Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) works to enhance and promote access to resources and services that improve quality of life, regardless of:
- Age
- Country of origin
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Physical and mental abilities
- Race
- Religion
- Sexual orientation or identity
The Division of DEI also supports the various County departments to establish and enhance DEI practices, protocols and policies, in addition to:
- Building bridges between County communities and the government.
- Ensuring the application of an equity lens in decisions across County government, including hiring, contracting and purchasing.
- Fostering community trust in government, particularly with public safety departments, through a multicultural Advisory Board.
- Utilizing data to assess resource and access needs of traditionally underserved communities, to engage communities about unmet needs, and in data-driven special projects, to show progress and foster buy-in.
- Providing trainings that promote and support diversity and inclusion throughout the County workforce.
Responsibilities
The Division is responsible for the management and oversight of the County’s:
- Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF) Commission—Makes recommendations for the use of funds in the Community Reinvestment and Repair Special Revenue Fund (CRRF). The CRRF was established as a result of the legalization of recreational adult-use cannabis in Maryland.
- Human Relations Program and Commission (HRC)—Enforces the County’s antidiscrimination law and Article 29 of the Baltimore County Code.
- Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program (MWBE)
- Works to increase and promote minority and women-owned business participation throughout County procured agreements (contract and grant agreements).
- Reviews solicitations valued at $25,000 or higher to establish goals for the participation of MBEs and WBEs.
- Completes compliance monitoring of procured agreements that have goals established to ensure fair and equitable representation of MBEs and WBEs that participate in awarded, procured agreements.
- Title VI Compliance—Established and manages a centralized business process to provide oversight of Title VI compliance as it is outlined in the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s federal provisions.
Annual Reports
Read the Division’s annual reports, where baseline data is shared for key performance indicators that will be tracked in future reports.
More Information
Since the County’s DEI operation was established in 2019, it has grown to a staff of 12, who now manage a budget of over $1 million. In 2023, the DEI operation was designated by County law as a Division within the Office of Human Resources.