Day of Action Against Antisemitism

There has been a surge in antisemitism in the United States and around the world. This hate is unacceptable, and inaction is inexcusable.

Show your solidarity by joining the American Jewish Committee; ADL; Hadassah, WZOA, inc.; Jewish Federations of North America; and Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America this Thursday, May 27th for a Day of Action Against Antisemitism.  During the Day of Action Against Antisemitism, tools will be provided to amplify your voice with thousands more to demand action and gather virtually for a rally at 4pm ET / 1pm PT to hear from prominent government officials as well as leaders from the Jewish community and civil rights organizations, among others. ***** Source: Baltimore Jewish Council email, May 25, 2021.

GAO REPORT FINDS MANY FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN HUD VOUCHER PROGRAM LIVING IN UNITS WITH LEAD DANGERS

 

A new GAO report, Lead Paint in Housing: Key Considerations for Adopting Stricter Lead Evaluation Methods in HUD’s Voucher Program (GAO-21-325), points out that HUD’s voucher program has 1.1 million families living in housing units built before 1978. This includes about 229,000 children under 6 years old - who research has shown that are at greatest risk from lead exposure. Lead paint can seriously affect young children's health and has been banned from use in U.S. housing since 1978.

The report - released on May 12, 2021 - also evaluates the costs and feasibility of an intensified inspection program by HUD to identify lead-unsafe properties, but does not mention the importance of offering assistance to families with young children to move to lead-safe properties and neighborhoods. 

The report documented that about 171,000 units were occupied by approximately 229,000 young children (under age 6), putting these children at an increased risk of lead exposure. The HUD voucher program requires visual assessments for identifying deteriorated paint, with no testing of paint or dust. Any change to stricter evaluation methods would need to consider that certain states have a larger portion of pre-1978 voucher units occupied by families with young children.

Estimated costs for adopting stricter lead evaluation methods for the voucher program would vary substantially depending on the method used and what units were included (see figure). Estimated initial costs range from about $60 million for a less expensive method applied only to units with young children to about $880 million for a more expensive method applied to all pre-1978 units. These estimated costs range from 3% to 41%, respectively, of the fiscal year 2021 budget dedicated to public housing agencies' administrative expenses for the voucher program. Total costs would also depend on the mobility of voucher households and the frequency of any additional lead evaluations.

GAO analyzed HUD data on the voucher program (as of year-end 2019, the most recent available) and information on lead professionals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states. GAO also conducted a nationwide, generalizable survey of lead professionals to estimate the costs of lead evaluation methods. In addition, GAO interviewed staff from HUD, EPA, and public housing agencies, and representatives from two national organizations that represent lead professionals.

For more information about the study, contact John H. Pendleton at (202) 512-8678 or pendletonj@gao.gov.

***

Source: Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), "PRRAC Update: Housing finance and racial justice; Strength in Diversity candidates," May 20, 2021.

 

May 11, 2021

MAY UPCOMING TRAININGS & PROGRAMS Find out more and register using the links below! Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Dimensions of Diversity 10am to 1pm Presented by Keith A. Merkey, M.Div./CE, MCCR Education & Outreach Associate Register at mccr.events/DoDMay2021 This interactive training workshop provides both information and opportunity to examine and understand the concepts of culture, cultural information and its’ origin, and how it impacts the workplace. Workshop content includes: Key Diversity Definitions Cycle of Information/Misinformation Examining and understanding the issues of bias Multi-Cultural Communication Awareness​ Thursday, May 20, 2021 Employment Discrimination for Supervisors 12pm to 2pm Register at mccr.events/Supervisors This two-hour course will address common employment discrimination issues faced by supervisory staff, best practices, and common situations. A 20 minute prerequisite video on employment discrimination will be disseminated to ensure all participants are aware of the basic concepts and legal protections. Participants should be comfortable with employment discrimination basics for employees as this course focuses exclusively on workplace management. Monday, May 24, 2021 Conflict Resolution in the Workplace 10am to 1pm Register at mccr.events/ConflictResMay2021 This interactive training workshop examines the role of interpersonal conflict and its’ impact on the workplace. The workshop provides both insight and information on the causes and process of conflict and offers conflict management techniques. Workshop content includes: Causes of Conflict Cycle of Conflict Conflict styles Case Studies Conflict Management Tools & Techniques​​ Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Managing Mental Health and Addiction in the Workplace: Reasonable Accommodations, Interventions, Best Practices and Coping Strategies 12pm to 2pm Register at mccr.events/MentalHealth Participants will be given the opportunity to select one of the breakout rooms below for their first 40 minute session. At the 40 minute mark, all breakout rooms will be closed for a 10 minute break and then participants can select a different breakout session (no duplicate attendance). Each breakout room host will present their session twice. Breakout Room 1: Workplace Reasonable Accommodations: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Glendora C. Hughes, General Counsel MCCR Staff Support: S. Spencer Dove, Executive Associate Breakout Room 2: Creating a Workplace Culture That Prioritizes Mental Health Kerry Graves, Executive Director, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore MCCR Staff Support: Dia Drake-Sprague, E&O Assistant Breakout Room 3: Managing Addiction and Recovery in the workplace: Prevention, intervention, quality treatment and recovery support Katina Palmer, NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. MCCR Staff Support: Janiya Proctor, E&O Assistant Breakout Room 4: A First Hand Account of Navigating Mental Health Issues at Work Nao Gamo and Nova Getz, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore Breakout Room 5: Navigating Substance Abuse at Work: Legal Protections and Coping Strategies Alesha Bell, Investigations Supervisor and Melissia Dorsey, Investigations Supervisor

Victim of Discrimination? Training & Partnerships

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May 27th Zoom Listening Session:
The Role of Insurance in Addressing
Health Care Inequities

Join Maryland Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Birrane and the Maryland Insurance Administration as we hear from invited panelists, interested stakeholders, and members of the public regarding the role insurance can play in addressing inequities in health care access and outcomes.

