- ESD
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By Dan Zeitlin, chief of staff of the Employment Security Department (ESD)
Employment Security Department is happy to share some highlights from the Joint American Indian Veteran Advisory Council (JAIVAC) hybrid meeting held on Feb. 7, 2024.
The JAIVAC is made up of tribal veteran representatives working together to improve services for tribal veterans. They increase access to employment services, help people with unemployment claims, increase job opportunities for Native American veterans, and help members enroll in Federal Veterans Affairs health care and benefits.
ESD participates in the JAIVAC to increase support for tribal members and their families with their career goals. Tribes from inside and outside of Washington attend.
At the meeting, ESD gave Certificates of Appreciation to two of our outstanding partners in the tribal community:
· Director of the Yakama Nation Veteran Affairs Center Shawn Marceau.
· ESD Consolidated Veteran Service Representative Otto Cruz.
Shawn Marceau
Shawn serves veterans and their families who face some of the most significant barriers to employment. He is also a Gold Star father, which means he is a parent who gave the ultimate sacrifice, as his son’s life was lost in combat. Shawn honors his son’s memory by completing a 17-mile remembrance journey annually.
Shawn helps other members of the WorkSource Yakima County team forge relationships with tribal elders and council representatives. As more tribal members use the resources of the Yakama Nation Veteran Affairs Center, they also tap into resources from WorkSource and other community partners.
ESD honored Shawn for his support to tribal communities, for his collaboration with the Veterans and Military Families Program, and for presenting at the Washington Workforce Association conference in October 2023.
Shawn couldn’t join the JAIVAC meeting, but ESD was happy to share appreciation and support to him in front of his tribal family members, elders and other community leaders.
Employment Security Department Chief of Staff Dan Zeitlin presents ESD Veteran Employment Resource Group military challenge coins to Otto Cruz and Shawn Marceau for their impactful work with tribal communities.
Otto Cruz
ESD also honored Otto, a Consolidated Veteran Service Representative, for continuing to connect services and resources in Washington’s tribal communities. We are so proud and grateful for Otto’s guidance and strength. His work with partners such as the Yakama Enrolled Veterans Program, Cle Elum Fisheries, Fort Simcoe Job Corp, Yakama Nation Warrior Association, and many more is helping to bridge the gap in attaining equal access for all.
ESD Veteran Service Representative Otto Cruz smiles after being surprised with a certificate of appreciation for his work with tribal communities.
Otto was also recently nominated for the Workforce Professional of the Year Award at the Washington Workforce Association fall conference.
We appreciate the Cowlitz Indian Tribe for hosting the JAIVAC meeting, for allowing a platform for ESD to increase our reach into tribal communities, and for helping to honor Shawn and Otto.