A monthly publication of the U.S. Coast Guard Civil Rights Directorate (CRD) CIVIL RIGHTS 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. S.E. Washington, DC 20593-7000 (202) 372-4500 Fax (202) 372-8303 www.uscg.mil/Resources/Civil-Rights/ On Deck Volume 13, Issue 3 March 2018 African Americans Answering the Call to Duty: Serving the Nation The Coast Guard was pleased to have Brigadier General William J. Walker as the Keynote Speaker for its National African Ameri- can History Month ob- servance at USCG HQ. Brig- adier General Walker cur- rently serves as the Acting March is National Women’s Commanding General for History Month and we are pleased to announce the De- the District of Columbia partment of Homeland Secu- National Guard. Honoring rity’s (DHS’s) theme in com- the theme “African Ameri- memoration of this ob- cans in Time of War,” he servance for 2018, “Honoring spoke proudly of the many Women Who Protect the Black Americans who an- Homeland.” The theme was swered the call to serve in authored by Ms. Cameron the U.S. Army. He talked Quinn (pictured) the Officer about the Civil War where for Civil Rights and Civil Liber- over 180,000 African Amer- ties at DHS. As befitting for this month’s observance, icans served in support learn about the “Women of roles such as teamsters, DHS Then & Now…” at: laborers, construction workers and cooks in the Union Army. Additionally, he told how some https://www.dhs.gov/blog/ fought the Confederate Army under European American officers in segregated units. At- /2018/03/05/women-dhs-then- tendees enjoyed the presentation as well as other activities such as food samplings of tradi- now-celebrating-national- tional African American cuisine, and displays of historical military pioneers. Pictured (left to women's-history-month right) RADM John Nadeau, CG Executive Champion for the program; and Keynote Speaker, Brig- adier General William J. Walker. By Ms. Deborah Gant, CRD, USCG HQ Civil Rights Directorate Ms. Terri Dickerson, Director Deadline for Entries is: 30 March 2018 Ms. Francine Blyther, Assistant Director and Chief Civil Rights Operations Each year, the U.S. Coast Guard, the North Marine Environment Protection Association, Mys- CAPT Timothy Schang, tic Aquarium and the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of American Assistant Director and Chief, States sponsor an art contest for students across the Americas (North, Central and South Policy, Planning and Re- America and the Caribbean). Last year, over 500 students competed to illustrate the im- sources portance of connecting ships, ports and people. This year contestants are charged with cre- Mr. James Ellison, ating original artwork depicting creative ideas for shipping that makes it better for people, Senior Advisor the marine environment and the future. The concept aligns with the theme for the Interna- Ms. Dayra Harbison, tional Maritime Organization’s World Maritime Day “Better Shipping for a Better Future.” All Division Chief students, including dependents of CG members, in grades K-12 are invited to participate in CDR Kim Chesteen, the annual art contest. Twelve finalists will be chosen, six from grades K-5 and six from Division Chief grades 6-12. Their submissions will be featured in a bilingual student art contest calendar pro- Mr. Eduardo Zayas duced by the sponsors. If you would like a 2018 calendar that features last year’s winner and Division Chief finalists, contact Gwendolyn White at (202) 372-4519. The deadline for submitting entries is Captain Kofi Aboagye 30 March 2018. For more details about the student art contest, including contest guide- lines, submission instructions, prize details and information about the maritime shipping in- Executive Assistant dustry, visit www.namepa.net/art-contest. By Ms. Gwendolyn White, CRD, USCG HQ Ms. Deborah Gant, Communications 2018 LULAC Excellence in Public Service Award (ALCOAST 078/18) nominations are due by 2o April Specialist Coasties Continue a Tradition: Commemorating at a Historical Meeting Place in New Orleans! For many years, Coast Guard District Eight (D8) members have consistently organized events in honor of African American History month. One affair that has become a fad for D8, is taking its observance to a restaurant with roots in the civil rights movement, the Dooky Chase Restaurant. This restaurant served as a meeting place where issues affecting civil rights and econom- ics in African American communities were discussed. Civil Rights icons like the late Thurgood Marshall, Alexander Pierre Tureaud, other local attorneys and members of the Freedom Riders have all dined at Dooky Chase. During his presidency, President Barack Obama visited the establishment