Modern Face of Housing Discrimination Is Subject of Fair Housing Symposium, April 3
March 18, 2009
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
James Carr, chief operating officer of the National Community Reinvestment Corporation, will deliver the keynote address at "Why Fair Housing? The Modern Face of Housing Discrimination," a symposium co-sponsored by Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. and the University of Baltimore School of Law. Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler will also speak at the event, which will take place on Friday, April 3 in the Venable Baetjer Howard Moot Court Room in the School of Law's John and Frances Angelos Law Center, 1415 Maryland Ave. Admission is free, but space is limited and registration is required. (Schedule and attendance details are listed below.)
Special guests scheduled to join the discussion include: Joel D. Armstrong, director of systemic investigations for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Glendora C. Hughes, general counsel for the Maryland Commission on Human Relations; and Carl O. Snowden, director of civil rights for the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. A full list of participants, including biographical information can be found here.
The group, led by Carr (who will deliver the keynote speech beginning at 10:15 a.m.), will discuss a variety of topics related to local, state and national housing discrimination trends in the modern era, including "Racism and Your Next Door Neighbor," "Fair Housing and the Foreclosure Crisis" and "The Rights of People with Disabilities: Ideas and Trends." The current agenda is available here.
Co-sponsoring the symposium with BNI made sense immediately, said Michele Gilman, associate professor of law and director of the School of Law's civil advocacy clinic.
"We want to help educate the community about the challenges our clinic clients face in obtaining fair housing, and BNI is a natural partner in that endeavor," Gilman said.
The event will mark the first of two events planned to celebrate BNI's 50th year, according to BNI Executive Director Richard Doran.
"The board, staff and members of BNI are pleased and proud that we are partnering with the University of Baltimore School of Law in offering this important symposium—not just because of our 50th anniversary, but because we want to educate as many people as possible about the hidden nature of housing discrimination and all of its ramifications," Doran said.
The symposium will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Moot Court Room. "Why Fair Housing" attendees can register online for this event here. Additional information about the symposium is available by sending an e-mail to the School of Law Office of External Relations at lawevents@ubalt.edu or by calling BNI at 410.243.4400.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.