Director's Message

Aug. 24, 2007

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, M.D., director

"What the people want is very simple. They want an America as good as its promise."
~Barbara Jordan

This month marks the start of our department's new cultural competency classes for all employees.

As these classes are offered throughout Oregon during the next several months, I hope each of you not only will actively participate in the discussions, but also will take away what you learn and turn that training into practice. I encourage you to use the awareness you gain in these classes as a stepping stone for action and growth.

It is vitally important for us to be a diverse and culturally competent organization. We do a lot to meet these goals -- we consciously strive as an organization to create a diverse and inclusive culture, and we are a leader among state agencies in our progress toward meeting and -- in some cases -- exceeding affirmative action goals.

But diversity is about far more than just reflecting our customers or attending a training course, and it's important that we don't use our successes as an excuse to become complacent. We must continually seek to do even better, expand our awareness, build on our successes and treat cultural competency as what it truly is -- a lifelong learning process.

Another upcoming learning opportunity that I encourage you to attend, if your schedule and work location permit, is this year's Sept. 20 Diversity Conference in Salem. Once again DHS is co-hosting it with ODOT, and it promises to offer an excellent variety of keynote speakers and workshops. You can learn more details and register by going to the DHS online Learning Center at https://dhslearn.hr.state.or.us/.

And, to remind us of the many diverse customers we serve and why we're here, we are installing a permanent photo exhibit in the halls and conference rooms in the DHS headquarters building that shows the faces of the people we serve, the people for whom we exist. These photos do not use models or set pieces; these are our actual clients living their lives, captured for a moment in time to remind us of the importance of our mission and its impact on Oregonians.

The exhibit is titled "We the People," a powerful phrase full of symbolism and meaning. For me it evokes a feeling that I am part of something significant, something of value, to which I contribute. It reminds me of the clients we serve and why I do this work.

I'm proud to be a part of an organization that sincerely embraces and values diversity in all its forms. I believe that by encouraging and incorporating diversity we do a better job of serving our customers and we become better ourselves.

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To provide feedback email: DHS.Directorsoffice@state.or.us

This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.