To sign-up to speak after the panelists, please do so by emailing listening.sessions@maryland.gov. Individuals who sign-up will be allotted a period of time to share their thoughts and experiences.

Throughout 2021, Commissioner Birrane and the MIA will hold a series of Listening Sessions to help the MIA more fully understand the experiences of specific communities relating to certain kinds of insurance. These Listening Sessions will assist us to fulfill our statutory mission to serve Marylanders both in our enforcement of Maryland’s insurance laws and in our development of tools, guides, and programs for consumers. 

May 27, 2021: 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.

Zoom Link: www.zoomgov.com/j/1603649556

Dial-in: (833) 568-8864

Webinar ID: 160 364 9556

 

April 21, 2021

Celebrate Fair Housing Month with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights is hosting a free virtual Fair Housing Forum with many exciting sessions across April 27 and 28. Be sure to follow the registration links below to save your spot for any and all sessions you wish to join! This Forum is a partnership between the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) made possible by HUD's generous partnership grant.​ Tuesday, April 27, 2021 “Fair Housing Legal Update” 10am to 1pm Presented by Glendora C. Hughes, MCCR General Counsel Register at mccr.events/FairHousingForum1 The COVID- 19 pandemic has created severe housing related issues across the nation. Housing insecurity has increased exponentially and related issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, and bias are widespread. This interactive workshop will provide participants with information on legal protections and updates regarding impediments to fair housing as a result of the pandemic. “Institutional Anti-Blackness and Housing Discrimination” 2pm to 4pm Presented by Tiffany Lanoix, MA Register at mccr.events/FairHousingForum2 In this two hour forum participants will learn about the ways that anti-blackness has been and continues to be institutionalized, specifically in the realm of housing. The initial presentation will last about 45 minutes followed by a 1 hour and 5 minute guided forum. This will include a 10 minute break in between. The following topics will be addressed during the presentation and the guided forum: Anti-blackness & Anti-racism How anti-blackness is institutionalized History of anti-blackness in housing Contemporary issues of anti-blackness in housing How anti-racism can be used as a tool to combat anti-blackness in housing Western Maryland Regional Fair Housing Forum 6pm to 8pm Moderated by MCCR's Western Maryland Advisory Council Register at mccr.events/FairHousingForum3 This event brings together stakeholders in the Western Maryland Region from local nonprofits, fair housing agencies, property management companies, state and local governments, and other industry leaders for a panelist driven, facilitated focus groups to address barriers to fair Housing in Maryland.​ Wednesday, April 28, 2021 Maryland Fair Housing Roundtable 10am to 1pm Opening Remarks by Melody Taylor, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Moderated by Cecilia Assam, MCCR Civil Rights Officer Register at mccr.events/FairHousingForum4 This webinar style forum will bring stakeholders together to engage in meaningful dialogue regarding the state of fair housing in Maryland. Panelists from a wide variety of public, private and nonprofit entities specializing in fair housing enforcement, legal representation, advocacy, landlord/tenant affairs, government, property management and community relations will convene to: Provide insight and awareness to fellow stakeholders on issues that impact he work of all sectors. Engage in candid conversations about cross-sector challenges, difference and working relationships. Develop strategies for working collectively to promote fairness, inclusion and equality. “Structural Racism in Housing: A Closer Look at Prince George’s County” 2pm to 4pm Presented by Kris Marsh, Ph.D. Register at mccr.events/FairHousingForum5 This virtual housing forum will include three main approaches to understanding structural racism in housing: Lecture, interactive exercises, and discussions to establish understandings of structural racism in the housing market and the broader impact on life chances, inequality, and injustice; Review current quantitative and qualitative social science literature on housing discrimination and related outcomes with an emphasis in Prince George's County; and Discuss ways to overcome and promote fair housing for all. The virtual fair housing forum will include the following topics: What the social science literature has to say on structural racism and housing discrimination Understanding diverse populations, structural racism and housing opportunities/outcome How structural racism and discrimination impact housing opportunities and long term consequences/outcomes How Prince George's County is an ideal case study for fair housing The learning objectives for the virtual fair housing forum will include: Participants will learn the definition of structural racism and its related concepts (focus on housing) Participants will be able to identify the current and long-term consequences of housing discrimination Participants will understand how structural racism in housing is measured, formed, and current literature in the topic. Participants will develop strategies to overcome structural racism and promote fair housing for all Participants will discover why Prince George's County is a unique case for understanding issues of structural racism and fair housing

BONUS EVENT - Know Your Rights: Fair Housing Act Thursday, April 22, 2021 (TOMORROW!) 7pm to 8pm Register at https://www.bcpl.info/events-and-programs/list.html#!/188891 Fair housing is the right of all people to buy, sell or rent residential property and to live where they choose. In this workshop, learn about the Fair Housing Act, which provides protection under the law against housing discrimination to all Marylanders, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, familial or marital status, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. This event is free and open to the public. Presented by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights in partnership with the Baltimore County Public Library. Registration closes one hour before the start of the program. A valid email address is needed at registration to send a Zoom link to the program 30 minutes before scheduled start.

Victim of Discrimination? Training & Partnerships

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