Baltimore City Civil Rights Week 2024 Program Announced

 

Baltimore City Civil Rights Week 2024 Program Announcements 09/27/2024 The Office of Equity and Civil Rights is excited to invite you to join us for our annual Civil Rights Week from October 4th - 12th! We have several events scheduled throughout the week that touch on key topics including Police Accountability, The History of Redlining and Housing Discrimination in the city, Legislative Access for Women, a History of Immigration and Inclusion in Baltimore and more! Check out some of what's happening below and sign up to join us. All events are free and open to the public. Hope to see you there! This panel will provide context to our current civilian oversight structures in Baltimore City. We will detail the accountability process from beginning to end and provide insight on the future of civilian oversight of law enforcement and hope you join us in demystifying civilian oversight in Baltimore City!   Register Here Register Here   Faith leaders from diverse worship centers around the City will host City leaders and offer prayers for justice and civil rights for the City of Baltimore in the City Hall Rotunda. *This event is virtual only.* This is an opportunity to Baltimore City residents, particularly those who are themselves living with disabilities, to make their concerns known. The event features a Q&A with City officials and alternative ways to submit questions/concerns for response from the City.   Register Here Register Here   Join OECR and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland for an insightful presentation that will shine a light on the unique relationship between Prince Hall Freemasonry and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, particularly Morgan State University. This presentation will not only inform the observer of the rich historical relationship between the MWPHGL of MD and Morgan State University but serve as a reminder of the much-needed work to hew from a historical mountain of despair a stone of hope, to build a future of achievement. Join us for an interactive plenary which focuses on the historic significance of the Slave Song (Negro Spiritual) and its impact on the nation and world, which also influence the music of the Civil Rights Movement, and the inextricable link to the iconic Baltimore Civil Rights leaders, many of whom were pastors and community leaders in Landmark churches.   Register Here Register Here   Join OECR and the Baltimore City Law Department for an engaging panel discussion and presentation on the history of redlining in Baltimore and the attempts by the City to reverse the effects in the community. We are happy to welcome experts in the field to discuss everything from the case of City of Baltimore v. Wells Fargo, NA to the vacant homes in our communities. Join us for an inspiring event celebrating the remarkable contributions of women trailblazers in Baltimore's Civil Rights Movement. This panel discussion will spotlight the impactful lives of Billie Holiday, Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson, and Irene Morgan Kirkaldy, exploring their enduring legacies and the challenges they overcame. Don't miss this opportunity to honor these iconic women and explore ways to make a difference in our communities. *This event will include dinner*   Register Here Register Here   Join us for an informative and engaging event dedicated to educating the public on gender-related voter issues. This event will feature high level presentations on critical topics such as housing, LGBTQ rights, returning citizens and immigration, and voter education. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from experts and connect with local organizations that advocate for these issues at our resource fair. This is a valuable opportunity to empower yourself with knowledge and resources to make informed voting decisions and advocate for gender equity in Baltimore. Join us and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs for an insightful panel presentation and workshop to highlight the history of struggle for inclusion, as well as progress achieved, by and for immigrants in the City of Baltimore in various sectors of society, including housing, economic development, and healthcare. The panel will be conducted entirely in Spanish and an interpreter and listening equipment will be provided for audience members who do not speak Spanish.   Register Here Register Here   Join us for an insightful and educational community walk though historic Upton. Walk with us as we explore the new additions to the community including the fantastic opening of the Penn Avenue Main Street Welcome Center and the renovation and grand opening of the new Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center. See how this community's history has helped shape its future and the futures of communities around Baltimore. *DHCD will be providing fair housing information sessions and resources.* *Lunch will be provided*

31st Baltimore Civil Rights Breakfast on October 7th - Get Your Tickets Today!

 

Get Your Tickets Today!!! Time is almost up! Ticket sales end on October 2nd!  Individual Ticket - $75.00 Full Table - $675.00 Click Here to Get Your Tickets Now!

Southern Maryland Hate Bias Reporting Forum is November 16th

 

Join us at our LIVE forum that brings together law enforcement and the community to improve hate bias reporting. To register, click on the picture above or click HERE.

Victim of Discrimination? Training & Partnerships

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Give Input to the New Baltimore Housing Plan

Maryland Gets Federal Grant to Support a Project to Document Places Related to the Civil Rights Movement in Baltimore City.

 

The $50,000 grant is to the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). Information obtained through the project will be available on the MHT’s online cultural resource information system, Medusa.

Baltimoreans have advocated, organized, and marched for civil rights since the city’s founding – in rowhouses, churches, parks, universities, factories, corner stores, and more, said Gov. Moore in a news release. Our history is our power, and the Moore-Miller Administration is committed to telling the stories of Baltimore City's long tradition of civil rights leadership.

The African American Civil Rights grant program funds preservation projects and sites tied to the struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights.

As a contribution to Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights, the project will document approximately twelve places important to the Civil Rights Movement in Baltimore City for inclusion in the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties.

Studying and documenting this history, then making the results available for all in the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, will help us to better understand how the Civil Rights Movement pushed back against segregated spaces and sought to dismantle discrimination in Baltimore, said Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca Flora, AICP in a news release.

The project is expected to begin this fall and will additionally involve community outreach and oral histories.

Housing Discrimination Complaints in 2023 Continue to Increase Nationally

The national number of fair housing complaints rose to record numbers for the third year in a row. There were 34,150 fair housing complaints received in 2023, compared to 33,007 complaints in 2022, according to findings in the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA)'s 2024 Fair Housing Trends Report. There also was a sharp increase in the number of harassment complaints which jumped by 470.5% based on color and 114.9% on race.

The source of the data were 86 NFHA member organizations, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s 10 regional offices, and 77 state and local government agencies in HUD’s FHAP program. Information also was obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Most of the millions of housing discrimination incidents each year go unreported because they are difficult to identify or document. All complaints also are not made because individuals might fear facing retaliation or eviction if they file a complaint. Therefore, the total number should be considered an undercount.

Private nonprofit fair housing organizations (FHOs) processed 75.5% of complaints, a 5.6% increase from 2022. These FHOs investigate fair housing complaints, collect data, provide fair housing counseling and education to consumers, and help clients file complaints. Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies processed 19.2% of complaints, HUD 5.1% of complaints, and the DOJ  0.1% of complaints. 

As in the previous year, discrimination based on disability accounted for the majority (52.6%) of complaints filed with FHOs, HUD, and FHAP agencies. There were 1,521 complaints of harassment reported, an increase of 66.2%. This is the highest number of harassment complaints reported since NFHA began reporting harassment-specific data in 2006.

Read the July 10, 2024 NFHA article.