OHR July Newsletter – Director’s Message
Dear Residents, Neighbors, and Friends:
Summer is here! While the heat and humidity might tempt us to slow down, OHR is ramping up for a busy season of enforcement work and community outreach. We’re excited to continue our mission of protecting and promoting human rights across the District, and we can’t do it without you. We offer training, such as our 23 Protected Traits Training and Human Rights Liaison Training (now called “EmPOWERed Training”), which provides an in-depth look at each of the District’s 23 protected traits, as well as the Know Your Rights Training. We’re always happy to provide informational presentations upon request.
We’re also bringing back OHR Office Hours this summer! These sessions are your opportunity to connect directly with our outreach team, ask questions, and get clarity on issues related to discrimination, your rights, and how to file a complaint. Office Hours will be held from July through September at various public library branches across the city, and you can see below for full details.
We’re equally excited to partner with the Office of Disability Rights to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on Tuesday, July 22. As an agency dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility in every way possible, this event will be a meaningful day of celebration, reflection, and dialogue. Please join me and other panelists from the DC Developmental Disabilities Council and the Mayor’s Office of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing to discuss the progress and ongoing efforts toward greater inclusion and accessibility in the District. Check the flyer below and register today!
Lastly, your voice matters - whether you join us for a training session, attend our Office Hours, or connect with us at a community event, your input shapes how we improve our service and support. And before you go, please take a few minutes to complete our Strategic Action Plan survey linked below - we’d love to hear from you!
In Solidarity,
Kenneth Saunders