Tracy Brown, a longtime Maryland attorney, advocate and leader, has been hired as Open Society Institute-Baltimore’s deputy director, a new role created to help the organization continue its progress toward finding solutions to the city’s most pressing problems.
For 13 years, Brown was executive director of the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, which promotes the legal rights of women through advocacy and direct services. As its top official, Brown helped grow the nonprofit, expanding its focus into emerging areas of need, such as sex trafficking, while working collaboratively with partners to promote the center’s mission.
Before leading the Law Center, Brown worked at the Greater Baltimore Committee and as director of the Mayor’s Coordinating Council on Criminal Justice. She spent five years in the city’s State’s Attorney’s Office, as assistant State’s Attorney and director of its Domestic Violence Unit. And she established a legal advocacy program at the House of Ruth to help provide victims of domestic violence with information and support.
“Over the past 16 years, we have been fortunate to work with key community members, public officials, advocates and business leaders to change policies and practices that undercut the talent, potential and well-being of local residents,” said Diana Morris, OSI-Baltimore’s director. “This hands-on approach to philanthropy is labor intensive but gets results. We think this is the perfect time to bring in Tracy, whose leadership and strategic thinking will take full advantage of the Open Society’s local and national resources and continue to develop the partnerships and initiatives that bring about change that matters. Tracy’s success in executive positions over the years—in the government and nonprofit sectors—will help us realize OSI-Baltimore’s vision of a healthy and prosperous city of real opportunity for all.”
In addition to her work experience, Brown has shown her commitment to underserved communities by serving on many boards and commissions, such as the Moving Maryland Forward Network, and the Access to Justice Commission.
Brown holds a law degree from the University of Maryland and a B.A. in philosophy and English from University of Maryland, College Park.
