Workplace Harassment: Information and Resources
EEOC Webpage on Harassment:
https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/harassment.cfm
NASA Policies and Procedures on Anti-Harassment and Diversity and Inclusion:
https://odeo.hq.nasa.gov/policy.html
NASA Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity:
https://odeo.hq.nasa.gov
NASA’s Center EEO Offices:
https://odeo.hq.nasa.gov/install.html
Ames Research Center (ARC) hosted its 7th Annual Diversity and Inclusion Day: “The More the Variety, the Better the Society” on August 9, 2018. D&I Day is a forum to share information about cultures – countries, extracurricular activities, lifestyles, and more. This event coincided with the end-of-the-summer barbecue, safety fair, and student poster session so there was a huge turnout!
Many groups, such as the Women’s Influence Network, Toastmasters, LGBTQ Advisory Group, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and Hispanic Advisory Committee for Employees shared about their mission and activities. The Ames Disability Advocates constructed a wheelchair obstacle course to demonstrate the nuances of navigating everyday challenges in a wheelchair. The African American Advisory Group designed a Soul Train-themed tent and games, while the Ames Veteran Committee, in addition to partnering with the AFSP, highlighted military memorabilia. The Asian American Pacific and Islander Advisory group showcased the variety of Asian cultures through traditional clothing, and the Native American Advisory Committee connected with the attendees through pottery, jewelry, and literature like Moonshot: the Indigenous Comics Collection.
ODEO had several interactive displays, the first of which was “If Ames Had 100 People,” comparing Ames in 1993 to Ames in 2018, and encouraged attendees to question why demographics have changed. ODEO also offered the “D&I 365 Challenge,” which provided participants with a list of 365 diversity and inclusion actions, and challenged them to commit to an act of diversity every day. ODEO appealed to the scientist in everyone with “D+I = You’re Part of the Solution” – a periodic table of diversity elements designed to inspire attendees to think of diversity beyond race or gender. Participants were invited to vote for the most impactful diversity element as a subtle way for ODEO to conduct an employee survey and collect data!
The Johnson Space Center (JSC) Hispanic Employee Resource Group (HERG) has been selected to receive the JSC Director’s Innovation Team Award on September 11, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in the Teague Auditorium.
In 2015, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans recognized the HERG as a “Bright Spot.” The HERG has led a variety of initiatives to increase engagement by Hispanics both domestically and internationally.
The HERG has established multiple partnerships by its relationship with the Mexican Space Agency (AEM), including attendance at the Mexican Science and Technology Week (MSTW). For 5 consecutive years, 100,000+ people have interacted with HERG members, viewed NASA exhibits, and learned about the work done at JSC – also allowing the HERG to foster relationships with other entities such as the Space Generation Advisory Council.
A significant accomplishment was the trilateral Space Act Agreement (SAA) in 2016 between NASA, AEM, and the Mexican Directorate General for Educational Television to produce a Spanish version of the NASA program “Space to Ground,” a weekly program that summarizes activities onboard the International Space Station (ISS). “Espacio a Tierra” reaches 22 countries and 58+ million people. The SAA also allows for NASA-themed Spanish educational materials; the HERG develops and disseminates these materials. The visibility of “Espacio a Tierra” also led to other opportunities with Spanish-language media including Telemundo, Univision, and Televisa, featuring several JSC Hispanic female employees in TECHNOLOchicas.
The HERG’s partnerships also support space exploration. HERG members work with employees from Ames Research Center as technical advisors for AztechSat, the first Mexican payload to the ISS and with a group of students from Bogota, Columbia for EVA suit prototypes for NASA.
In addition, the HERG also led the creation of “Space Loteria,” a bilingual educational outreach tool that teaches space vocabulary in a culturally relevant way. This bingo-like game from Mexico features NASA communications priorities including Earth Right Now, ISS, Mars, Solar System and Beyond, Aeronautics, and Technology. “Space Loteria” has become a flagship educational outreach activity for NASA. In addition to reaching thousands of students, parents, and teachers, it’s also provided free to the public through a partnership with the NASA STEM Education Professional Development Collaborative.
The HERG has become a catalyst for innovation by collaborating with multiple NASA centers, programs, contractors, grant recipients, and international organizations. The return on investment of these groundbreaking successes in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and education has been remarkable. For this reason, the HERG is well deserving of a JSC Director’s Innovation Team Award.
