OHR September 2026 Newsletter Director's Note (English)
OHR September 2026 Newsletter Director's Note
Dear Residents, Neighbors, and Friends:
September has been a month of connection, culture, and community as we honored African Immigrant Heritage Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. At the DC Office of Human Rights, our mission is simple but powerful: eradicate discrimination, advance equal opportunity, and protect human rights in Washington, DC. That mission requires more than responding when discrimination occurs. It means helping people understand their rights and protections and building relationships that allow us to reach residents where they are. This month, that meant being present in schools, at community events, at health fairs, and across the District.
As students and educators settle into a new school year, creating safe and inclusive learning environments remains an important part of that commitment. Through our Youth Bullying Prevention Program (YBPP), we provide schools, youth-serving organizations, families, and young people with tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying. In addition to the outreach materials available on our website, we also featured one of our talented Youth Human Rights Ambassadors on social media, who shared three tips for being an upstander to bullying. We also joined the Latine Conference on Disabilities, where we presented bullying prevention training in Spanish with translation services to ensure the information was accessible for all participants.
Our commitment to meeting people where they are extends beyond the classroom. We connected with residents at the DC Superior Court’s 2nd Annual Health and Wellness Fair, the 2026 Tenant Summit hosted by the Office of the Tenant Advocate, VIDA Senior Centers Health Fair, and the DC Unity Soccer Cup alongside our partners in the Offices of African Affairs, Latino Affairs, Caribbean Community Affairs, and Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. These opportunities allow us not only to share information about civil rights protections, but also to listen, build relationships, and better understand the needs of the communities we serve.
This month, we also united with seven human and civil rights agencies nationwide to urge the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to maintain and modernize its workforce demographic reporting structure rather than rescind it, as proposed. Since 1966, this data has been crucial in advancing equal employment opportunity and preventing workplace discrimination. Our participation reflects OHR’s continued commitment to ensuring that civil rights protections are supported by the information and tools needed to make them meaningful. You can read our joint statement here.
Here in the District, we are proud to uphold some of the strongest and most comprehensive human rights laws in the country. As the civil rights landscape continues to evolve nationally, OHR remains focused on ensuring that people who live, work, and visit the District understand the protections available to them under District laws. We are here, standing with our community, educating residents and visitors, supporting employees and employers, and doing our part to advance inclusion and equal opportunity.
Before closing, I also want to recognize September as Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month. As a survivor of both endometrial and ovarian cancer, this cause is deeply meaningful to me. Sharing my experience is one way I hope to encourage others to learn more about these often-overlooked cancers and have conversations about their health. I encourage you to take a moment to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of gynecological cancer. You never know whose life you might help save.
As we move into the fall, let us continue looking out for one another, strengthening the connections that make our city stronger. Together, we can continue building Washington, DC, where everyone has the opportunity to live, work, learn, and thrive free from discrimination.
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