About the Commission

Article IV

Article 4 of the Baltimore City Code prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, color, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression in the areas of employment, public accommodations, education, health and welfare services, and housing.

Article 4 also established the Community Relations Commission and designated the Commission as the enforcer of Article 4 of the Baltimore City Code. In order to enforce Article 4, the Community Relations commission was given the authority to subpoena information and witnesses; to hold public hearings when conciliation attempts fail; to issue cease and desist orders and to take unresolved cases into court via legal counsel.

You can download a copy of Article 4 of the Baltimore City Code here:  Article 4 | City of Baltimore Law Library

The Commissioners 

The Baltimore City Community Relations Commission has 10 members chosen by the Mayor and City Council. They don't get paid for their work. Each year, they pick one member to be the Chair. The Chair and the other members work to stop discrimination in all parts of our community. 

 Interested in serving? If so, please e-mail us. 

Members

  • Nadine Finigan-Carr, Chair
  • Todd Yeary
  • Amahl Foster
  • Yvette Ilechie
  • Reynaldo Evangelista
  • Matthew Menter
  • Gloria Andela
  • Stephen Ruckman
  • Channel Green

Powers and Duties

Under the authority of Article 4 of the City Code, the Baltimore Community Relations Commission is authorized to:

1. Formulate and carry out a comprehensive education and action program designed to eliminate and prevent prejudice and discrimination in the City of Baltimore.

2. Initiate studies concerning the current status of civil rights, inter-group relations, and discriminatory practices.

3. Conduct and publish an annual survey or community audit of the status of human rights in the City of Baltimore.

4. Create such advisory councils, committees, or subcommittees as in the judgment of the Commission will aid in carrying out the purposes of this article and to cooperate with such councils, committees, or subcommittees toward such ends.

5. Receive and investigate and seek to adjust all complaints of unlawful practices forbidden by Article 4, but no complaints shall be received unless made to the Commission within 180 days of such alleged unlawful practice.

6. Make appropriate findings as a result of any of its investigations.

7. From time to time, but not less than once a year, render to the Mayor and City Council a written report of its activities and recommendations for legislation as in the judgment of the Commission is necessary or desirable to aid it in carrying out its purposes and functions under Article 4.

8. Adopt and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Commission and to effectuate the purposes and provisions of Article 4.

9. Consult with such advisory agencies and conciliation councils as will aid in effectuating the purposes of Article 4.

10. Conduct investigations and studies and hold public hearings for the purpose of determining the existence of problems, practices, or conditions in the areas placed under its jurisdiction by Article 4 or any other ordinance or by State or Federal law.

11. In the enforcement of Article 4, issue subpoenas and compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records, and documents relevant or necessary for hearings, investigations, and proceedings.

Under Article 11 subtitle 15 Fair Criminal Record Screening Practices, the Commission is charged with promoting the policy that gives an individual who has a criminal record, but otherwise meets all criteria for consideration for employment, an opportunity to be judged on his or her own merit when initially applying for employment.  The Commission may receive complaints, investigate them and hear them in the same manner as that provided in City Code Article 4, subtitle 4 for alleged violations of that article's unlawful discriminatory employment practices.

Overview and History

We receive complaints, investigate them, and try to solve problems when we find discrimination. 

The Baltimore City Community Relations Commission (CRC) is a government commission that helps people who have been treated unfairly because of who they are. We enforce laws that protect people from discrimination in different areas like jobs, places open to the public, housing, schools, and health and welfare services. 

It's against the law to discriminate based on things like race, color, religion, where you're from, age, family history, gender, disability, who you love, and how you express yourself in Baltimore. 

The CRC receives complaints, looks into them, and tries to solve problems when they find discrimination. They also make sure that agreements to stop discrimination are followed. Sometimes, they handle cases from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against private and government employers in Baltimore because they work together. 

The Community Relations Commission was originally known as the Baltimore Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Created by Ordinance 379 in 1956, the Baltimore Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was designed to enforce new laws that defined and ruled against discriminatory employment practices by employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations.  These new laws outlawed discrimination by employers on the basis of an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, or ancestry.  Tax-exempt employers such as religious organizations and private educational organizations were not covered by these first laws.

In 1960, Ordinance 379 was amended to provide enforcement powers to the Commission.  This amendment allowed the Commission to issue subpoenas for witnesses and employers' documents.  Then in June of 1962, the City Council passed a limited public accommodation ordinance that outlawed discrimination in hotels, motels, restaurants, and other public areas.  This law, however, did not cover restaurants or parts of restaurants that were primarily devoted to the sale of alcoholic beverages.  The public accommodation ordinance also changed the name of the Commission to the Baltimore Equal Opportunity Commission.

On February 26, 1964, one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills passed by a City was passed and signed in Baltimore. This Ordinance, Ordinance 103, covered unlawful discrimination in employment, public accommodations, public and private education, and public and private health and welfare agencies and institution.  It made it so that individuals who were discriminated against would be compensated and it also eliminated the exemption regarding restaurants that primarily serve alcohol. 

Ordinance 103 changed the name of the Commission to its current name, the Baltimore Community Relations Commission.  It also broadened the Commission's jurisdiction and authority.  The Baltimore Community Relation Commission became responsible for all matters in the area of intergroup relations and the Commission was given the power to take action and hold public hearings.

