Dear NCRC members and allies, It is difficult to focus on our important work for economic justice when our hearts are in the streets protesting police violence and the murder of Black people. But it is the same systemic racism that segregated Black communities from White. The system of oppression is a vast machine and a big piece of it is the federal, state and local policies that defined where Black people could live. How did that happen? Join us next Tuesday, June 9, at 1 pm ET for an online event with Richard Rothstein, author of the groundbreaking book on the history of redlining, “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America.” This is another in our series of online events, Just Economy Sessions.   Register Now Richard Rothstein is a Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Policy Institute and a Senior Fellow (emeritus) at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The Color of Law covers a forgotten history of how federal, state and local policy explicitly segregated metropolitan areas nationwide, creating racially homogenous neighborhoods in patterns that violate the Constitution and require remediation. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you online next Tuesday. Team NCRC ***** Source: NCRC email, June 3, 2020

CREATIVE ALLIANCE TO PRESENT "UNPACKING PRIVILEGE, UNLOCKING POWER" INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP ON ZOOM ON JUNE 27TH

$25

Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:

Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (EDT)

Zoom (Link to workshop will be emailed after purchase of workshop ticket.)
Baltimore, MD 21202

From wherever you are (VIA Zoom)

Attend Event

Too often we have conversations around or about privilege without having a mutual understanding of what it is and now it operates in our environment. because of this lack of knowledge we often unknowingly perpetuate harm. the unpacking privilege, unlocking power interactive workshop goes beyond the rhetoric and provides participants with useful tools for real-life application. The Unpacking Privilege, Unlocking Power interactive workshop goes beyond the rhetoric and provides participants with useful tools for real-life application.

This workshop will prepare participants by highlighting the ways in which we all enjoy privilege based on being members of social and personal identity groups. the goal of the workshop is to identify specific ways we can use our privilege to create a more just and caring world where each person is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

During this interactive workshop you will:

• Get clear definitions on identity terms and find out their correct use

• Leave more aware of individual privilege

• Have insight on how you can leverage your privilege to increase access and opportunity for others.

• Get insight into how to create more inclusive programming

• Understand the implications of socially constructed labels.

This workshop is perfect for you, if:

• You work with/ in diverse populations

• You work for an organization that provides services to populations with a different race, citizenship status, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender than you or the leadership of your organization

• You care about increasing access and opportunity for others on a meaningful level.

• You work in the nonprofit sector

• You sit on the board of a nonprofit organization that serve diverse populations

How to know if this workshop isn’t for you.

I’m going to be honest and let you know that this workshop may not be for everybody. this is not a sit and listen only workshop where the speaker reads from the Powerpoint and you are able to passively learn and take notes. this workshop requires you to engage, create, and have conversations so that you will walk away with not only a deeper understanding of privilege, but also a few tools to increase access and opportunity for others.

This workshop is typically $75 per person. in an effort to increase access and reach more people, i’ve reduced the rate to just $25 per person. space limited.

If you are seeking to make a shift in your organization it is strongly suggested that you take this workshop with your colleagues.

We hope you can make it!

*****Link to workshop will be emailed after purchase of workshop ticket. *******



Source: Creative Alliance email and EventBrite release, May 27, 2020.

NEW MORTGAGE LENDING STUDY FINDS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN LENDING TO SENIORS

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) has just released a new report - Mortgages and Older Adults After COVID-19 - on its study of national mortgage lending. This is the first time data on the applicant and co-applicant's age was included in Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) information released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in September, 2019.

The report discusses trends in home buying, aging in place, and use of home equity. Key findings are:

1. Some 30% of mortgages in calendar 2018 went to older adults.
2. About 67% of older adults who got mortgages were refinancing homes and 68% of those used the mortgage to access the equity in their homes.
3. More older borrowers were white than younger borrowers.
4. There are racial disparities in interest rates charged to young and old minority borrowers.

The GBCHRB soon will release its study of the mortgage lending behavior of specific lenders who received mortgage applications from Baltimore City residents. Email Bill Kladky of the GBCHRB at wkladky@gbchrb.org to receive the upcoming report's press release. 

OCC Announces Final CRA Rule Changes, Moves Alone, Without FDIC Or Federal Reserve

By NCRC / May 20, 2020 / Press Releases

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced long-anticipated changes to rules that enforce the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) had previously joined the OCC in the rule-making effort, but it did not join in the final rule released today.

Jesse Van Tol, CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, and John Taylor, Founder and President of NCRC, made the following statements:

Jesse Van Tol:

“This is an awkward, disjointed and rushed move by a single agency that couldn’t get agreement from the two other agencies that regulate banks within the same administration. The OCC should have been able to agree and work with the other two agencies that oversee enforcement of the same law. It couldn’t. It failed. That’s an administrative fiasco. 

