News

A Message from Our Leadership

 

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of our HAPPEN Business Resource Group community.

This year has been filled with learning, collaboration, and meaningful conversations, and none of it would be possible without your engagement, ideas, and support. Together, we’ve continued to foster connection, inclusion, and growth within our organization.

As we enter the holiday season, we hope you have time to rest, recharge, and celebrate in ways that are meaningful to you. We look… Read more

Friendly Reminder: No General Membership Meetings in December!

Save The Date: HAPPEN's Annual ANHPI Celebration May 14, 2026

Join the ANHPI Planning Committee!
Do you love bringing events to life? Enjoy coordinating resources and creating memorable spaces for your community? We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help plan and make our ANHPI events unforgettable. Email HAPPEN@ofm.wa.gov to volunteer.

Get involved and make an impact!

Congratulations to our new Co-Chair and Special Projects Lead!

Our new HAPPEN Co-Chair is Mark Metzger from the Office of Financial Management. Our new HAPPEN Special Projects Lead is Sundy Ballester from the Department of Social and Health Services. Congratulations on these two outstanding members as they take their place on our Executive Leadership Team! 

What's HAPPENing: Nov 10-14

BRG members: Help guide the state’s commitment to protecting rights and interests of immigrant communities.

Make your voice heard during a virtual listening session Oct. 29!

The Office of Equity is inviting all BRGs to participate in a virtual listening session to provide feedback on Executive Order 25-09, Reaffirming Washington’s Commitment to Protecting the Rights and Interests of Immigrant Communities.… Read more

BRG Q&A with AG Nick Brown!

Attorney General Nick Brown committed to coming back to as a follow-up to our meeting with him earlier this year and his team set the date of October 14th from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. to continue the conversation.

All BRG Members to join: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Any questions or stories should be emailed to the HAPPEN email inbox to be reviewed.… Read more

Special Elections: Co-Chair and Special Projects Lead

Election for Co-Chair  Submit your vote for the new Co-Chair by completing our election voting form.   (Open from 10/08/2025 – 10/15/2025)

 

… Read more

Special Elections: Co-Chair and Special Projects Lead

The following positions are up for special election on the HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team (ELT):

Co-Chair (1 position) Special Projects Lead Nominations are still open! 

Nominate… Read more

HAPPEN's Amended Bylaws are available for membership to review and vote until 08/18/2025, 11:59 PM HAPPEN general membership meetings are scheduled the second Wednesday of the month… Read more

HAPPEN's amended Bylaws are available for membership to review and vote:

2025 Proposed Bylaws Changes (Updated link!) Click here to vote for 2025 Proposed Bylaws Changes

Voting will close on 08/18/2025 at11:59 PM.

Special Elections: Co-Chair and Special Projects Lead

The following positions are up for special election on the HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team (ELT):

Co-Chair (1 position) Special Projects Lead Nomination

Nominate yourself or someone else by completing our nomination form between:… Read more

Congratulations to the newest members of our Executive Leadership Team Extending gratitude and appreciation to our retiring ELT members Anti-Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents Hotline Pilot by the WA Attorney General's Office Next General Membership Meeting July 9 at 1pm

What's HAPPENing: July 8-13

Special Elections Are Now Open

The following positions are up for special election on the HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team (ELT)!

Co-Chair (1 position)… Read more

LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!

We have the following openings on our Executive Leadership Team:

Co-Chair (1 position)… Read more

Our Executive Sponsor, Nicholas Vann, is handing off leadership to two new Co-Executive Sponsors, Kennly Asato, Commerce (COM), and Denise Ross, Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) It's election time for HAPPEN Leadership Team positions! Check out our candidate profiles. Join our next General Membership meeting May 14 to hear from candidates. Active HAPPEN members can… Read more

2025 HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team Special Elections

In case you missed it: The following positions are up for special election on the HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team (ELT)!

Co-Chair (1 position) Communications Coordinator Membership… Read more

Honoring Remembrance Day, 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon May 21 - Celebrate ANHPI Heritage Month with HAPPEN: A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience May 28 - Leadership Development Session with Brian Lock, Contract and Finance Specialist for the Department of Health, and HAPPEN Policy Lead HAPPEN Leadership Elections info and more!

What's HAPPENing: April 28-May 4

HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team nominations are open through April 30 Guest speakers to join April 9 General Membership Meeting Leadership and Career Development Series on April 16 featuring Brian Lock and more!

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/bulletins/3da345a

April 3 - final session of A Communication Confidence Coaching Series for Asian Americans (AANHPI) with Jolene Jang Next HAPPEN membership meeting April 9 - featuring guest speaker, Enoka Herat, Policy Director in the Washington State Attorney General's Office April 16 Leadership and Career Development Series - featuring discussion with HAPPEN Executive Leadership Policy Lead, Brian Lock (he/him/his), Contract and Finance Specialist for Washington State Department of Health The May session of the Leadership Development program has been changed from May 21st to May 28th… Read more

Leadership Development Program Session 2 - February 19 with, Jenn Nguyen, Director of the Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employment opportunity: Civil Rights Intake Specialist (Program Specialist 3) in the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division at the Attorney General’s Office 3rd Annual National Summit of South Asian Soar - Feb 23-24 ANHPI… Read more

Now more than before, it is imperative we know our rights. All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution, particularly the Fourth & Fifth Amendments.

The Fourth Amendment states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things… Read more