Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Warren Slocum
Subject: Reappointments to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for the reappointments of Giuliana Garcia and Carmen O’Shea to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Commission, each for a first full term ending June 30, 2023.
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BACKGROUND:
The Commission reports and makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding policies, programs, procedures and legislation affecting LGBTQ individuals in San Mateo County, and provides outreach and support to at-risk and underserved LGBTQ populations within San Mateo County, including youth, communities of color, non-English speakers, older adults, and immigrants. The Commission promotes transgender inclusion among private and public entities in San Mateo County, including access to health care and to gendered spaces such as bathrooms and shelters. It develops initiatives to support LGBTQ families with children in San Mateo County and provides a public forum for input from the LGBTQ community to identify unmet needs.
DISCUSSION:
Giuliana Garcia and Carmen O’Shea have both served on the LGBTQ Commission since their partial terms began in July 2019 and are being recommended to serve their first full terms ending June 30, 2023.
Giuliana (she/her/hers), resident of East Palo Alto, is a lifelong tech enthusiast and inclusion rights advocate. She spearheads ethics and responsibility initiatives for Facebook augmented and virtual reality devices, including inclusive and accessible design. As a graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law, her focus on intellectual property led to a love for technology itself. After her role as an early member of the legal team at Amazon’s Lab126 devices division, Giuliana managed global expansion of R&D, overseeing teams in Europe and Asia for Alexa’s global launches in 2016 and helping Alexa learn French, Italian, and Spanish.
Giuliana fiercely believes that diverse companies will have a stronger path to changing the world for the better, and she strives to create positive change from within. At Amazon, Giuliana founded Amazon’s Bay Area LGBTQ+ Glamazon affinity group, which grew to over 400 members in her tenure. At Facebook, she co-leads the Pride@ ERG. Giuliana lives in East Palo Alto with her partner, Calista, and remains committed to bridging the gap between the corporate world and her local LGBTQ community.
Carmen O’Shea, a resident of Menlo Park, is a Fortune 500 HR and Marketing senior executive now working to build leadership and engagement in a variety of purpose-driven organizations. Expertise in the intersections of leadership, talent development, culture & engagement, marketing, and diversity & inclusion. Air Force officer turned non-profit leader and parent consultant. Passionate about people and about unleashing the potential in others. Advocate for women & children, LGBTQ individuals and education (particularly gifted and 2e areas).
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.