Animal Welfare Professionals

Updated 10/21/21 at 8:15am Recording Now Available! 

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Join us for an open, informal 30-minute conversation and Q+A with Allison Cardona, Deputy Director of Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control.

This was recorded on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 12n Pacific / 3pm Eastern (30 minutes)

In this discussion with Maddie's Fund Executive Leadership Team member Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Allison speaks of overcoming her own experience with systemic bias and what she sees as initial steps we can take to widen diversity, equity and inclusion in our field while strengthening the human-animal bond.

Continue the conversation with @Allison Cardona right here on Maddie's Pet Forum!

#CommunityPartnerships*
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#LawsandPublicPolicy
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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alison gibson
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Thank you Allison for that inspiring conversation. I'd like to ask, has the county done any research or consideration around starting affinity groups of staff/volunteers with common social identity or life experiences and utilizing these groups to work with senior leaders to make decisions that can improve on inclusion practices and benefit the community?

Thank you again! 
-Christine Quesada

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Christine Quesada
Best Friends Animal Society
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Thanks so much for attending the session, Christine. We have created a departmental Anti-racism Committee with representatives from across the organization. This past year they worked on reviewing policies and practices in four areas: human resources, field services, adoptions and volunteer services. Their review was through a racial equity lens and the team brought back recommendations for changes. We will be continuing this committee and review process. We haven't created affinity groups but I would be interested to hear and learn more.

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Allison Cardona
County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-20-2021 12:45 PM
From: Christine Quesada
Subject: Maddie's® Candid Conversation with Allison Cardona

Thank you Allison for that inspiring conversation. I'd like to ask, has the county done any research or consideration around starting affinity groups of staff/volunteers with common social identity or life experiences and utilizing these groups to work with senior leaders to make decisions that can improve on inclusion practices and benefit the community?

Thank you again! 
-Christine Quesada

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Christine Quesada
Best Friends Animal Society
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Thanks Allison, sounds like you all are doing great work.

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Christine Quesada
Best Friends Animal Society
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-20-2021 01:13 PM
From: Allison Cardona
Subject: Maddie's® Candid Conversation with Allison Cardona

Thanks so much for attending the session, Christine. We have created a departmental Anti-racism Committee with representatives from across the organization. This past year they worked on reviewing policies and practices in four areas: human resources, field services, adoptions and volunteer services. Their review was through a racial equity lens and the team brought back recommendations for changes. We will be continuing this committee and review process. We haven't created affinity groups but I would be interested to hear and learn more.

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Allison Cardona
County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-20-2021 12:45 PM
From: Christine Quesada
Subject: Maddie's® Candid Conversation with Allison Cardona

Thank you Allison for that inspiring conversation. I'd like to ask, has the county done any research or consideration around starting affinity groups of staff/volunteers with common social identity or life experiences and utilizing these groups to work with senior leaders to make decisions that can improve on inclusion practices and benefit the community?

Thank you again! 
-Christine Quesada

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Christine Quesada
Best Friends Animal Society

Allison - your vulnerability and courage continues to inspire me to work harder for a better, more just world. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself in this discussion and raising your voice so that others may learn. So grateful to you and for you!

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katherine shenar
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Katherine, thank you for your kind words and your advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion. I am grateful for your determination and commitment as well as the Association's leadership in this area.

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Allison Cardona
County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-21-2021 11:20 AM
From: katherine shenar
Subject: Maddie's® Candid Conversation with Allison Cardona

Allison - your vulnerability and courage continues to inspire me to work harder for a better, more just world. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself in this discussion and raising your voice so that others may learn. So grateful to you and for you!

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katherine shenar
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Thank you for sharing background of your life and career, Allison!

So much of what you said resonated with me in terms of challenges of being first generation American and straddling two cultures, but also the blessing of being bilingual!

Having lived in Los Angeles for 15 years (and with a large dog in an apartment for about half that time), seeing the pictures of the housing crisis in Los Angeles brought back memories, too. Thank you for the transformational work you're doing for the County. 

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Irene Chansawang
Maddie's Fund
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Irene,
Thank you for identifying and sharing your experience. It's so true, it's such a beautiful experience to be bilingual and to have the richness of multiple cultures. And, yes, the homeless crisis in LA has spiraled; it feels daunting and insurmountable. But I have hope that we can tackle this together. I was on a call earlier with homeless service providers and they were genuinely surprised to hear about pet owners having a nexus with housing issues. It gave me hope.
Thank you for connecting and for the work you do!

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Allison Cardona
County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-21-2021 12:51 PM
From: Irene Chansawang
Subject: Maddie's® Candid Conversation with Allison Cardona

Thank you for sharing background of your life and career, Allison!

So much of what you said resonated with me in terms of challenges of being first generation American and straddling two cultures, but also the blessing of being bilingual!

Having lived in Los Angeles for 15 years (and with a large dog in an apartment for about half that time), seeing the pictures of the housing crisis in Los Angeles brought back memories, too. Thank you for the transformational work you're doing for the County. 

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Irene Chansawang
Maddie's Fund
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Hi Allison - What a beautiful tribute to your parents and such an inspiring conversation. I loved learning about your career path and am so grateful that we're connected through your support of the incredible partnership between DACC and the ASPCA.

You are a passionate and compelling speaker - thank you!

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Susan Britt
ASPCA
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