Then in 1971, the prohibiting of discrimination based on sex was outlawed in all areas covered by Ordinance 103.  Soon thereafter, a prohibition against age discrimination in employment was added to the law.  In 1975, discrimination based on physical and mental disability was prohibited and then in 1998 discrimination based on sexual orientation became outlawed as well.  Later, in 2003, the Mayor and the Baltimore City Council passed Ordinance 02-453 which prohibited discrimination on gender identity and gender expression.

Most recently, in 2014, the Mayor and the Baltimore City Council passed Ban the Box which combats discrimination against former offenders who are seeking employment.  The Baltimore Community Relations Commission is in charge of enforcing Ban the Box, as well as all of the above-mentioned City Ordinances and amendments so that the City of Baltimore is a place free from discrimination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Discrimination

Questions about the Community Relations Commission

Questions about Filing a Complaint

Discrimination

What is discrimination?

Discrimination is any difference in treatment of an individual or person because of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. It is illegal to discriminate in the City of Baltimore.

What is "gender identity or expression"?

Gender identity and gender expression have nothing to do with an individual's sexual orientation. Gender Identity refers to a person's innate, deeply felt psychological identification as man, woman, or some other gender which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned to them at birth. Gender expression refers to all the external characteristics and behaviors that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine, such as dress, grooming, mannerisms, speech patterns, and social interactions. Social or cultural norms can vary widely and some characteristics that may be accepted as masculine, feminine, or neutral in one culture may not be assessed similarly in another.

What is discrimination in Employment?

Discrimination in employment is when an employer treats an individual differently because of any of the previously mentioned characteristics in decisions regarding hiring, tenure, promotion, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

What is discrimination in Housing?

Discrimination in housing is when someone authorized to sell, rent, lease, sub-lease, or manage a dwelling discriminates in negotiations, the rental, or sale of a dwelling on the basis of any of the previously mentioned characteristics. It is also illegal to falsely claim that a dwelling is not available for rent or sale.

What is discrimination in Financial Practices?

Financial Institutions are prohibited from discriminating in the extending of loans for the purchase or improvement of a home.

What is discrimination in Health and Welfare?

Health and Welfare agencies, like hospitals, nursing homes, counseling centers, community service centers, may not discriminate by withholding or denying services, programs, benefits, facilities, or in setting rates for services based on any of the previously mentioned characteristics.

What is discrimination in Education?

It is illegal for any educational institution to discriminate in admissions, in access to facilities,  in participation of extra-curricular activities, in course enrollment, or in setting of rates, fees, and tuition.

What is discrimination in Public Accommodations?

Discrimination in Public Accommodations is when a person, business, or organization that provides services to or makes facilities available to the public discriminates based on any of the previously mentioned characteristics. For example, hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, and health clubs are not allowed to discriminate against people and prevent them from enjoying the privileges of the facility and at the same rates as other customers.

Are there exceptions?

Yes, there are some exceptions. Certain groups, employers, or institutions are allowed to discriminate under specific circumstances. Religious Institutions may discriminate in employment, the rental or sale of housing and property, and in operating public facilities in order to promote their religious principles. Private Clubs may discriminate in eservices they provide only to their members. Employers may discriminate if a particular occupation reasonably requires a certain type of person. Also, employers with less than 15 employees for 15 days of the previous year are exempt. Renting to members of one sex is permitted if the dwelling is constructed in such a way that personal privacy and personal safety are an issue, such as in dormitories or shared housing. Property Owners can be exempt from fair housing laws if they live in the building and the building contains 4 or fewer unites. Some Health and Welfare agencies operated by religious institutions or fraternal organizations that primarily serve only their membership are exempt.

Questions about the Community Relations Commission

What does the Community Relations Commission do?

The Community Relations Commission is the City Agency designated to enforce Article 4 of the Baltimore City Code. Article 4 of the Baltimore City Code prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, color, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression in the areas of employment, public accommodations, education, health and welfare services, and housing. The Community Relations Commission receives, and investigations claims of discrimination that violate Article 4 of the Baltimore City Code.

What enforcement power does the Community Relations Commission have?

The Community Relations Commission has the authority to subpoena information and witnesses, to hold public hearings when conciliation attempts fail; to issue cease and desist orders and to take unresolved cases into court via legal. To learn more about the process through which the Community Relations Commission handles claims, visit the page Complaint Procedure.

Questions about Complaints

What do I do if I think I have been discriminated against?

If you think you have been discriminated against you should first inform the person. If an employer, landlord, or business owner acts in a way that is prohibited by the law, tell them about the law. Try redirecting them to the Community Relations Commission so that they can learn more. If that does not fix the situation, you should contact the Community Relations Committee and file a complaint. Also, make sure you document everything. Write down conversations and save every piece of paper related to the discrimination. If there are friendly witnesses, ask them to give you a written statement. These documents and written statements can be handed to the Community Relations Commission as part of your complaint.

How do I file a complaint?

If you would like to file a complaint you can do so by contacting the Community Relations Commission directly. You can also start the process for filing a complaint on the page File a Complaint Online.

What will happen if I file a complaint?

If you would like to know more about the procedure followed when you file a complaint, you can read about it on the page Complaint Procedure.

Will filing a complaint make things worse?

No! Filing a complaint will not make things worse. You are protected in your right to file a complaint. Someone is not allowed to retaliate against you or further discriminate against you for filing a complaint. You can read more about your rights regarding filing a complaint on the page Rights and Responsibilities.