Overview
- The Civil Rights Division opened the investigation Wednesday to determine whether the Baltimore City Health Department discriminated or segregated employees in violation of federal law, noting no conclusions have been reached.
- DOJ cited public reports and internal materials describing separate "white caucus" and "people of color caucus" meetings, including BCHD’s definition of the white group as a space to examine "internalized white supremacy."
- Invoices show roughly $50,000 paid to the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond for "Undoing Racism" workshops from 2022 to 2024, plus $150 per white caucus meeting and more than $2,000 for food at a three-day training in November 2024.
- Internal emails indicate the white caucus met monthly beginning in 2023 and continued through at least June 2025, raising questions about how long the practice persisted.
- A People’s Institute spokeswoman defended the sessions as affinity spaces intended to improve engagement and retention, while BCHD has not answered reporters’ questions about the rationale or whether the meetings continue; DOJ said acting official Eric Sell will contact city leaders.