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Imagine you're turned away from a business
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because of a disability.
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or not hired for a job because of your hairstyle.
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What helps protect your rights?
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Today we're looking at two important protections
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that work together to help make Charlotte
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a fairer and more accessible place.
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Welcome to QCIQ, Non-Discrimination Ordinance
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and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Charlotte has grown into one of the largest cities
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in the South, and as our city has grown,
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so has the importance of making sure every resident
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has equal access to opportunities,
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services, and public spaces.
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That's where the city's Non-Discrimination Ordinance,
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or the NDO, comes in.
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The purpose of the ordinance is to help protect people
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from unlawful discrimination in employment
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and public places within the city of Charlotte.
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But why was it created?
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Well, the fight against discrimination
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has a long history in America.
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Throughout the 1950s and 60s,
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the civil rights movement challenged laws and practices
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that denied equal opportunities based on race
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and other protected classes.
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Those efforts led to a landmark federal law,
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the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
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While those laws created important protections
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nationwide, many cities, including Charlotte,
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recognized local governments had a role to play
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in helping residents understand their rights
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and providing a local process
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for addressing acts of discrimination.
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Charlotte's Non-Discrimination Ordinance
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started back in 1968.
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Then it was called the Human Relations
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and Public Accommodation Ordinances.
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These ordinances were built into the Charlotte City Code.
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While the names were different, the purpose was the same.
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It prohibited discrimination based on race,
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color, religion, and national origin.
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Over time, the ordinance needed to evolve
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alongside the needs of Charlotte's growing
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and increasingly diverse community.
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In 2021, City Council adopted a new ordinance
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that expanded protections for ethnicity,
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age, familial and veteran status,
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sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,
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pregnancy, and natural hairstyles.
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So now that you know what the NDO is,
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how does it work for you?
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations
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helps people understand their rights
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and access the resources available to them.
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Let's break down how the Non-Discrimination
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Ordinance team handles these requests.
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The NDO team reviews inquiries from residents
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who believe they experience discrimination
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in employment or public accommodations.
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A significant portion of the work
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is dedicated to active investigations.
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That means gathering facts, reviewing evidence,
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interviewing everyone involved
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to better understand what occurred,
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and preparing written reports based on the findings.
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But investigations are only part of the job.
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Education is just as important.
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The city's non-discrimination work
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is built not only on responding to claims of discrimination,
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but also on preventing discrimination
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through education and outreach.
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The NDO team regularly does community outreach
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to help residents understand their rights,
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refresh businesses on their responsibilities,
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and connect people with available resources.
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This work on both sides helps reinforce the city culture
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where fairness, respect, and belonging
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are more than just values,
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but important practices we put into action every day.
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The NDO isn't doing all the heavy lifting
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to protect Charlotteans, though.
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One of the nation's most important civil rights laws,
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the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA,
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works alongside our NDO for an even stronger impact.
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Before the ADA, millions of Americans with disabilities
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face barriers that limited access to jobs,
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transportation, public buildings,
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government services, and everyday activities.
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Signed into law in 1990, the ADA changed that
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by making disability rights a matter of civil rights.
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The law prohibits discrimination
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against qualified individuals with disabilities
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and requires equal access to employment,
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state and local government services,
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transportation, telecommunications,
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and places of public accommodation.
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Over the last three decades,
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the ADA has helped transform communities
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by improving accessibility and creating opportunities
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for greater independence and inclusion.
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Here in Charlotte, the city's ADA program
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works to ensure everyone with disabilities,
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including visitors,
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has equal access to all the city has to offer.
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The program's team aims at improving
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both physical and digital accessibility
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across hundreds of city services, facilities, and programs.
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It does this by providing training
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and technical assistance to city staff,
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responding to resident concerns and accessibility questions,
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and partnering with advocacy organizations
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to improve awareness and access
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for individuals with disabilities.
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On any given day, the ADA team
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may conduct accessibility reviews for compliance.
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They also coordinate with city departments
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on projects to remove barriers
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and enhance capital improvements
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designed to increase accessibility
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throughout city facilities and public places.
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So how do the ADA
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and Charlotte's Non-Discrimination Ordinance work together?
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Think of them as two pieces of the same goal.
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Together, they help build a Charlotte
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where everyone has the opportunity to live, work,
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and participate in community life
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with dignity and equal access.
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If you believe you've experienced discrimination
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by an employer or a place of public accommodation,
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations
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may be able to help.
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You can call 704-336-5160,
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and you can also visit charlottenc.gov slash n-d-o
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to access the Non-Discrimination Ordinance complaint form.
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Creating a more inclusive Charlotte
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isn't the responsibility of just one department.
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It's something that happens every day
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through education, accessibility, community partnerships,
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and a shared commitment to treating everyone fairly.