Note from Language Access Director Rosa Carrillo

April is a very busy month for the DC Office of Human Rights. Not only do we observe and highlight Language Access Month, but Fair Housing Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Anti-Street Harassment Week (April 12-18).

The Language Access team is hard at work, enforcing the very important Language Access Act passed in 2004 to ensure that all District residents, regardless of English proficiency, have access to government services in their native language. To do this, we have close relationships with DC Government agencies and their Language Access Coordinators. If an issue comes up, we are quick to respond so that individuals can receive the services they need.

We recently released our FY19 Annual Compliance Review for all of the government agencies in the District and will be releasing the latest edition sometime in the coming months. Additionally, there have been new amendments to the Act, which now mandates that the ANCs throughout the city incorporate Language Access into their meetings. We have been very busy meeting with ANC commissioners outlining provisions of this new law and helping support them into compliance.

If you or someone you know has been turned away from a government agency because they are not English proficient, please file a complaint by clicking here.

Happy Language Access Month DC!

Sincerely,
Rosa Carrillo
Language Access Director
Share Your Story!

We want to hear your street harassment stories. We know the pandemic has altered life in public spaces and the types of street harassment incidents. We want to hear from you in efforts to better understand what kind of street harassment is happening, where incidents most frequently occur, and how street harassment has changed during the pandemic.
 
If you or someone you know has experienced non-violent street harassment in a public space, share your story and help us end street harassment in the District at nostreetharassment.dc.gov. 
Fair Housing Month Workshop
Join OHR as we host a fair housing workshop on tonight, April 29th to close out Fair Housing Month! We will be covering fair housing basics, what discrimination sometimes looks like and some things to be on the lookout for while searching for a home.

Every April the nation observes Fair Housing Month in honor of the passing of the 1968 Civil Rights Act (Fair Housing Act), signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968.
Join Our Team. OHR is Hiring!
OHR enforces some of the most progressive civil rights laws in the United States. Our team is comprised of a diverse group of individuals who share a commitment to social justice. We are currently seeking talented individuals that have a passion for human and civil rights. We have some exciting employment opportunities for April and May 2021. We are seeking two training specialists for new laws OHR will be enforcing. The Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Act (TWWFA) and the Racial Equity Achieves Results (REAR) Act. If you are interested in joining our dynamic team, please see below for instructions on how to apply.

How to apply
Applications should be submitted online through the DC Government Careers Opportunities page by clicking the link below. Search for Job ID: 12925 (TWWFA) and 12943 (REAR).
OHR Observed Sexual Assault Awareness Month by Wearing Teal
This April marks the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Every year the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, as well as organizations and activists around the country, use the month of April to raise awareness about sexual assault and to educate the public on ways to prevent sexual violence. This national observation has its roots in the civil rights and women's equality movements, championed by Black women and women of color in the 1950s. These pioneers' perseverance paved the way for important legislation like the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed in 1993. A teal ribbon was adopted in the early 2000s as the symbol of sexual assault awareness and this is how the modern SAAM was born, with diverse organizations and agencies around the country wearing teal to raise awareness about sexual violence.

The District recently added status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking (DVSOS) as the 21st protected trait. Now, employers cannot take adverse action against an individual that is experiencing or experienced domestic violence. Find out more about this new law by clicking here. If you feel like you have been discriminated against, please file a complaint with our office.
DC Office of Human Rights | 202.727.4559 | ohr.dc.gov
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