ETHICS WEEK 2023 “Everyday Ethics” #cantgoadaywithoutit October 23-27, 2023
Day 1 - Introduction and Opening Remarks Monday October 23, 2023 10:00 – 10:30am
OGE Director opens Ethics Week 2023 with an address.
-Ashley Cooks, Director of OGE *Offered in-person only*
Ask BEGA Monday October 23, 2023, 10:45 – 11:45am
Our most exciting Ask BEGA yet! Attend Ask BEGA and meet, none other than, “Ms. Ethics”! Some of you have seen Ms. Ethics featured in our ethics videos. She’ll be with us live for Ask BEGA. Ms. Ethics will read your pre-submitted questions and BEGA Attorney Advisors will answer them. As always, this is an open Q&A. Please anonymously pre-submit your ethics questions. The Attorneys will answer the pre-submitted questions and any new questions that arise during the course.
- “Ms. Ethics”
- Maurice Echols, OGE Attorney Advisor
- Marissa Jones, OGE Attorney Advisor
- Fran Vann, OGE Attorney Advisor
Submit ethics questions here. *Offered in-person only.*
******LUNCH BREAK – 11:45 – 1:15pm******
Ethics Game Show Monday October 23, 2023 1:15 – 2:15pm
Join us for a fun ethics game. You might win a prize.
- Lynn Tran, Senior Counsel to the BEGA Board
Investigative Trends Monday October 23, 2023 2:30 – 3:30pm
Join BEGA investigators as they explore the trends and themes they see in their investigations.
- Ronald Cook, OGE Supervisory Investigator
- Ileana Corrales OGE Investigator
- Tahja Reid, OGE Investigator
The Campaign Legal Center Discusses Learning Management Systems Monday October 23, 2023 3:45 – 4:45pm
Attorneys from the Campaign Legal Center and Attorneys from BEGA discuss the importance of Learning Management Systems in ethics.
- Delaney Marsco, Senior Legal Counsel for Ethics, Campaign Legal Center
- Danielle Caputo, Legal Counsel for Ethics, Campaign Legal Center
- Maurice Echols, OGE Attorney Advisor
- Marissa Jones, OGE Attorney Advisor
DAY 2 - Ethics Updates Tuesday October 24, 2023 10:00 – 11:00am
An OGE Attorney Advisor will discuss current ethics stories and provide relevant ethics updates.
- Fran Vann, OGE Attorney Advisor
Ethics for Managers Tuesday October 24, 2023 11:15am – 12:15pm
This course is specifically tailored to address the demands of managing and supervising District government employees.
- Asia Stewart-Mitchell, OGE Supervisory Attorney
******LUNCH BREAK – 12:15 – 1:45pm******
Ethics and Yoga (Meditation) Tuesday October 24, 2023 1:45 – 2:05pm
Join us for an ethics-minded, guided yoga session.
- Rashee Raj, BEGA General Counsel
*Offered in-person only*
Blowing the Whistle in the District Tuesday October 24, 2023 2:20 – 3:20pm
This course will discuss the laws that help curb retaliation against government employees and next steps after blowing the whistle and/or being retaliated against.
- Moderator: Maurice Echols, OGE Attorney Advisor
- Panelist: Siri Nelson, Executive Director, National Whistleblower Center
- Panelist: Rashee Raj, BEGA General Counsel
- Panelist: Matt Wilcoxson, OIG Deputy Inspector General for External Affairs
DAY 3 - FOIA and OMA Introduction from OOG Director Wednesday, October 25, 2023 10:00 – 11:00am
Director Allen opens a full day of FOIA and Open Meetings courses and discusses electronic meetings with an introduction to the Office of Open Government and an update on the Office’s activities.
- Niquelle Allen, Director of OOG
Who Wants to Be a FOIA Officer? Wednesday, October 25, 2023 11:15am – 12:00pm
Do you know what it takes to be a FOIA Officer? Get ready to test your knowledge about the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act and what it takes to be a FOIA Officer in the District of Columbia.
