The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is turning 45, and it is commemorating the event with a public event at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center. The celebration will be held at Kirby Auditorium from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8. There is no charge for admission, but reservations are required and can be made by calling 215-440-2671 or by e-mailing mary.tiernan@eeoc.gov.

The EEOC was established in 1965 to enforce federal workplace discrimination laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The federal agency investigates complaints and can file discrimination lawsuits against employers on behalf of employees who have experienced discrimination on the basis of:

  • Race
  • Color
  • National origin
  • Religion
  • Sex (including sexual harassment)
  • Age
  • Disability or perceived disability
  • Retaliation for reporting or opposing a discriminatory practice

The theme of tomorrow's anniversary program is "EEOC at 45: Charting a Path toward Equal Employment" and will focus on the progress the agency has made in promoting equal employment opportunity for all. The event is co-sponsored by the EEOC's Philadelphia District Office, the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Philadelphia Federal Executive Board.

A number of distinguished guests will attend, including present and past EEOC and Department of Labor officials and others. Two panel discussions will be held:

"Reflections on the Past, Present and Future of the EEOC," featuring current EEOC chair Jacqueline A. Berrien and former EEOC chair William H. Brown, III

"Charting a Path toward Equal Employment," moderated by Scott F. Cooper, Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association and featuring several attorneys and stakeholders

In addition, the program will honor ten individuals and organizations as Champions of Equal Employment Opportunity for their work on workplace discrimination issues:

  • The Honorable Ida Chen, Court of Common Pleas judge
  • William H. Brown, III, former chair of the EEOC
  • Homer C. Floyd
  • Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
  • Friends of Farmworkers, Inc.
  • The Delaware Department of Labor's Office of Anti-Discrimination
  • The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights
  • The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
  • The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations
  • The West Virginia Human Rights Commission

Source: EEOC press release, "Media Alert EEOC To Commemorate Its 45th Anniversary," December 6, 2010