The DC Office of Human Rights (OHR), The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) have partnered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. To celebrate this landmark and honor the legacy, the Seventh Annual Fair Housing Symposium will be held at the True Reformer Building at 1200 U Street, NW, on April 29, 2008 from 10 am - 2 pm.

The symposium, titled "40th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act: Celebrating Victories and Moving Forward...The Legacy Continues," will bring together constituents, government, community and industry to celebrate as we take a walk through the legal and civil rights milestones which have brought us to this day.

John Relman, of Relman and Dane, will be the keynote speaker. Mr. Relman is a prominent civil rights attorney specializing in fair housing, fair lending, police accountability, public accommodations and employment discrimination litigation.  Mr. Relman's cases have included some of the country's most significant discrimination suits, such as Capital City Mortgage Corp,. Denny's Restaurants, Avis Rent-A-Car, Adam's Mark Hotels and the US Secret Service.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, the City Council, and US Department of Housing and Urban Development dignitaries have been invited. 

In addition, the symposium will bring to the District the work of Bernie Kleina, fair housing civil rights advocate and photographer, who documented the first fair housing movement in Chicago during the 1960's. His national photography tour will be on exhibit at the True Reformer building during the Symposium celebration.