Lake County
On April 2nd 2024, the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved and passed the proclamation designating April as “Celebrate Diversity Month.” The Equity TA team had a chance to meet with Leila Romero, Lake County’s Health Equity Program Coordinator, to discuss her work behind the creation of the proclamation, and her hopes for the doors it will open for the future.
During an experience at an earlier role, Leila had questions around how equity was being incorporated within the work and noticed that there were no materials specifically for Latinx and Indigenous communities within Lake County. She received a response that has since stayed with her; “because the majority of individuals in the county identified as white, this was the population (the county) needed to help the most.” This response further ignited her passion in ensuring that the different communities that make up Lake County are acknowledged, have their different and unique needs met, and celebrated.
Leila began engaging in conversations with the Cultural Awareness Committee led by Lake County’s Behavioral Health team around interest in supporting a proclamation centered in celebrating diversity. She continued these conversations during CHIP meetings, reaching out to leadership members to gauge interest and received insights on how to go forward with gaining more support. The pivotal moment for Leila was during a Community Visioning Forum Planning Committee meeting in which her Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer was also present. Leila took the opportunity to share her work creating the proclamation and her request that the proclamation be sponsored by Lake County board members. Leila’s dedication in gaining trust and raising the importance of the proclamation proved successful! The proclamation was sponsored by two Board members who were part of the Community Visioning Committee.
With this initial win and support by leadership and board members, Leila ensured that the initial draft was shared with the County PIO, and Public Health PIO.
Furthermore, a draft of the proclamation was shared with a Board of Supervisors member who was a former chair for one of Lake County’s Tribal communities, who further infused the proclamation by adding language that centered Lake County’s seven Tribal Nations.
Leila’s next goal is to share the proclamation throughout the community, and she hopes that it will encourage individuals to learn about the diverse communities of Lake County-regardless of population size. Leila goes on to share that she hopes that this proclamation will, “open people’s minds to bridging differences and uplifting commonalities, –building connections and dismantling the idea that Lake County is not a diverse place.”
Lastly, Leila shares that her advice for others interested in engaging in similar efforts is, “if you find allies in the work, and people who are passionate about what you’re trying to put forward, build on that and the passion that others have.”
To watch the Board of Supervisor’s Proclamation Video, click here.
For more questions or to connect with Leila Romero, email her at Leila.Romero@lakecountyca.gov.