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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
26-22
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
April 1, 2025
To officially recognize and honor Ms. Anita Bellamy Shelton, on the occasion of her 90th birthday, for
more than 50 years of service to Washington, DC as a tireless advocate for those living in
poverty, victims of discrimination, and families in need.
WHEREAS, Anita Bellamy Shelton was born on March 27, 1935, in Harlem, New York, later
moving to Englewood, New Jersey, where she received her elementary and high school education,
courageously navigating segregated educational systems and asserting her right to pursue the academic
track despite being one of only 2 Black students in her high school;
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton became a first-generation university student at Howard University
where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work;
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton was appointed by Mayor Marion Barry at age 44 to serve as Director of
the DC Office of Human Rights, where she utilized her social work skills and knowledge of human
behavior to effectively address discrimination cases and strengthen the District’s human rights laws,
making them among the strongest in the nation;
WHEREAS, as Executive Director of the National Committee on Household Employment, Ms.
Shelton worked diligently on behalf of domestic employees and successfully advocated raising the
District’s minimum wage for domestic workers to $3.50, the highest in the nation at that time, and was
instrumental in securing Social Security benefits for household workers;
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton helped organize one of the city’s first rent strikes at the Girard Street
apartment building in the early 1960s, demonstrating her early commitment to housing justice and
community organizing;
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton has served as Director of the Christ Child Settlement House, as a staff
employee of both the Washington and National Urban Leagues, and as a trainer for the National Council
of Negro Women, making significant contributions to these important organizations; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton currently serves as the elected Ward One Committeewoman of the
Democratic State Committee and as President of DC Women in Politics, where she helps women in the
District run for political office; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton has been recognized for her contributions to social justice, community
organizing, and public service, with her work and insights featured in the Profiles on Aging podcast by
Howard University.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution
may be cited as the “Anita B. Shelton 90th Birthday Recognition Resolution of 2025.”
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby celebrates and commends Anita Bellamy
Shelton for her decades of advocacy on behalf of domestic workers, women in politics, victims of
discrimination, and families in need, recognizing that her work has improved countless lives and helped
build a more just and equitable society.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.