March 2025 OHR Newsletter Director’s Message

Dear Residents, Neighbors, and Friends:

Although surrounded by uncertainties and challenges at times, my team members and I continue to push forward with our outreach and enforcement efforts, which we believe will provide us with essential knowledge, information, and hope.

Every March reminds us of the resilience, strength, and values of advocates for women's rights. Throughout Women's History Month, we celebrate and honor the accomplishments and challenging paths faced by both recognized and unrecognized pioneers. Washington, DC has been home to multiple historic figures fighting for women’s equality, such as Mary Church Terrell, Barbara Lett Simmons, Anna Julia Cooper, and Dorothy Height, and more. Their long yet invaluable journeys serve as a constant reminder that our efforts also need to be continuous and should not be time-bound.

OHR continues its work as part of the ongoing development initiated by past advocates who made substantial advancements. Following March, we will actively invite our community to our numerous training and outreach sessions. You can interact directly with OHR staff during the upcoming Office Hours and training sessions to learn about discrimination-related procedures for filing complaints. Please check out our social media channels, as we provide updates and details about our events through those platforms. You can also request a Know Your Rights training through here.

Our commitment to engage with you and listen to your voice reiterates how important it becomes, more than ever, to stay connected while keeping ourselves informed and empowered during uncertain times. OHR’s training and outreach programs need your active participation to strengthen our community and prepare us for upcoming challenges. Please join me and the OHR teams to keep working together to build resilience and understanding while creating a supportive community for everyone!

In Solidarity,

Kenneth Saunders