From the Desk of Honorable Cynthia Lee Sheng, Parish President In Jefferson Parish we take pride and draw strength from our diverse work- force. I believe that we must understand how our community is evolving in order to best meet the needs of those who live here. A population with dif- ferent cultural backgrounds has less crime, more technological centers and innovation, better business growth, and more educational opportunities. We need to promote and harness the capacity of all members of our com- munity if we want to stay economically competitive and socially and politi- cally relevant in the world today. In an effort to create an environment where all of our employees can do their best work my team has analyzed and reorganized the organization chart. I wanted functional groupings, so that they are reporting to the same manager, and I wanted to create communication channels that give us the best chance at creativity and innovation. During our transition process, we retained and promoted some of our veteran parish employees; while also bringing in an unprecedented number of women and minorities to key administrative positions. That process has lead us to having the most diverse workforce the Parish has seen to date. It is important to embrace diversity in order to grow, and my administration fully supports and is grateful for the efforts of the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board. As President of Jefferson Parish, I am committed to continuing to work toward racial equity. Our work to make Jefferson Parish a more inclusive and diverse community is far from complet- ed, but I am pleased with the positive steps we are taking towards becoming a community where everyone has the opportunity and support to succeed. DIVERSITY MATTERS Celebrating Diversity In Jefferson Parish January 2020 A Publicaon of the Employee Diversity Board of Jefferson Parish Honoring A Champion Of Diversity Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Triple Evils of POVERTY, RACISM and MILITARISM are forms of vio- lence that exist in a vicious cycle. They are interrelated, all-inclusive, and stand as barriers to our living in the Beloved Community. When we work to remedy one evil, we affect all evils. To work against the Triple Evils, you must develop a nonviolent frame of mind as described in the “Six Principles of Nonviolence” and use the Kingian model for social action outlined in the “Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change.” Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Dr. Martin L. King January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968 Cynthia Lee Sheng Parish President
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DIVERSITY MATTERS · DIVERSITY MATTERS Celebrating Diversity In Jefferson Parish January 2020 A Publication of the Employee Diversity Board of Jefferson Parish Honoring A Champion
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From the Desk of Honorable Cynthia Lee Sheng, Parish President
In Jefferson Parish we take pride and draw strength from our diverse work-
force. I believe that we must understand how our community is evolving in
order to best meet the needs of those who live here. A population with dif-
ferent cultural backgrounds has less crime, more technological centers and
innovation, better business growth, and more educational opportunities.
We need to promote and harness the capacity of all members of our com-
munity if we want to stay economically competitive and socially and politi-
cally relevant in the world today.
In an effort to create an environment where all of our employees can do
their best work my team has analyzed and reorganized the organization
chart. I wanted functional groupings, so that they are reporting to the same
manager, and I wanted to create communication channels that give us the
best chance at creativity and innovation. During our transition process, we
retained and promoted some of our veteran parish employees; while also
bringing in an unprecedented number of women and minorities to key administrative positions. That process has lead
us to having the most diverse workforce the Parish has seen to date.
It is important to embrace diversity in order to grow, and my administration fully supports and is grateful for the efforts
of the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board. As President of Jefferson Parish, I am committed to continuing to work
toward racial equity. Our work to make Jefferson Parish a more inclusive and diverse community is far from complet-
ed, but I am pleased with the positive steps we are taking towards becoming a community where everyone has the
opportunity and support to succeed.
DIVERSITY MATTERS Celebrating Diversity In Jefferson Parish
January 2020
A Publication of the Employee Diversity Board of Jefferson Parish
Honoring A Champion Of Diversity
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Triple Evils of POVERTY, RACISM and MILITARISM are forms of vio-lence that exist in a vicious cycle. They are interrelated, all-inclusive, and stand as barriers to our living in the Beloved Community. When we work to remedy one evil, we affect all evils. To work against the Triple Evils, you must develop a nonviolent frame of mind as described in the “Six Principles of Nonviolence” and use the Kingian model for social action outlined in the “Six
Steps for Nonviolent Social Change.”
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Dr. Martin L. King January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968
This month is set aside to celebrate a man that celebrated diversity in an effort to create a community that fosters equal-ity. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Christian minister and activist who be-came the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, in-spired by his Christian beliefs and the
nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi.
King led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and in 1957 became the first presi-
dent of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). With the
SCLC, he led an unsuccessful 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany,
Georgia, and helped organize the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham,
Alabama. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he deliv-
ered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
It was not enough Dr. King put his life on the line for freedom and justice, ulti-
mately paying the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans.
I challenge you to make this MLK holiday "A Day On, Not a Day Off." The Mar-
tin Luther King Jr. holiday honors the life and contributions of America's great-
est champion and advocate of racial justice and equality.
Multicultural Calendar for February Black History Month
2/11 – LGBTQ+: Tammy Baldwin – Birthday of first openly LGBT politician elected to the U.S. Congress, and first elected to U.S. Senate 2/15 – Buddhist: Parinirvana or Nirvana Day – commemorates Buddha’s death in 483 BC and his final nirvana – for more religious holidays, see our 2020 Interfaith Calendar 2/15 – Women: Susan B. Anthony – Birthday of leader of women’s rights and the effort to enable women to vote 2/21 – Black: Barbara Jordan – Birthday of first Black woman elected to the Texas State Senate 2/26 – Christian: Ash Wednesday – the start of Lent, prayer and fasting for 40 days until Easter Sunday
March 2020 Ethnic Holidays Women’s History Month – Celebrates the Achievements of Women
3/1 – Hispanic American/Women: Geisha Williams – Birthday of first female Hispanic CEO of a Fortune 500 company 3/6 – Black American/Muslim: Shaquille O’Neal – Birthday of considered one of the greatest NBA players of all time, and a practicing Muslim 3/9 – Hindu: Holi – honors the winter crop harvest, and advent of spring 3/10 – Black American: Harriet Tubman – abolitionist leader on the Underground Railroad, aided slaves in their journey to freedom 3/14 – Jewish German American: Albert Einstein -Birthday of leading theoretical physicist of the 20th century 3/17 – Irish: St Patrick’s Day – Birthday of celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, who brought Christianity to island 3/31 – Mexican American: Cesar Chavez – Birthday of social activist for Mexicans and Mexican Americans, fighting for equality and economic justice
Diversity Board
Recognized By Parish President Yenni and the Council