- Sheree DeBerry, OOG Attorney Advisor
- Nick Weil, OOG Attorney Advisor
. ******LUNCH BREAK – 12:00 – 1:30pm******
Newcomers Guide to the Open Meetings Act Wednesday, October 25, 2023 1:30 – 2:30pm
This course is a discussion of the District’s Open Meetings Act (“OMA”).
- Anthony Scerbo, OOG Attorney Advisor
How to Post on the Central Meetings Calendar Wednesday, October 25, 2023 2:45 – 3:15pm
This course will provide step-by-step guidance on how to post on the District’s Central Meetings Calendar.
- Kevin Brown, BEGA IT Specialist
Overview of Recent OMA and FOIA Advisory Opinions and Advice Wednesday, October 25, 2023 3:30 – 4:30pm
This course is an overview of recent OMA and FOIA Advisory Opinions and advice.
- Niquelle Allen, Director of OOG
DAY 4 - Being Ethical is Harder Than You Think! Thursday, October 26, 2023 10:30 – 11:30am
In this completely interactive exercise, participants will learn how their mind will alter and transform facts and situations to achieve personal desires over organizational goals. These transformations occur automatically in the sub-conscious mind and without establishing proactive methods to mitigate these processes, organizations may inadvertently be promoting unethical behaviors by their leaders and employees.
- Michael Bret Hood, Owner of 21st Century Learning and Consulting
******LUNCH BREAK – 11:30 – 1:00pm******
Fireside Chat: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics Thursday, October 26, 2023 1:00 – 2:00pm
This course is a moderated panel discussion on artificial intelligence and its current and future impact on workplace ethics.
- Moderator: Maurice Echols, OGE Attorney Advisor
-Panelist: Hersh Gupta, OCTO Data Scientist
-Panelist: Todd Smith, OCTO General Counsel
-Panelist: Mattew Sokol, OCTO Chief Data Officer
Legal Ethics for Government Attorneys Thursday, October 26, 2023 2:15 – 3:15pm
This session is a fully CLE-accredited course for government attorneys on the legal ethics rules.
- Erika Stillabower, Senior Legal Ethics Counsel, DC Bar
- Nakia L. Matthews, Legal Ethics Counsel, DC Bar
- Rashee Raj, BEGA General Counsel
- Asia Stewart-Mitchell, OGE Supervisory Attorney
CANCELLED - ENCORE: Ask BEGA Thursday, October 26, 2023 3:30 – 4:30pm
If you missed Ask BEGA on Monday watch a replay of the program.
DAY 5 - The Intersection of DEI and Ethics Friday, October 27, 2023 10:00 – 11:00am
This course is a discussion of the interplay between diversity, equity and inclusion and ethics in government work.
- Dr. Amber Hewit, Chief Equity Officer, Office of Racial Equity
Fireside Chat: Local Ethics Authorities Friday, October 27, 2023 11:15am – 12:15pm
This course is a moderated panel discussion between several local government ethics professionals on myriad local government ethics topics.
- Moderator: Asia Stewart-Mitchell, OGE Supervisory Attorney
- Ashley Cooks, Director of OGE
- Todd Turner, Executive Director, Prince Georges County Office of Ethics and Accountability
- G. Stewart Petoe, Executive Director, Virginia Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council
- Johann C. Amberger, Director, Baltimore City Ethics Board
Mental Health and Ethics Friday, October 27, 2023 12:30 – 1:30pm
A mental health professional explores the mental health implications of ethical issues in our workspaces. Come and learn tips and tricks to manage stress and minimize the negative impact work issues might have on your mental health.
- Palesa Osei-Tutu, LCSW
Attendee Happy Hour Friday, October 27, 2023 5:00 – 6:30pm
Meet us at Dirty Habit to celebrate another successful Ethics Week and meet BEGA’s staff!
- Dirty Habit DC, Kimpton Hotel Monaco, 555 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
******Thank you for attending.******
