The Call of Civil Rights: Former Chairs Jenny Yang and Charlotte Burrows on Former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chairs on Civil Rights, the EEOC and Hope

In this powerful episode of Derechos y Esperanza – Rights and Hope, former EEOC Chairs Jenny Yang (nominated by President Barack Obama) and Charlotte Burrows (nominated by President Joe Biden) reunite with professor David Lopez and program associate Abdi Lopez, to discuss their calling to civil rights and their paths to the EEOC. The conversation traces the EEOC's evolution from its founding as a legacy agency of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to its role defining equality in the modern workplace—from pioneering sexual harassment policy before #MeToo to securing Supreme Court recognition of LGBTQ+ workplace protections in Bostock v. Clayton County. Yang and Burrows reflect on the agency's bipartisan traditions, the career civil servants who form its backbone and their groundbreaking work on AI bias in hiring. Former Chairs Yang and Burrows then reflect on their proudest moments while addressing urgent concerns about the agency's future—and what gives them hope for equal opportunity in America. This podcast is for educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University or the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Nothing discussed should be considered legal advice or a substitute for professional counsel. All errors are the responsibility of the speaker.