Available Trainings

The Department of Civil Rights offers numerous trainings for city staff and community members. if you would like to learn about trainings please email us at dcr@cityofmadison.com. 

Arrest/Conviction Record Discrimination

The purpose of this workshop will be to review types of adverse actions related to an individual’s arrest record and conviction record in employment. This training will discuss employer/employee/applicant rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for employers.

Discrimination and Labor Standards

Learn about the discrimination enforcement laws that protect employees from certain conduct by employers, what activities/actions are protected, best practices used by employees and employers, and where one can go to get help or services if needed.

Fair Employment Practices

The purpose of this workshop will be to review fair employment practices as related to workplace discrimination. This training will discuss employer/employee/applicant rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for employers.

Exploring the Internationality of Homelessness & Physical Appearance Discrimination

The purpose of this workshop will be to review types of adverse actions related to an individual’s homelessness status and/or physical appearance which can constitute discrimination. This training will discuss individual rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for library employees.

National Origin/Ancestry & Race/Color Discrimination

The purpose of this workshop will be to review types of adverse actions related to an individual’s national origin and/or ancestry which can constitute discrimination. This training will discuss individual rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for agencies conducting business within the City of Madison.

In addition, this workshop will review types of adverse actions related to an individual’s race which can constitute discrimination. This training will discuss individual rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for agencies conducting business within the City of Madison.

Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Discrimination & Sexual Harassment

The purpose of this workshop is to review types of adverse actions related to an individual’s sex which can constitute discrimination. This training will discuss individual rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for agencies conducting business within the City of Madison.

Navigating Social Media & Publicly Available Information: Best Practices for Employees and Employers Regarding Rights

The purpose of this workshop is to discuss how human resources personnel are using the information on social media sites when making hiring decisions. What implications does this have for applicants?

Disability Discrimination & Reasonable Accommodations

People with disabilities have the right to work and enjoy the full benefits of employment.  This training is designed to support self-advocates and employers in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  Participants will learn about the reasonable accommodations, how to navigate the hiring process, and how to retain skilled and talented employees with disabilities.  

Specialized Trainings

The Department of Civil Rights can work with you to provide specialized trainings that last 3-4 hours. There is a $50 per person fee for specialized trainings. There may be additional costs for larger groups and trainings outside of the City of Madison. 

Understanding Bias and Workplace Discrimination

Everyone has biases that shape how we see the world. Unconscious bias allows us to process complex information and assists us with decision making. The purpose of this workshop will be to understand how unconscious biases are formed and learn how we can challenge our own biases. The workshop will also discuss how unconscious bias impacts the way we perceive and interact with people different from ourselves and how unconscious bias can lead to discrimination.

This is a deeper Learning about the discrimination enforcement laws that protect employees from certain conduct by employers, what activities/actions are protected, best practices used by employees and employers, and where one can go to get help or services if needed.

Community Partners Training and/or Certified Community Partners Training

The primary goal of the City of Madison Equal Opportunities Division's FREE Community Partner training is to educate community members and organizations by helping to raise awareness surrounding Civil Rights afforded to the public through the Equal Opportunities Ordinance in the areas of Employment, Housing, and Public Accommodations.

Through an informative virtual workshop session with the Equal Opportunities Division staff, community members and organizations will receive the most up-to-date information about Civil Rights and Equal Opportunities.

You will learn the process of supporting other community members who wish to take a stand against discrimination and file a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Division. By learning this process, you will be able to know and/or assist in identifying situations of discrimination, as well as provide information and support to community members regarding options offered by the Equal Opportunities Division toward resolving these instances of discrimination complaints.