About FPOC

Origin of the Forum for People of Color (FPOC)

FPOC was originally founded in 1999 by three charter members, Deborah Norman, Sharon Skinner and Deborah Ryans. The original mission of this organization was to educate, promote, and celebrate the cultural diversity that exists amongst the employees of Sacramento County as well as helping employees achieve their highest potential by providing assistance and encouragement with upward mobility information. In 2002, Deborah Norman and Sharon Skinner resigned their positions and Deborah Ryans became President/CEO of FPOC. Deborah’s vision was to host an International Faire which was inclusive of not only the employees of Sacramento County, but the community-at-large as well. On June 5, 2003, FPOC hosted its First Annual International Faire and the celebration gets better every year!

The International Faire consists of Cultural Booths, Food vendors representing various cultures, and multi-cultural entertainment. All proceeds from this event go to one local charity and one County charitable organization.

Mission Statement

The Forum for People of Color is committed to promoting and educating Sacramento County employees and the community at large about the multi-cultural diversity that makes Sacramento County the most diverse county in the nation by hosting an annual International Faire.

Vision Statement

Host an annual event to celebrate multi-cultural diversity by allowing Sacramento County employees and the community-at-large the opportunity to taste foods from various cultures at a minimal cost, learn about different cultures through the information shown at the Cultural booths and be entertained by a variety of people representing their culture.

Board Members

From left to right:
Edwin Johnson,
Deborah Ryans and Gigi Croteau

Deborah Ryans, President/CEO

Deborah Ryans is currently the Executive Secretary to the County Engineer. During her 23-year tenure, she has worked for the County Assessor’s Office, S&DP (now OCIT), Treasurer Tax-Collector’s Office (now Dept. of Finance), Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, General Services, the Administrator of Public Works Agency (now MSA), Transportation, Water Quality, Planning & Economic Development and the Dept. of County Engineering. She aspires to become an Administrative Services Officer for the County. Her skill set includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University Sacramento and completion of a two year training and development program as an ASO I in September 2005.

Deborah became President of the FPOC in 2002. Prior to Deborah’s presidency, the FPOC hosted events such as Black History Month celebrations, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth and Philippine National Day. During her studies at CSUS, Deborah took an Ethnic Studies class and envisioned celebrating a day that included all nationalities. That was the beginning of the International Faire. The first celebration was held on June 5, 2003 and it continues to improve every year!

Deborah’s community service experience began at Macedonia Baptist Church where she has been a member since 1990. She has worked in the Youth Department supervising the young women’s auxiliary as well as the Youth Choir. They embrace the community at all levels by serving lunches to the homeless, hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner at the church for the homeless, visiting the convalescent home and Alzheimer’s Center for the elderly during the year as well as Christmas. Deborah experienced a mission trip to Mexicali, Mexico in April, 2003 in partnership with First Covenant Church in Rancho Cordova along with her son Ryan. In April, 2006, she and Ryan both participated in the County’s Rebuilding Together program. She currently teaches a Jr. High School Sunday School class at Macedonia. Deborah Ryans is fulfilling a dream by hosting this annual event which celebrates the many facets and diversity of Sacramento County. Proceeds from this event are given back to the community. By learning about each other’s cultures and traditions, it is her belief that we can have a better understanding of the human condition and live together harmoniously by celebrating our differences.

Edwin Johnson, Vice President

Edwin Johnson has been the Vice-President of Forum for People of Color (FPOC) since 2002. He is currently working for Sacramento County’s Municipal Services Agency and Maloof Sports and Entertainment. He has also worked for Sacramento County’s In-Home Support Services program for Senior and Adult Services. Edwin was born a military brat in North Dakota and is also a veteran of the Air Force. He served for five years as a Staff Support Administration Specialist and a Computer Maintenance Technician. He was an Airman with the 63d Avionics Maintenance Squadron and the 2034th Communications Squadron. He has worked as a Manufacturing and Production Technician in the high tech industry for NEC Electronics and Intel and also graduated from the Sacramento Job Corps as a Tilesetting Apprentice. He has modeled, acted in major and local films and danced on Soul Train. He has worked as a volunteer in the Sacramento community for Voter Registration, the Olympic and NCAA Track and Field trials, the Dream Street and Rebuilding Together housing projects, his daughter’s local Girl Scout troop and has worked as a Santa during the holidays at PetSmart, raising funds for TEAM (Teaching Everyone Animals Matter), a local non-profit animal organization. Over the years, he has helped the FPOC raise thousands of dollars for local charities and organizations and assisted them with the International Faires, Cinco de Mayo and Juneteenth celebrations. Edwin has been instrumental in media and community outreach, fundraising, recruiting entertainment and designing the flyers and programs for the events. He believes in empowering individuals to achieve their goals and dreams and is devoted to helping people and animals less fortunate than others.

