PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 20, 2016
CONTACT: Elliot Imse, Director of Policy and Communications – 202.481.3773; [email protected]
OHR and TEDxMidAtlantic Release TEDx Talks on Gender Equity
The talks from a November event highlight the stories of seven DC-based women
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights (OHR) and TEDxMidAtlantic jointly released videos of seven TEDx talks on gender equity, which were recorded before a live audience of more than 200 people at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company on November 16, 2015. The series explores the realities women currently face in the United States, and perspectives on moving toward a 21st century of equal opportunity for people of all genders and gender identities. The event titled E.V.E.: Everyone Values Equality, provided space for District women from diverse backgrounds to speak about topics including finding a good work/life balance in an overworked country, reentering society from an incarceration structure built for men, and experiencing sexism as a transgender woman.
“We are thrilled to share this series of TEDx presentations as told by these inspiring women, and our goal is to emphasize the need for us to continue talking about full equity for women,” said OHR Director Mόnica Palacio. “In the District, we have an abundance of powerful, intelligent and driven women, from our Mayor to our community leaders to our entrepreneurs. Yet the types of discrimination and barriers highlighted in these talks still impact women in profound ways, so we encourage women in the District to become familiar with their rights and engage with our office if they believe they are ever victims of discrimination.”
The videos include talks from Brigid Schulte, author of The New York Times bestseller Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time; performer and educator Elizabeth Acevedo; Neera Tanden, President of the Center for American Progress; Heather Foster of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance; returning citizen advocate Teresa Hodge; transgender advocate Sarah McBride; and Lisa María Mallory of DC Building Industry Association. All the talks are available to watch at ohr.dc.gov/page/TEDxEVE.
In addition to the TEDx series recorded in November, OHR also released its #WomenAreEqualDC campaign, which featured ads in the Metro transit system that promote the rights of women in the workplace and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The #WomenAreEqualDC ads are available at ohr.dc.gov/page/genderequality.
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About the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights
The District of Columbia Office of Human Rights (OHR) was established to eradicate discrimination, increase equal opportunity and protect human rights for persons who live in or visit the District of Columbia. The agency enforces local and federal human rights laws, including the DC Human Rights Act, by providing a legal process to those who believe they have been discriminated against. OHR also proactively enforces human rights in the District through Director’s Inquiries, which allow it to identify and investigate practices and policies that may be discriminatory.
About TEDxMidAtlantic
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At TEDxMidAtlantic, live speakers will spark deep discussion and connection. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.