David's Corner

Value #3: We strive for innovation, finding creative and beneficial solutions   The need for health, justice and hope is an urgent problem that requires creativity  and innovation  to solve. And they go hand in hand: creativity provides a fresh new idea (...solution, process, or program) and innovation is the practical implementation of that creativity. Together, they can lead to significant positive change. The trick of living this value is choosing the right ideas, developing the right processes, and creating the right programs that will create the change we want tos ee. We have the privilege of innovating with a diverse workforce and clients. That brings added complexity but if we do it right, better more inclusive service to the community. A good example is Telehealth, which was a creative idea that we rolled out quickly last year and that allowed us to continue safely serving people despite restrictions on contact and travel. However, not everyone has the same resour...

Value #2:  We leverage our shared expertise as a diverse and culturally competent community Across our agency, I think we're experts at listening, learning, counseling, problem-solving, collaborating, relating to others, advocating, negotiating, and compassion. The people who need our expertise are diverse and we have a responsibility to understand them, including the different abilities and interests, challenges and opportunities that are part of their lives. It's also important that our employees are diverse and representative of the people we serve and our recently expanded DEI Council will help us continue to build on our inclusive culture. How are we living our value to be "culturally competent?" More than just being aware of, or sensitive to cultural differences, I believe culturally competent people are doers--they create programs and materials that best serve the various cultures represented in their communities. When I think about our culturally competent emp...