Monthly News & Updates

November 2022 | Issue XXXVVVIII

November is National Gratitude Month!

Gratitude (noun): the state of being grateful: THANKFULNESS (Merriam-Webster)

In August 2015, the registrar of the National Day Calendar proclaimed the month of November in the U.S. and Canada as National Gratitude Month. The move was a result of an initiative started by Stacy Grewal, an author, spiritual mentor, and coach. Grewal believed that “Gratitude is an essential ingredient of a happy, fulfilling life…"

Practicing gratitude has been shown to provide a number of emotional, social, personality, career, and health benefits. These benefits include making us happier; increasing our self-esteem; making us more optimistic; making us more effective managers; reducing impatience; improving decision-making; reducing depressive symptoms and blood pressure; and improving our overall physical health.

Take time out each day this month to reflect on all the good things, big or small, that you are grateful for. Make it a habit and take note of the positive benefits you gain!

Director's Note

Dear Residents, Neighbors, and Friends:

November marks a special time of year: a time to remember all that there is to be grateful for. Often, we focus on the negative aspects of our lives or our community and forget to appreciate the little things in life that we tend to take for granted. One of those things I’d like to highlight this year is the passage of the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977 (HRA).

For the last 45 years, the HRA has and continues to be one of the most comprehensive human rights laws in the nation. The law provides protections in the areas of educational institutions, employment, housing, and public accommodations and government services and prohibits discrimination based on 23 protected traits for those who live, work, or visit the District.

On October 1, we expanded those protections when the Human Rights Enhancement Amendment Act (A24-491) became effective. Three main aspects of this bill include: 1) specifically adding independent contractors to the definition of an “employee” covered by the HRA; 2) adding homeless status as a protected trait across all four enforcement areas; and 3) redefining and expanding the definition of hostile work environment.

Additionally, the Eviction Record Sealing Authority and Fairness in Renting Amendment Act of 2022 (A24-357) became effective as of October 1. The main aspects of the bill related to OHR include: 1) adding sealed eviction record as a protected trait in housing and requiring landlords to comply with various provisions with respect to tenant screening; and 2) explicitly establishing certain conduct as a form of source of income discrimination.

We are working hard to provide additional information about these changes by the end of November, and I encourage you to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram so that you have the most up to date information.

As we continue to celebrate 45 years of the HRA, we’d also like to remind you that our 2022 Commission on Human Rights Annual Gala is going to be held on December 6th at Metropolitan Square. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Exceptional Leadership at the Crossroads of Gender and Human rights.” You can register to attend the gala here . We will be awarding three awards this year including the Cornelius R. “Neil” Alexander Humanitarian Award, the Emerging Human Rights Leader Award, and the newest addition, the Community Award.

The Humanitarian award recognizes the efforts and accomplishments of an individual in the District who embodies the indomitable spirit of our renowned former Chief Hearing Examiner of the Commission.

The Emerging Leader award is being given to an individual in the District, aged 30 years or younger, who is emerging as a leader and exhibits extraordinary leadership in human rights awareness.

The community award is being given to an organization in the District that is emerging as a leader towards the protection and promotion of one or more of the 23 protected traits or other human rights issues.

We look forward to celebrating the contributions of this year’s awardees and continuing to honor the legacy and tradition of human and civil rights protections.

With gratitude,

Hnin Khaing

Protected Tait of the Month:

Homeless status

As of October 1, 2022, homeless status became the 22^nd protected trait under the D.C. Human Rights Act. Homeless status is defined in accordance with the city’s Homeless Service Reform Act as “an individual or family that lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” Homeless status is protected in all four enforcement areas: educational institutions, employment, housing, and public accommodations and government services. More information will be provided with regards to this new trait as it becomes available.

Did You Know: The Interagency Council on Homelessness released, Homeward 2.0, the second iteration of the District’s Strategic Plan (FY2021-FY2015). The document lays out a community vision: Homelessness in the District of Columbia will be rare, brief, and nonrecurring. We will eliminate racial inequities in the homeless services systems and create systemic fair treatment for all people. Read more here.

What's New and Upcoming

OHR is pleased to announce the following employment opportunities for November 2022.

Active Vacancies:

Human Resource Specialist, Grade 11, Open to the Public, Non-Union, Career Service

Upcoming Vacancies:

Senior Policy Advisor, Grade 14, Open to the Public, Non-Union, Career Service
Attorney Advisor (Litigation), Grade 12, Open to the Public, Union, Legal Services
EEO Compliance and Training Officer, Grade 13, Open to the Public, Non-Union, Career Service
Equal Opportunity Specialist/Investigator, Grade 11, Open to the Public, Non-Union, Career Service
Equal Opportunity Specialist/Investigator, Grade 12, Open to the Public, Non-Union, Career Service

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted online through the DC Government Careers Opportunities page: http://careers.dc.gov. District government applicants may also apply via the “recruiting” tab in PeopleSoft. The vacancies can be searched by title or Job ID number. Finally, the District Government is an equal opportunity employer. Having an active complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights (OHR) does not affect an applicant's ability to apply for employment with the government, including OHR.

Events and Observances

November is Native American History Month!

Since 1990, the month of November has been designated as Native American Heritage Month to celebrate and honor the significant contributions Indigenous and Alaska Natives have made to the establishment and growth of the United States. Unfortunately, these contributions have been systematically erased or forgotten.

The largest barrier facing Indigenous peoples and Alaska Natives is the persistence of invisibility, which has become a modern form of racism, in the education system, healthcare, socioeconomic policy, and popular culture. Invisibility fuels misconceptions, myths, bias, discrimination, and racism against indigenous communities. The Reclaiming Native Truth project found that 78 percent of Americans knew little to nothing about these groups and that 87 percent of schools do not teach about indigenous groups past 1900.

This November make an effort to learn about the more 5 million Indigenous peoples and Alaskan Natives who live in the United States and represent over 570 federally recognized tribes.

Monthly

Adopt a Turkey Month
American Diabetes Month
Family Stories Month
Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
National Hip Hop History Month
National Veterans and Military Families Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Gratitude Month

Weekly

1^st- 7^th: World Communication Week
7^th-13^th National Recycling Week
14^th-18^th: Anti-Bullying Week; American Education Week; National Young Readers Week
20^th-26^th- Better Conversations Week

Daily

1^st- All Saint’s Day
2^nd- Dia de los Muertos ends
3^rd- National Stress Awareness Day, Japanese Culture Day
4^th- National Day of Community Service
6^th- Daylights Savings
8^th- Election Day, National Parents as Teachers Day
9^th- World Freedom Day
11^th- Veterans Day
19^th- Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
24^th- Thanksgiving
25^th- Black Friday; Day of Listening; National Family Health History Day; Native American Heritage Day
26^th- Small Business Saturday

DC Office of Human Rights | 202.727.4559 | ohr.dc.gov

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