood, and supported.
Members: 60
EWA is about bringing everyone together. Our mission is to bridge generational gaps through education, enhancement of work culture, and networking while promoting County initiatives.
Members: 54
ISN’s vision is to engage and reimagine cultures by empowering others to embrace diversity and change. We aim to help promote and contribute to the healing, visibility and education of, for and with our indigenous populations. We represent many tribes, but we all operate as one, one people now included in this diversified community sharing. It is our hope to bring honor to our ancestors through hard work and dedication and to keep sovereignty, culture, health and well-being for future generations.
Launched: 8/9/22
Our Mission is to advance awareness of the cultural diversity unique to LGBTQ communities, provide and promote professional development and leadership opportunities, and advocate for inclusiveness in and support of County initiatives. We strive to cultivate, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive workforce where the contributions and perspectives of LGBTQ and allied employees are valued.
Members: 114
We are the Middle Eastern Employee Resource Group, and we strive to enhance Middle Eastern cultural awareness; to share the Middle East’s rich and diverse history and cultural contributions to the world, and to contribute to principles of cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.
Members: 25
PISCE ERG was formed to preserve and promote cultural awareness within the County of San Diego specific to people with origins from the Pacific Islands of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. We promote diversity and inclusion and have members which are both county and non-county employees and their families, as well as those from both Pacific Islander and non-Pacific Islander heritage.
Members: 86
San Diego County Latino Association, an employee resource group committed to promote professional excellence, leadership, cultural awareness, while promoting county initiatives. As County employees, we live and breathe “The noblest motive is the public good,” and we stand together with the opportunity to change lives for the better. Our success cannot just be measured by the number of members that we have, but, more importantly, by the lives that we impact and improve both in our roles as County employees and in the service to our community.
Members: 190
VALOR instills trust, accountability, integrity, and teamwork as the core values. We drive and support organization and individual growth through a network of colleagues levering their collective range of skills, talents, and diverse perspectives while being a resource to veterans, the County of San Diego, their dependents and military supporters.
Members: 20