______________________________ _______________________________ 1
Chairman Phil Mendelson Councilmember Anita Bonds 2
3
4
5
6
_____________________________ _______________________________ 7
Councilmember Robert White Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie 8
9
10
11
12
_____________________________ _______________________________ 13
Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Zachary Parker 14
15
16
17
18
____________________________ 19
Councilmember Charles Allen 20
21
22
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 23
__________ 24
25
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 26
__________ 27
28
29
To officially recognize and honor Ms. Anita Bellamy Shelton, on the occasion of her 90
th
30
birthday, for more than 50 years of service to Washington, DC as a tireless advocate for those living in 31
poverty, victims of discrimination, and families in need. 32
33
WHEREAS, Anita Bellamy Shelton was born on March 27, 1935, in Harlem, New York, later 34
moving to Englewood, New Jersey, where she received her elementary and high school education, 35
courageously navigating segregated educational systems and asserting her right to pursue the academic 36
track despite being one of only two Black students in her high school; 37
38
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton became a first-generation university student at Howard University 39
where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work; 40
41
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton was appointed by Mayor Marion Barry at age 44 to serve as Director of 42
the DC Office of Human Rights, where she utilized her social work skills and knowledge of human 43
behavior to effectively address discrimination cases and strengthen the District’s human rights laws, 44
making them among the strongest in the nation; 45
46
WHEREAS, as Executive Director of the National Committee on Household Employment, Ms. 47
Shelton worked diligently on behalf of domestic employees and successfully advocated raising the 48
District’s minimum wage for domestic workers to $3.50, the highest in the nation at that time, and was 49
instrumental in securing Social Security benefits for household workers; 50
51
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton helped organize one of the city’s first rent strikes at the Girard Street 52
apartment building in the early 1960s, demonstrating her early commitment to housing justice and 53
community organizing; 54
55
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton has served as Director of the Christ Child Settlement House, as a staff 56
employee of both the Washington and National Urban Leagues, and as a trainer for the National Council 57
of Negro Women, making significant contributions to these important organizations; and, 58
59
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton currently serves as the elected Ward One Committeewoman of the 60
Democratic State Committee and as President of DC Women in Politics, where she helps women in the 61
District run for political office; and, 62
63
WHEREAS, Ms. Shelton has been recognized for her contributions to social justice, community 64
organizing, and public service, with her work and insights featured in the Profiles on Aging podcast by 65
Howard University. 66
67
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution 68
may be cited as the “Anita B. Shelton 90
th
Birthday Recognition Resolution of 2025.” 69
70
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby celebrates and commends Anita Bellamy 71
Shelton for her decades of advocacy on behalf of domestic workers, women in politics, victims of 72
discrimination, and families in need, recognizing that her work has improved countless lives and helped 73
build a more just and equitable society. 74
75
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 76
District of Columbia Register. 77