BALTIMORE, MD. (Thursday, September 28, 2023) - The City of Baltimore has been accepted as part of a cohort of over 30 cities around the world that will receive $50k grants from The Carter Center. The purpose of the grants is to increase access to public information for women as a part of the Inform Women, Transform Lives program. This is a global campaign that works to support participating cities’ ability to expand women’s access to essential municipal services, using information as a bridge. Ultimately, the campaign seeks to improve the lives of individual women, their families, and their communities through increased access to information and critical services and to assist partner cities in advancing effective and innovative municipal service delivery. Participation in the program includes peer learning and mentorship with other cohort cities and strategic planning with the Carter Center’s civic program experts. 

The Office of Equity and Civil Rights will manage the grant, with the support of the Baltimore City Women’s Commission.  The Commission was recently relaunched by Mayor Scott after several years of dormancy. The Commission held its first meeting in June 2023. 

The grant is the first ever received by the Baltimore City Women’s Commission.  And this is the City’s first partnership with the Carter Center, a non-governmental organization founded by President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health outcomes on a global scale. 

“We are thrilled that the Women’s Commission has hit the ground running and is already bringing vital resources to Baltimore communities within the first few months of its relaunch,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “This partnership with the Carter Center will only further strengthen Baltimore’s commitment to equity and bring new opportunities to our great City.”

“Women are a critical part of the equity landscape in Baltimore,” said Chief Equity Officer and the Director of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights, Dana Petersen Moore. “We know that increasing access to services for women has a transformative impact on families and communities throughout Baltimore, and we’re looking forward to being a driver for that level of positive impact.” 

Planning for the grant funding will begin soon as a collaborative process with the Women’s Commissioners, City agencies, and the Carter Center.

The commission will involve the following:

Brandon Scott, Mayor
Danielle McCray, City Council District 2
Sharon Green Middleton, City Council District 6 
Phylicia Porter, City Council District 10
Odette Ramos, City Council District 14
Faith Leach, Deputy Mayor
Dana Petersen Moore, Chief Equity Officer & Director of Office of Equity & Civil Rights
Caylin Young, Deputy Director, Office of Equity and Civil Rights
Jill Muth, Women’s Commission Manager
Miriam Carrion, Women’s Commission member
Tevis Simon, Women’s Commission member
Ciarra Miles, Women’s Commission member
Ella Smothers, Women’s Commission member
Kionne Abdul-Malik, Women’s Commission member
Rachel Marquez, Women’s Commission member
Carolyn Jewell, Women’s Commission member
Dr. Sarasi Desikan, Women’s Commission member
Robin Neverdon, Women’s Commission member
Monica Mitchell, Women’s Commission member
Gab Sussman, Women’s Commission member
Ana Rodney, Women’s Commission member
Sara Whaley, Women’s Commission member
Candace Everett, Women’s Commission member
Casey Brent, Women’s Commission member
Kimberly Haven, Women’s Commission member
Lynda Davis, Women’s Commission member
Stephany Sulbaran, Women’s Commission member 
Yasmin Karimian, Women’s Commission member