Alicia Sojourner appointed chief equity and inclusion officer

Washington County appointed Alicia Sojourner to begin work on December 16 as the organization’s next chief equity and inclusion officer, a position created as part of a resolution for expanding diversity, equity and inclusion adopted by the Board of Commissioners in February 2020.

Sojourner is currently serving as the director of equity and inclusion with the City of Vancouver, Washington, where she has led that city’s equity work for the last three years in collaboration with the city council and other leaders.

Sojourner’s appointment comes after a four-month national search. Out of 76 applicants, several finalists were interviewed by panels of community members and employees.

“The Washington County community is among the most vibrant and diverse in Oregon and our mission speaks to a human-centered organization that integrates equity into our decision-making,” said County Administrator Tanya Ange. “Alicia’s significant government and nonprofit experience, proven skills and thoughtful approach fit well within our mission. I look forward to the collaborative work ahead of us as we support every Washington County employee in facilitating our community’s full access to county services.”

“I’m deeply honored to join Washington County and to continue building a truly inclusive community,” said Alicia Sojourner. “This is a vibrant region filled with diverse perspectives, and I’m inspired by the county’s commitment to equity and human-centered values. Together, we will work to ensure every voice is valued, every person feels a sense of belonging and every community member has access to the resources they need to thrive. I look forward to partnering with leaders, employees and community members to create meaningful change that honors all who call Washington County home.”

Before joining the City of Vancouver, Sojourner managed racial equity, inclusion and community engagement for the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a city of about 50,000 people just outside of Minneapolis. She provided racial equity consulting for three years at Minneapolis YWCA, working with Fortune 500 companies, government, faith-based groups and educational institutions. For five years, Alicia also directed equitable organizing and civic engagement for Child CareWORKS in Minneapolis, advocating for working parents.

Washington County is a leading-edge, mission-focused organization that successfully serves the community now and in the years ahead. We are a human-centered organization that integrates equity into decision-making and supports the health, effectiveness, creativity and talents of our employees as public servants and the residents whom we serve. The organization is supported by a budget of $2.1 billion and is staffed by 2,570 full-time equivalent employees. More information about Washington County can be found at washingtoncountyor.gov.

Washington County’s 610,245 population is the second largest in Oregon and among the state’s most diverse. Washington County is home to Oregon’s largest county population of Latino/a/x community members and the highest percentage of Asians and Pacific Islanders. Nearly one in four Washington County residents speaks a language other than English. After English, Spanish-speaking households make up the largest segment of the county (one in eight county residents speak Spanish). The Office of Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement provides leadership and support to the Washington County organization to advance equity, inclusion and community engagement policies and best practices so that all residents may thrive.