RAIN Newsletter
The RAIN newsletter is published quarterly, see the latest issues below. Find more past issues on our subcommittee page.
News and Events
Mar. 31, 2023
You are invited to the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) panel hosted by RAIN. TDOV is an annual day meant to celebrate, bring awareness, and elevate the visibility and voices of trans folks. Join us for this information packed panel where folks will share their stories and talk about what TDOV means to them.
Date: March 31, 2023
Time: 11 to 12 p.m.
Location: Virtual
*The panel is only open to Washington state employees and employees of Washington Institutions of Higher Education. To register for the event please use your work email. Personal emails will be denied access.
Mar. 16, 2023
March General Membership Meeting Guest Speaker:
Chandler Wheeler, Odyssey Youth Movement Spokane.
Odyssey Youth Movement is a 501(c)3 nonprofit promoting equity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth in the Inland Northwest through youth-driven programs and community education since 1992. We provide four nights a week of programs & resources for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults at our drop-in center in the South Perry district of Spokane. In addition, Odyssey hosts a handful of annual events to connect with the Spokane community and maintains a presence in local schools to help support LGBTQ+ students. Visit https://www.odysseyyouth.org/ for more information.
Jan. 19, 2023
Jan. General Membership Meeting Guest Speaker:
Stephanie Sampedro, Student Loan Advocate with the Student Achievement Council.
Learn about Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Do you have questions about the qualifications of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, types of loans & payment plans, or just dealing with student loan debt in general? If so, please join us on at our next general membership meeting Jan 19 at 2 p.m. We’ll be joined by Stephanie Sampedro, the Washington Student Loan Advocate to learn about PSLF and will provide time for questions and links to resources.
Slides
Dec. 2022
Reminder: No December General Membership Meeting!
Time for a break! Reminder that RAIN does not have a general membership meeting in the month of December. We do host an after hours holiday get together. Active members received an invite. Otherwise, we will see you next year!
Oct. 2022
RAIN's 2022 Outstanding Agency Awards
Join us to Celebrate!
This year's Agency Award Celebration will be hybrid in-person and over zoom! The event takes place Oct. 20, 2022. No registration required.
When: October 20 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission: Hearing Room
621 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Parking: There is free visitor parking in front of the building and throughout Woodland Square Loop. View a printable parking map, and print a visitor parking pass to park in reserved lots. Parking passes will be available to pick up at the event as well.
Accomodation: ASL interpreters and Live captioning will be available at the event for both in-person guests and those who join via zoom. The UTC Hearing Room is accessible. For other accomodation requests please email rain@ofm.wa.gov.
Congratulations to this year's winners and nominees!
Winners:
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Eastern Washington University - Student Affairs
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Department of Social and Health Services - Economic Services Administration
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Department of Enterprise Services - Buildings and Grounds
Nominees:
- Employment Security Department
- Department of Health
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Department of Services for the Blind- Orientation and Training Program
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Department of Enterprise Services- Washington Enterprise Services
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Department of Licensing
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Department of Ecology
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Department of Children, Youth, and Families
June 16, 2022
RAIN Pride Month Virtual Panel and Celebration June 16 at 2:30 p.m.
Join RAIN in celebration Pride Month on June 16 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. RAIN is joined by leaders in state government to discuss LGBTQ+ issues, their personal journies through state government, finding and helping others find belonging in the community while at work, and increasing LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Followed by membership mingle time to celebrate pride from 4 to 4:30. Please email rain@ofm.wa.gov for accomodation requests. This event will not be recorded.
Download Pride Month Panel Booklet
May 16, 2022
May General Membership Meeting Guest Speaker:
Jaelynn Scott, Executive Director of the Lavender Rights Project
Jaelynn Scott, M.Div., is the Executive Director of Lavender Rights Project. Lavender Rights Project offers holistic, wrap-around care and legal services for LGBTQ persons and especially Black Trans people. Jaelynn provides leadership in the community and with nonprofit organizations as they work to center Black life and especially Black trans life in their mission and organizational structure. She has helped religious organizations and nonprofits radically reimagine policies and procedures as well as expand and refocus their work towards racial and gender equity.
Jaelynn is an ordained minister and regularly preaches and facilitates workshops. She has experience in Human Resources and Operations. Jaelynn is passionate about trans liberation, sacred practices for self-care, decolonized labor practices, and mindfulness in the workplace.
RAIN Spring 2022 Newsletter
The RAIN Spring Newsletter is now available. Featuring Pride 2022 Events, Letting Our Pride Flags Fly, Sober Curious?, A Conversation with DES Director, Tara Smith, and RAIN Member Spotlight: Jasper Marino.
Continued Articles...
A Conversation with DES Director, Tara Smith
RAIN Member Spotlight: Jasper Marino
March 3, 2022
RAIN hosts Transgender Day of Visibility Panel for State Employees
Mar. 31, 2022 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Please join RAIN in celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). TDOV is an annual event to celebrate and raise visibility and awareness around transgender folks. This year we are hosting a panel of transgender state employees who will share their stories and experiences.
Feb. 1, 2022
RAIN hosts Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, Feb. 17, 2022 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The RAIN employee business resource group will be hosting a special guest speaker to celebrate Black History Month. Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter is the Scott Waugh endowed chair in the Division of the Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology and African American Studies at UCLA, coined the term #BlackLivesMatter, and author of four books. His research, activism and commentary have been featured in various journals, social media platforms, and news media. Join us in having a conversation with Dr. Hunter as he discusses the quest for systemic racial equality in America.
Jan. 25, 2022
The RAIN Best Practices subcommittee has completed an FAQ for Adding Pronouns to Your Signature Line. State employees have worked to create more inclusive workplaces for each other and the general public. Using pronouns in email signatures sends a message that state agencies are inclusive of everyone in Washington state and acknowledges gender diversity. As this practice becomes more commonplace, many people have raised questions about its use. The Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network (RAIN), developed an FAQ document to attach to pronouns in your signature line for reference. Please feel free to share this resource with your agency and workgroups.
Example:
Your Name
Pronouns: they/them
Agency
Contact Info
Oct. 22, 2021
Outstanding Agency Awards: Congratulations to this year's RAIN Outstanding Agency Award winners!
- The Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- The Department of Social and Health Services - Developmental Disabilities Administration - Rainier School
- The Employment Security Department
Every year, Washington state employees nominate agencies that have led the way in work to help create a safe and inclusive environment for LGTBQ+ employees. Nominations highlight specific changes in policies, practices, and culture that each agency has done to promote LGTBQ+ awareness and inclusivity. These awards are so special because the nominations come from employees within the agency that appreciate and recognize the work being done agency wide. We celebrate and thank all the nominated agencies for the work they are doing!
The 2021 Agency Awards Ceremony was on Oct. 21, 2021 during our October general membership meeting.