Dr. Eugene Tu, Center Director of the Ames Research Center has endorsed the following nominations for the 2019 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA):
• Dr. Marcus Johnson (Code A) – Most Promising Engineer (BEYA)
• Dr. Wendy Okolo (Code T) – Most Promising Engineer (BEYA)
• Kenneth Freeman (Code I) – Career Achievement (BEYA)
• Kevin L. Jones (Code I) – Career Achievement (BEYA)
Congratulations to these outstanding Ames employees on their nominations!
Two NASA employees are being honored this year by SASE for their accomplishments:
Dr.Yong-IL Yi, Senior Project Manager at Johnson Space Center: Technical/Research/Business Achievement
Mr. Son Le, Pressure Systems Manager at Stennis Space Center: SASE Career Achievement Award
Congratulations on your remarkable achievements!
On Take Your Child to Work Day, NASA Headquarters employees took the opportunity to show their children what they do at NASA.
Administrator Bridenstine welcomed employees and questions from children during the opening session, which also included an interactive presentation by Astronaut Alvin Drew.
Congratulations to a stunning 11 NASA winners of this year’s National Women of Color awards!
Brenda Ellis, Glenn Research Center: Career Achievement – Government
Maricela Lizcano, Glenn Research Center: Technical Innovation – Government
Ali Guarneros Luna, Ames Research Center: Outstanding Technical Contribution – Government
Jasmine Keeton, Johnson Space Center: Technology Rising Star
Desiree Smith, Johnson Space Center: Technology Rising Star
Andrea Bynum, Langley Research Center: Technology Rising Star
Octavia Hicks, Langley Research Center: Technology Rising Star
Jessica Taylor, Langley Research Center: Corporate Promotion of Education
Gugu Rutherford, Langley Research Center: Technology Rising Star
Susan Gorton, Langley Research Center: Outstanding Technical Contribution – Government
Dawn Davis, Stennis Space Center: Professional Achievement – Government
Thank you for your hard work and excellence!
NASA joins organizations across the world to celebrate Women’s Equality Day on August 26.
The date was selected to celebrate the Women’s Suffrage Movement’s greatest victory—women’s achievement of full voting rights following the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. The Women’s Equality Day observance not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also represents women’s continuing efforts toward full equality.
At every level of society, women have been at the forefront of progress and innovation, and today we recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women across the globe who fought through barriers for equality.
Women’s Equality Day coincides with the 100th birthday of Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Katherine is a pioneer who paved the way for women at NASA and beyond. We send birthday wishes to Katherine and thank her for her fearless service. Resilient women like Katherine have inspired and encouraged countless others to challenge the status quo to advance.
I also want to recognize the talented women of NASA at all levels of the organization, whose diligent leadership and commitment help us accomplish NASA’s mission. Our female scientists and engineers continue to inspire the next generation to pursue STEM education and careers. As we recognize their accomplishments, we also reinforce our commitment to equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion for the NASA workforce.
I encourage you to participate in activities at NASA and in your communities to commemorate Women’s Equality Day.
Steve Shih, Esq.
Associate Administrator
Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace reconvened in June 2018 to continue the effort to prevent workplace harassment. The Commission heard from expert witnesses on “Transforming #MeToo into Harassment-Free Workplaces” at a meeting open to the public. A second panel was devoted to innovative strategies to promote workplaces free of harassing conduct.
The Select Task Force released a report in June 2016, which includes recommendations regarding leadership, accountability, policies and procedures, training, and developing a sense of collective responsibility: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/task_force/harassment/task_force_report.cfm.
As a result of the report, the EEOC developed an innovative training program called Respectful Workplaces provided in over 200 training sessions to over 5,200 employees and supervisors in 18 states. Since the report’s released, the EEOC has conducted about 2,700 outreach events related to harassment, reaching approximately 300,000 individuals.
The EEOC has also identified a number of promising practices, as a result of the task force, to enhance employers’ compliance efforts: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/promising-practices.cfm.
LOCATION: Bldg. 8, Room 183 – Photo Studio
SUBJECT: HISPANIC EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP (ERG) PORTRAIT PROJECT: William Davis
PHOTOGRAPHER: Lauren Harnett
Will Davis, an Equal Opportunity Specialist at Johnson Space Center, has received the Santiago Rodriguez Diversity & Inclusion Award from the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation, Great Minds in STEM. For this award, candidates must show effectiveness of implementing diversity & inclusion goals and/or changes within an organization, promoting Hispanic awareness within an organization, outreach to the Hispanic community, efforts to promote STEM career development with impact on Hispanics and other underserved communities, and community outreach including schools, universities and non–profits. Congratulations, Will!