Gigi Croteau, Treasurer

Gigi Croteau is an Hispanic female who has been the Treasurer for the Forum for People of Color (FPOC) since 2002. She currently works for Sacramento County’s Department of Personnel Services at the County’s Employment Office. She has also worked for Sacramento County’s Municipal Services Agency Personnel Department and the Municipal Courts Traffic Department after relocating from Southern California.

Gigi was born in Los Angeles and worked for the Los Angeles County Welfare Department. She relocated to the East Bay for a couple of years and worked for the Alameda County Welfare Department. She also served in the Air Force Reserves for six years as an Avionic Instrument Systems Specialist (the “black box” tester).

Gigi, takes the initiative and donates her time and talents for various fundraisers for her daughter’s school, her church and her community. Over the years, Gigi has assisted the FPOC in raising thousands of dollars for local charities and Sacramento County organizations. She created beautiful multi-cultural baskets for all of the International Faires as well as the Cinco de Mayo celebrations. These baskets included wines, food, trinkets and other specialty items from different countries. Gigi is a very established FPOC member. We are extremely thankful to have such an accumulation of creative minds guiding and conducting the efforts of the Forum for People of Color. Gigi, believes in helping others to strive for what they truly want to accomplish.

Lorraine Duarte, Public Relations Director

Lorraine Duarte is as an Administrative Services Officer for the County of Sacramento Municipal Services Agency (MSA) Department of Water Resources (DWR). She is part of the team for the DWR Relocation Project; and a member of the DWR Cultural Change Team and Social Events Subcommittee. During her 23-year County tenure, Lorraine has worked for Superior Courts Administration, Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Protective Services at Juvenile Center; & Mental Health Administration, MSA Agency Administration, and MSA Management Information Services Administration.

Since 2004, Lorraine has been a dedicated and valuable volunteer of the Forum for People of Color. In 2007, Lorraine became the Public Relations Director for FPOC. She also actively pursues establishing International Faire event entertainment, recruits vendors, has been a creative force for the Faire by producing design materials of FPOC’s events for 2007 & 2008 including flyers, programs and other promotional items. She facilitates organization of scheduling the Entertainment lineup and several other facets of the International Faire.

Lorraine truly enjoys the nuts and bolts of networking, fundraising, organizing and event administration. Her volunteer activities include: Hospitality Director of the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) for the Sacramento Chapter; coordinated dancers for Maloof Sports & Entertainment; annual departmental coordinator for (formerly MSA’s MIS) DWR’s participation in DHHS’ Gifts from the Heart Program for foster youth; Marshaled at the 2005 LPGA Longs Drug Challenge in Auburn; former Secretarial Board member of the Latino Junior Golf Association Sacramento Chapter, conducted etiquette classes for incarcerated youth at the Probation Department; past coordination member of the Mental Health Conference for the Aging events; former member of S.A.L.S.A.; assisted with several years of team events for Antelope Little League; Abundant Life Fellowship - Lord’s Gym Peace to the Streets, Hip Hop event organization to keep youth off the street; participated in the Playground of Dreams building project; team mom & coordinator to numerous school and extracurricular activities that involved her now three grown children. She still finds time to volunteer in her son’s 2007-08 basketball team fundraising events, etc. Finally, Lorraine enjoys seeing the end results of her persistent dedication, resourceful teamwork and the excitement that goes into her commitment to the community-at-large.

Did You Know?

1. FPOC was recognized via a Resolution from the Board of Supervisors on May 29, 2001 for their efforts to reach out to their fellow employees for the purpose of ethnic diversity education and encouraging upward mobility in order to attain one’s full potential.
2. Over the past four years, FPOC has had entertainment representing the countries of China, Japan, Mexico, Rumania, Iran, Africa, Phillipines, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Dominican Republic, America and more!
3. The FPOC has had entertainers perform at this event who have been seen on ESPN, “So You Think You Can Dance” and a music video with the Black-Eyed Peas?
4. The FPOC gives back to the community by donating the proceeds from this event to local charities including “The Birthing Project, Red Cross, WE, Tsunami Relief Fund, Animal Care’s T.E.A.M., Independent Living Program, and the Roberts Family Development Center.
5. Word has spread around the city and Sacramento is talking about this event. It gets bigger every year mainly because it continues to provide some of the best food, entertainment and multi-cultural diversity information in Sacramento County!
6. The FPOC is an organization made up of members and volunteers committed to excellence.