The Baltimore Field Office of HUD joined Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., event sponsor, the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the Maryland Commission on Human Relations to present "Fostering Secure and Diverse Communities." The event, held at Chesapeake College in Wye, Maryland on the state's eastern shore, celebrated the 37th Anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act. The celebration took place in the Humanities Building's auditorium on Friday, April 8, 2005 from 8:30am to 2:30pm and was attended by over 100 service providers, non-profit organizations, banks, community people and housing advocates.

HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Carolyn Y. Peoples gave the keynote address and was presented to the audience by Wanda Nieves, FHEO Region III Director. Ms. Peoples expressed her congratulations for the cooperation exhibited between diverse agencies of the state, including Hispanic organization representation, and the Baltimore Field Office of HUD to promote fair housing to the people of Maryland's eastern shore communities.

Two panels were held. Moderated by Rodney Camphor, Program Branch Chief of Baltimore HUD, the Fair Housing workshop panelists included Debra McGhee, Enforcement Branch Chief, HUD, Charles Blue of the Maryland Commission on Human Relations, Henry Ford, Executive Director for the Maryland Commission on Human Relations and James Black, Director, FHEO DC Field Office. The second panel, moderated by J.C. Shay, Operations Specialist, was on Homeownership. Panelists included: Lorraine Richardson, Operations Specialist, HUD, Stacey Slacum, Rural Housing Specialist at USDA and Reggie Stanfield, Mortgage Administrator with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Greetings were brought by James S. Kelly, Field Office Director; Laverne Brooks, Director, Baltimore Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Center, Joe Coffey, Executive Director of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., Dr. Stuart M. Bounds, President of Chesapeake College and Marlene B. Elliott, State Director, USDA Rural Development. Hector Torres, Executive Director of the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs was Master of Ceremonies. Vonzell Cummings, FHEO staff member, was the event coordinator who worked diligently to ensure every detail.

Hector Torres, Director, Governor's Office on Hispanic Affairs, and Carmen Pratt, Executive Director, Governor's Commissions received the Fair Housing Awards for their outstanding efforts to promote fair housing and for fostering secure and diverse communities in Maryland.

The event was free and open to the general public and lunch was provided. During the luncheon, Keith Merkey, Training Specialist with the Maryland Commission on Human Relations made a presentation on "Appreciating Cultural Diversity."