{"id":1020,"date":"2018-03-16T09:07:34","date_gmt":"2018-03-16T16:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.piercecountywa.gov\/executive\/?p=1020"},"modified":"2023-06-26T13:35:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T20:35:22","slug":"albert-einstein-and-my-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.piercecountywa.gov\/executive\/2018\/03\/16\/albert-einstein-and-my-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Albert Einstein and my Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of my favorite quotes is from the renowned physicist, Albert Einstein: \u201cOnce you stop learning, you start dying.\u201d\u00a0 I could not agree more and work hard to reflect this in my life.\u00a0 I am naturally curious, which is why my visits with County employees often take much longer than scheduled.\u00a0 I like to learn what our people do and how they do it!<\/p>\n

However, I am always intentionally trying to learn new things and challenge my current perspectives \u2013 basically to grow personally.\u00a0 It shows up in the books I read (currently \u201cThe Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945\u201d), the classes I take (completed the Coast Guard Captain\u2019s Course last December), and podcasts I listen to daily (\u201cThe Bible in One Year\u201d and\u00a0yesterday the Citizen Tacoma Episode 25 on \u201cTacoma #Me Too\u201d).<\/p>\n

My desire to reach out, listen and understand better also shows up in my work as County Executive.<\/p>\n

Case in point, last week I met with the leadership from ten of our local unions.\u00a0 These meetings were definitely not contract bargaining.\u00a0 They were all about building and strengthening relationships, sharing priorities, and listening.<\/p>\n

It was very helpful for me to hear how they felt our employees were perceiving and reacting to some of my efforts \u2013 the blog was mentioned positively in most meetings!\u00a0 The meetings also gave me the chance to receive feedback on our upcoming total compensation and classification study, and better understand employee perspectives \u2013 both hopes and concerns.\u00a0 Some topics came up in multiple meetings \u2013 and some were very specific to a single bargaining group.\u00a0 You may remember, I did this last year, as well \u2013 and these meetings will continue next year and beyond.<\/p>\n

Another opportunity to grow occurred yesterday when I joined many other County employees at the \u201cThe People\u2019s Gathering Conference\u201d hosted by PLU.\u00a0 Among the over 300 participants were people from government, education, business and non-profits; Pierce County had folks from Juvenile Court, Planning & Public Works, the Auditor, the Sheriff and the Exec\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

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The People’s Gathering Conference at PLU<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The program was focused on addressing and increasing our understanding of racial, ethnic and gender differences.\u00a0 I found the speakers engaging and, in many cases, challenging.\u00a0 It was a great opportunity for me to learn and grow.\u00a0 Based on a conversation I had this morning with someone else who was there, it was very valuable in helping change perspectives.<\/p>\n

One very inspirational speaker was Alana Simmons.\u00a0 Alana\u2019s grandfather (Rev. Daniel Simmons) was the pastor who was killed along with 8 others in the horrific attack on Mother Emmanuel, a historically black Charleston church, while they prayed.\u00a0 Alana\u2019s response to the shooter in court was amazing, \u201cIt is my understanding that the purpose of this shooting was to initiate a race war. And, although my grandfather and the other victims\u00a0died\u00a0at the hands of hate, they lived in love and they preached love, and their legacies will be love. This display of forgiveness by the families and their plea for mercy on your soul is a true testament to how they lived and so hate\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0win.\u201d\u00a0 Alana later advanced her message of forgiveness and healing to a national audience through the \u201cHate Won\u2019t Win\u201d movement (www.hatewontwinmovement.com<\/a>)!<\/p>\n

Another opportunity for all of us to learn and grow is about to start through the annual \u201cPierce County Reads\u201d \u2013 the biggest reading event in the state!\u00a0 The Pierce County Library once again chose a book that shares a different perspective for many, with a goal of challenging everyone.\u00a0 And, it\u2019s in a very unique format!\u00a0 \u201cMarch\u201d is a national award-winning graphic memoir trilogy on the Civil Rights Movement by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell.\u00a0 They are using the medium (graphic memoir = high-quality \u201ccomic book\u201d style), to tell the story in a fresh way, to reach people differently, including those of a new generation.\u00a0 I have already bought my copy and am eager to start! (http:\/\/piercecountyreads.org\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Lastly, I want to remind you I will be presenting my 2018 State of the County speech at noon on Wednesday the 21st<\/sup> in Courtroom 100.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a video preview of what I intend to speak about.\u00a0 I hope you will join me!<\/p>\n

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