D14 Virtual Town Hall with Baltimore’s Chief Equity Officer

During our District 14 Virtual Town Hall on 3.24.2021 we had a great conversation with Dana Moore, Baltimore’s first Chief Equity Officer and District 14 resident. Here is the full video.

She reflected on her time as Baltimore’s First woman to serve as City Solicitor, settling GTTF cases and the Incinerator case were the most challenging and kept her up at night. She felt that these were such important cases to get right.

Ms. Moore also outlined what Equity means. It means not just making things equal, but being intentional about lifting up those who have traditionally been left out. She cited an example about how in Northwest Baltimore, trash was not picked up properly more often than anywhere else. She worked with DPW to come up with a solution. She also talked about equitable budgeting, using an example where she realized there were several lawyers in the Law Department that had not had raises in quite a while. Their raises were awarded first. She will be working on Pay Equity, service equity and so much more in this work.

She will be working inside City Government, making sure that government operates with an equity lens, and warned that our time in government will end if these are not done. She and Mayor Scott are very serious about this work. There is no complaint process set up as of yet, but she’s being very proactive in several areas.

Ms. Moore is now also the head of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights. So complaints about access for people with disabilities, complaints about non-compliance with the HOME Act, and others will come to her and the incredible team of lawyers in that office.

Since it is Women’s History Month, we reflected on the women who inspire us the most. Dana described her mother.