{"id":13807,"date":"2026-06-16T12:13:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T16:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dhcd\/?p=13807"},"modified":"2026-06-16T12:14:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T16:14:44","slug":"one-year-of-just-communities-the-data-driven-tools-and-people-centered-strategies-guiding-dhcds-work-of-repair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dhcd\/2026\/06\/16\/one-year-of-just-communities-the-data-driven-tools-and-people-centered-strategies-guiding-dhcds-work-of-repair\/","title":{"rendered":"One Year of Just Communities: The Data-Driven Tools and People-Centered Strategies Guiding DHCD\u2019s Work of Repair"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Just<\/p>\n

Nearly <\/span>one year ago<\/span><\/a>, before a congregation of 200 gathered at Bethel AME Church in Cambridge, Governor Wes Moore signed the designations of 419 census tracts across Maryland as Just Communities. This historic moment was a critical component of the Governor\u2019s work of repair \u2013 the State\u2019s effort to drive equitable growth in historically disinvested communities and ensure that every town, city and neighborhood in Maryland has the opportunity to thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, this work is led by the <\/span>Division of Just Communities<\/span><\/a> (DJC). Under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Cat Goughnour, the Division of Just Communities is responsible for executing the goals of the 2024 <\/span>Just Communities Act<\/span><\/a>, which authorizes the State of Maryland to designate areas as Just Communities based on specific criteria such as a history of redlining, exclusionary zoning, or high imprisonment rates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just Communities are areas identified through data and history where Maryland is intentionally directing investment to repair past harms, reduce disparities, and create equitable opportunities for residents. Through state reinvestment, the Department seeks to transform historically disinvested communities into places<\/span> that advance equity and civil rights, uplift underserved communities, and right the wrongs of the past, creating healthier, more resilient communities that contribute to the overall social and economic well-being of the state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the new framework provided by the Just Communities Act, the Department has been working to target its resources to expand the impact of state dollars on the ground, ensuring that our investments and engagement create equitable racial, economic, and health outcomes for all of Maryland\u2019s people and places.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the last year, DJC has been busy deploying new tools, resources, and guidance for stakeholders and partners to effectively implement the Just Communities framework in their communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In January 2026, the Department <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> the Division of Just Communities was selected for the Public Finance Initiative\u2019s <\/span>Rural and Small Cities Program<\/span><\/a>. As part of the program, DJC and PFI co-designed and hosted a two-day Just Communities capacity-building workshop to support the Department\u2019s <\/span>People-Centered Placemaking<\/span><\/a> efforts, equipping participants with tools to advance equitable development and community-driven revitalization. The March workshop drew over 40 attendees from across the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

In June 2026, we launched the Just Communities People-Centered Placemaking Toolkit, including the <\/span>Community Investment StoryMap<\/span><\/a>, a new tool to guide Just Communities partner involvement and investment, including guidance for adapting approaches to unique local needs, cultures, and context. The toolkit also includes an expansion to the <\/span>Just Communities Designation Map Viewer<\/span><\/a>, adding a report generation function and supplemental data analysis from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and the Community Reinvestment Act.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is just a snapshot of the work that Assistant Secretary Cat Goughnour and her team have been doing in partnership with stakeholders, community members and State of Maryland sister agencies \u2013 such as the Department of Environment, the <\/span>Department of Planning<\/span><\/a> and the Governor\u2019s Office of Children \u2013 to right the wrongs of the past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last year, eligible programs through the Department\u2019s offices and divisions have integrated the Just Communities framework, resulting in millions of dollars in investment flowing into designated Just Communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n