In the wake of Governor Moore’s veto of statewide reparations commission legislation—and his affirmation of the urgency of addressing structural racial harm through tangible action—we offer these proposals as opportunities for meaningful action now.
Across Maryland, communities are ready. In Lakeland, where our organization’s roots are strong and generational, we have witnessed both the enduring harm of policy-driven displacement and the extraordinary courage of a people determined to heal. Through decades of community-led advocacy, and in close collaboration with local government, we have translated lived experience into a clear architecture for repair—frameworks ready for action, investment, and leadership.
Rooted in deep community knowledge, we offer the following proposals as a contribution to a statewide vision for racial equity and meaningful, community-led repair.
1. Expand the Just Communities Act into a Reparative Communities Act
We celebrate the passage of the Just Communities Act in 2024, which established a framework to support communities historically impacted by segregation and disinvestment. The baseline report acknowledges the removal of over 100 of Lakeland’s 150 homes—one of the state’s clearest examples of policy-driven harm.
We propose broadening this framework into a Reparative Communities Act, which would empower communities to co-develop reparative plans. These could include special taxing districts, expanded zoning authority, targeted housing and business investment, and culturally grounded educational opportunities. Expanding the language and scope of the Act signals both continuity and evolution—and offers Maryland a powerful platform for justice-led development.
2. Strengthen Reparative Justice Oversight Through the Attorney General’s Office
In response to the call for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve, we can affirm that there is momentum building across Maryland—from College Park to Greenbelt, from Baltimore to the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission—with a growing body of diligently researched, community-affirmed recommendations. What is needed now is an assurance of follow-through.
We propose that the Attorney General’s Office be empowered with oversight and accountability for implementation of reparative recommendations across jurisdictions, ensuring that visionary reports lead to measurable repair.
3. Facilitate Synergistic Implementation Through a Statewide Commission
Finally, we encourage state leadership to reconsider the potential of a statewide Reparations Commission—not as a delay, but as a vehicle for synergy. Local commissions have made great strides, but their efforts often remain siloed. A statewide body could serve as a connective tissue: coordinating insights, sharing models, supporting under-resourced communities, and cultivating a shared map for Maryland’s journey of repair. It would also offer a clear invitation for communities who have yet to come forward to do so—expanding the circle of healing.
These recommendations are born not only from policy experience, but from proximity—from walking alongside those whose lives have been shaped by disinvestment, displacement, and erasure. We believe this is a powerful moment for Maryland to lead the nation—not only in addressing present-day disparities, but in bravely facing the histories that created them.
Joanne Braxton at Maryland Lynching Truth & Reconciliation Commission Public Hearing
Lakelander Robert Thurston speaking at Lakeland Day, 2024
About the Braxton Institute
The Braxton Institute for Sustainability, Resiliency & Joy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization rooted in healing justice, spiritual resilience, and cultural repair. We are nonpartisan and do not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office. Our work includes public education, community engagement, and strategic partnership in support of reparative justice and collective thriving.