“It is telling that the FDIC wouldn’t join the OCC in this rulemaking process. It is also telling that this final 372-page set of rules came just six weeks after the close of the public comment period, a record-breaking pace, and a day before Comptroller Otting resigns from the agency. He just made a regulatory mess and he isn’t sticking around to fix it.

“The timing is shocking, in the middle of a pandemic that has been hardest on lower-income communities this law is supposed to protect. What an insulting and cruel moment to unleash new rules that will in some cases help banks to do less for some poor communities and communities of color. Those are the communities hit hardest by COVID-19.”

John Taylor:

“This solo move by the OCC breaks what should be a uniform system for all lenders. So if the new rules take hold, which is a big if, we’ll have an even more complex, confusing and broken system that will need to be repaired later.

“Just about everyone who has a stake in CRA, including bankers, urged the agencies to stop the rule-making processes during the COVID-19 crisis. The FDIC listened and opted to not move forward at this time. The OCC didn’t.

“The lack of participation from the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, and the rush to push this final rule through during a global pandemic, is of great concern. These changes are not in the best interest of any of the stakeholders involved, and they are clearly not in the public interest. Almost nobody wanted these rules now, and that included bankers.

*****

Source: NCRC (National Community Reinvestment Coalition).

Go to the original release.

NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS NETWORK LAUNCHES "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" VIDEO DURING COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting every community in the nation. Shuttering schools and workplaces, slowing public transportation, and delaying community-based services. In this series of videos, the National Disability Rights Network explains what your rights are and what you can do if you believe your rights are being violated. We hope this series will help to strengthen self-advocacy, address racial inequities, and protect the rights/lives of people with disabilities. Go to:

https://default.salsalabs.org/Tf7e9c0fb-e8cc-4e0a-b0d8-92914c7e6cd6/5031a076-9097-4ad8-9a08-07575bad44e2

The NDRN has videos on a wide variety of COVID-19 related topics: Transportation Rights Housing Rights Healthcare Rights: The Effects of COVID-19 on the African American Community Stop The Spread in Jails & Prisons Indian Health Services & Medical Rationing *** Source: National Disability Rights Network release, April 28, 2020.

Upcoming Virtual Events at the  Baltimore Office of Equity  & Civil Rights

BMORE VOTES: Author Dr. Ida E. Jones presents Victorine Q. Adams Power of the Ballot April 28, 2020 1PM-2PM Join Office of Equity and Civil Rights Staff and author Dr. Ida E. Jones for a conversation about Victorine Q. Adams, Baltimore City's first Black City Councilwoman, and the power of voting in the civil rights movement.  ***  Can We Talk? Civil Rights, Equity, Health and COVID-19 April 29, 2020 2PM-3pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/can-we-talk-civil-rights-equity-health-covid-19-tickets-103369093742 Join staff members of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights, leadership from the Baltimore City Health Dept, and Rev. Kobi Little from the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP for a critical discussion on how COVID-19 impacts current health equity issues, and creates new ones. *** AMI and Mental Health Awareness May 1, 2020 10AM-11AM Join staff from the Office of Equity and Civil Rights, as well as the National Mental Health Alliance of Metropolitan Baltimore for an important discussion on Mental Health, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.  ***

Source: Email received from City of Baltimore Daily Digest Bulletin, April 23, 2020.

Draft 2020 Baltimore Region Fair Housing Analysis Virtual Public Hearing - APRIL 14, 7:00PM

Due to public health concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this hearing will be Virtual Only via GoToMeeting. To participate in the virtual public hearing, please see the instructions below. For GoToMeeting features for persons with disabilities, please click here. The session will be recorded, and each person will have four minutes for comment.

For additional details, including an agenda and slides for the hearing, please click here.

Download the Draft 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI):

FULL DOCUMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND ACTION STEPS ONLY

COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED: This March 2 draft release begins a public comment period through April 22, 2020 (extended from April 15):

• Please submit comments by email to housing@baltometro.org.

Participate in the Virtual Public Hearing

You can join from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/154848821

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3129

Access Code: 154-848-821

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/154848821  

Source:https://www.baltometro.org/community/plans/regional-analysis-of-impediments-to-fair-housing-choice?utm_source=Housing_+Insightly+Housing_Fair_Hsng_Stakeholder&utm_campaign=e8d69553c1-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_02_25_05_49_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5a06971cf5-e8d69553c1-591869717