and was said to have enjoyed Ms. Leah Chase’s famous gumbo and other staples of Louisiana cuisine. National African American History Month, also known as Black History Month, began in 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Ne- gro Life and History. This organization is now known as the Asso- ciation for the Study of African American Life and History. Through this organization, Dr. Woodson initiated Negro History Standing, Ms. Leah Chase (proprietor of Dooky Chase ) with D8 personnel.. Week in February 1926. In 1986 Congress passed legislation that designated February as National Afro-American History Month. The Coast Guard encourages its members to seek opportunities to host, and or participate in cultural observances at work and in their communities. This fosters awareness and increases knowledge about various diverse groups. By Mr. Hy- rom Buchanan, CRD, Region 4 April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month! This observance was first nationally recognized on April 1, 2001. In 2005, the focus of the observance shifted to sexual assault awareness and prevention. As such, the Coast Guard has planned a variety of activities and messaging toward the primary prevention of violence at all levels of the continuum and maintaining healthy boundaries. To participate in any of the initiatives, please contact your Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC). For CG HQs, contact Angela Lakey at [email protected]. By Mx. Angela Lakey, SARC, USCG HQ Continuing Education and Achieving High Marks What You Should Know: Reporting and Responding Harassment in the work- place can take many forms, including verbal or non-verbal conduct, against another individual or groups. If unresolved, harassment can be particu- larly damaging to an organization’s overall mission and functions. Specifically, it undermines morale, and can adversely affect employee productivity. When dealing with workplace harassment, it is im- portant to understand that everyone shares a re- sponsibility in preventing and responding to harass- The Civil Rights Directorate (CRD) maintains a training partnership ing behaviors. The most important step in prevent- with the Defense Equal Opportunity Institute (DEOMI), an accredited ing harassment in the workplace is to recognize the DoD training institution. It affords CG personnel access to a variety of behavior. It is highly recommended (if one feels specialized EEO training courses. Service Specific Training (SST) is one comfortable) to tell the alleged harasser that the of the many courses usually held at DEOMI. Termed SST: Service Spe- behavior is unwelcomed. If the behavior continues cific Training is the only segment, within an eight-week training pro- or an individual does not feel comfortable confront- gram at DEOMI, during which DoD and CG personnel receive instruc- ing their alleged harasser, Coast Guard employees tion based on their particular agency’s EEO/EO procedures. During the are strongly encouraged to report the matter to month of February, CG DEOMI Liaison, ETCM Mark Allen, held the their chain of command. Supervisors, managers, and course at CG HQ. Ms. Terri A. Dickerson, CRD Director, kicked off the commanders have an obligation to treat all com- session with an overview of the Directorate. Participants received plaints of harassment seriously, take appropriate lessons from subject matter experts on Sexual Assault Prevention steps in investigating the matter, and seek expert (Ms. Andrea Mckie); Anti-Harassment and Hate Incident Procedure, advice. All complaints of harassment should be kept and Roles and Responsibilities of EEO/EO counselors (Mr. James El- confidential to the fullest extent possible. The CG is lison); Partnership in Education Program and Management Directive dedicated to providing all of its members a work- 715 (Ms. Gwendolyn White); and Diversity and Inclusion (CDR Patricia place free of all forms of harassment. For infor- Tutalo). Graduates pictured (left to right), Chief Darius Whiteside, Ms. mation about CG’s procedures for addressing har- Jeanell Thomas, Ms. Jamie McCarrison, Ms. Elizabeth Mercado, Ms. assment, see the COMDTINST M5350.4 (series), or Deborah Gant, Ms. Carmen Faber, Ms. Mary (Toni) Cunningham, Mr. contact your local Civil Rights Service Provider at Caleb Tacuri, (Intern) and Senior Chief Cory Gunkel. By Ms. Jeanell https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/Civil-Rights/Service- Thomas, CRD, USCG HQ Providers/. By Ms. Elizabeth Mercado, CRD, USCG HQ April 27th is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day! For more information about HQ activities, contact LT Brian Daugherty at (202) 372-5560 or [email protected] .