Mayor Rawlings-Blake Names New Director of Civil Rights and Wage Enforcement

Kisha Brown to lead City efforts to eliminate discrimination and protect individual civil rights

BALTIMORE, Md. (February 3, 2015)—Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced the appointment of Kisha Brown, Esq. as the director of the Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and Wage Enforcement—the office responsible for working to eliminate discrimination and protect individuals’ civil rights.

“Kisha Brown is a seasoned legal mind who understands that combating discrimination is key to my administration’s goal of growing Baltimore,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “Her vast experience with businesses and agencies across the state will be instrumental as we continue to eliminate discrimination and protect civil rights in Baltimore City.”

As director, Brown will also oversee the three distinct commissions that operate under the Office of Civil Rights and Wage Enforcement: the Community Relations Commission, the Wage Commission, and the Civilian Review Board.

The Community Relations Commission is the City's official fair employment practice, human rights, and intergroup relations agency. The commission is responsible for monitoring employment, public accommodation, housing, education, and health and welfare services to combat unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or marital status.

The Wage Commission was established by city ordinance to enforce provisions of city wage law and to establish prevailing and living wages for employees of contractors doing business with the City.

The Civilian Review Board is a permanent, independent agency that is authorized to process complaints lodged by members of the public who allege abusive language, harassment, or excessive force by members of the Baltimore Police Department. The Civilian Review Board may also review police department policies and make the recommendations to the commissioner.

“I am honored to lead the Civil Rights and Wage Enforcement office,” said Kisha Brown “Our work of ensuring that the rights of everyday Baltimoreans are respected and protected is absolutely critical as we look to grow the city.”

Brown joins the City after serving as director of legislative affairs and director of civil rights in the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, where she led a legislative team to address statewide public safety, as well as environmental and consumer protection issues. Prior to her time in the attorney general’s office, Brown served as director of government relations for the Greater Baltimore Committee, where she developed strategies to advance a varied legislative and policy agenda. Brown also provided legal representation to low-income non-custodial parents as an attorney with Maryland Legal Aid (Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.).

A devoted community advocate, Brown currently serves on the boards for Coppin State University Foundation, Job Opportunities Task Force, Vehicles for Change, KIPP Baltimore, the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, and the Maryland Center for School Safety Commission.

Brown graduated cum laude from Wellesley College and received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.