2015 DOT Civil Rights Virtual Symposium

Speaking with One Voice: Connecting the DOTs

February 3-5, 2015

Speaking with One Voice: Connecting the DOTs is a three-day, virtual event that aims to connect stakeholders, themes, and perspectives across the civil rights transportation community. Connecting the DOTs brings together people and ideas from leading experts on Civil Rights topics that impact the U.S. transportation system today and into the future.

Opening Remarks from U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx

Closing Remarks from U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Victor Mendez

Track 1: Connecting Federal to State

This track focuses on federal regulations, guidance, and oversight procedures to civil rights programs that involve state implementation such as: Title VI non-discriminatory programs, Disadvantage Business Enterprise, limited English proficiency, environmental justice, and accessibility.

Civil Rights 2014: A Year in Review

Vanita Gupta, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Rebecca Bond, Disability Rights Section Chief, U.S. Department of Justice
Deeana Jang, Chief, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, U.S. Department of Justice

Equality and opportunity are the everyday concerns of civil rights offices working on behalf of the American people. In this opening session, the Department of Justice highlights the 2014 major civil rights accomplishments and topics from the Federal standpoint.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

Propelling Forward Your Title VI Program

Sara Pratt, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Housing and Urban Development
Daria Neal, Deputy Chief, Federal Compliance and Coordination Section, U.S. Department of Justice
Monica McCallum, Regional Operations Division Chief, Office of Civil Rights, Federal Transit Administration

This session consists of a moderated panel discussing successful proactive approaches to administering Title VI programs within the Federal government with a focus on how to maximize communication and enhance program delivery.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

Understanding DBE from Different Perspectives

Leonardo San Roman, Small Business Specialist, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Marc Pentino, Acting Associate Director, U.S. Department of Transportation
Martha Kenley, National DBE Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration
Gary Linn, DBE Program and Compliance Manager, South Carolina Department of Transportation

This session highlights the DBE program from the perspective of representatives from each level of the program. Viewers gain a greater understanding of how each level of the program is viewed by its major players.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

Building a Collaborative State and Federal Relationship

Warren Whitlock, Associate Administrator, Office of Civil Rights, Federal Highway Administration
Linda Ford, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Federal Transit Administration
Stephanie Neal-Johnson, Undersecretary and Chief Operating Officer at the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, formerly Undersecretary and Interim Chief of Civil Rights, Massachusetts Department of Transportation

This panel features a discussion on a recent collaboration between State and Federal partners on a civil rights project in Massachusetts. Representatives from each side discuss how the groups aligned and worked together towards successful implementation of an EEO program.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

Track 2: Connecting People

This track focuses on the relationships and interconnectedness that are needed amongst civil rights practitioners, partners and stakeholders in order to build effective programs and achieve strategic organizational goals pertaining equity, fairness and inclusiveness in transportation projects and workplaces.

Guard Your Words and Actions

Erika-Mocha Suell, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Incivility and harassment in the workplace are barriers to collaboration, communication, teamwork, and productivity. But how do we know when we are being uncivil? Is it harassment? What do we do when it happens to us? How do we prevent harassment from impacting getting the job done? An expert from the EEOC discusses these questions and more.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bio

Ability of Disability: Challenging Perceptions

Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor
Jim Raggio, Civil Rights Attorney

Myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes abound when it comes to persons with disabilities. Starting with a discussion of the perceptions of people with disabilities and other challenges prior to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this session provides insight on inclusion in the transportation system and everyday workplace.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

“Dear OPM: I have a problem, what do I do?”

Veronica Villalobos, Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Personnel Management

This “Dear OPM” session features a column style conversation addressing guidance on inclusion efforts in the Federal workplace such as transgender policies, religious accommodation, pregnancy, disability, among others.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bio

Creating Ladders of Opportunity: U.S. DOT Efforts to Increase Access for the Future

Carlos Monje, Counselor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
Gregory Nadeau, Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration
Stephanie Jones, Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Transportation

This session defines and provides an overview of the U.S. DOT's Ladders of Opportunity initiative. Given the increased focus on understanding the challenges and opportunities of measuring connectivity across the nation, this session focuses on improved measures for ladders of opportunity within existing planning processes and DOT programs.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

Track 3: Connecting to the Future

This track looks forward to the civil rights transportation concerns and challenges of the future. What new or emerging ideas could potentially impact the way people, goods and services are transported, and how do we ensure accessibility and inclusiveness to these new transportation systems and projects?        

Future Demographic Changes and Their Impact

Erica L. Groshen, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Howard Hogan, Chief Demographer, U.S. Census Bureau

Immigration, climate change, mobilization from rural areas to the city….how will these and other phenomena impact civil rights concerns in the future? In this session, representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics guide attendees through demographic projections of the future with a focus on how they impact civil rights areas of concern.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

Data Collection: Analyzing Data to Meet Program Requirements in EEO

Patricia St. Clair, Assistant Director, Federal Sector Programs Training and Outreach Division, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Data helps assess program progress and inform decision-making. But are we getting the most out of the existing data sources? An expert from EEOC provides insight into existing data sources and how they can be leveraged to make informed decisions in your EEO programs.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bio

At the Crossroads: Civil Rights and the DOT 30-Year Framework

Peter Rogoff, Under Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation
Stephanie Jones, Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Transportation

DOT’s 30-Year Framework will shape critical policy choices and inform possible consequences of alternative approaches to future national transportation goals. The Under Secretary for Policy along with the Acting Director for the Departmental Office of Civil Rights discuss how this framework may impact civil rights over the course of the next thirty years.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording
Bios

The Role of Civil Rights in the Federal Workplace of the Future

Dexter Brooks, Associate Director, Office of Federal Operations, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Looking back on data gathered from the MD-715, a story is told of increased representation of the American population in the Federal workforce. Looking forward, what changes do we expect to see and what can we do to be prepared? The EEOC provides perspective.
Presentation Slides
Session Recording