Congratulations to the County of Humboldt’s Office of Human Resources, which recently received a HAF+WRCF Strategy Grant of $15,000 to launch a pilot program this year to achieve its strategic goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
HAF+WRCF Strategy Grants support organizations and projects that decrease vulnerability, increase equity and further a healthy, just, and equitable region where families can thrive.
The county’s Awareness-Based Leadership Program and Pilot Supervisor Academy is designed and led in part by Jeremy Michael Clark, Ph.D., the county’s Organization Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager and an expert in organizational development and Crystal Henson, DEI administrative analyst with the support of County Administrative Officer Elishia Hayes and Human Resources Director Zach O’Hanen. Dr. Clark created the program to help the county achieve its strategic goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in response to what Clark describes as a workforce that was hungry for these skills.
“This program is here because of staff who’ve been saying ‘Hey, we really want to learn and grow.’ We’re in a very incredible position where staff really want this kind of training,” says Clark.
County staff who supervise other employees will take part in the new program that combines skills-based training with emotional and cultural intelligence, and leadership development. Supervisors were selected as the first cohort because of their broad reach within the community. Through the county’s 21 departments, supervisors interact daily with thousands of county staff, residents, and community leaders.
The pilot program is designed as a three-part journey. Part one focuses on self-discovery, part two helps staff set personal goals as a supervisor and explores emotional and cultural intelligence and their applications in the workplace, and part three culminates with self-reflection. Staff participants will also take part in a pre-and post- intercultural competence test, which will highlight how much participants have improved their cultural intelligence levels after completing the program.
After completing the introductory curriculum, participants move onto Awareness-Based Leadership, the program’s centerpiece. Developed by Isaac Carter, Ph.D., an executive leadership coach, Awareness Based Leadership adds emotional and cultural intelligence to traditional leadership studies, with a strong focus on personal well-being. “We know combining these lessons into one curriculum will be impactful as supervisors grow and advance in their careers,” says Clark.
The program also includes skill-based trainings with the Eureka Chamber of Commerce’s new Leadership Program. Participants will learn about the foundations of management, brain science and its role in management and leadership, communication, facilitating collaboration, equitable decision making, and more.
The pilot Awareness Based Leadership Program and Supervisor Academy will include 20 to 25 people with recruiting for the first cohort starting in late February.