The Coalition of Communities of Color’s (CCC) Researcher and founder of the CCC’s Research Justice Center, Dr. Shweta Moorthy, will be leaving the CCC to return to her adopted home of Chicago, IL.
Dr. Shweta Moorthy speaking at the “Leading with Race” press event.
In every life some rain must fall, but it is monsoon season here at the Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC). Our longtime (and first full time) Researcher and founder of the CCC’s Research Justice Center, Dr. Shweta Moorthy, will be leaving the CCC to return to her adopted home of Chicago, IL, rejoining her chosen family as well as the dog who chose her.
Please join me in thanking Shweta for her crucial work during her time here, and her avid and relentless adherence to the principles of racial equity, research justice and intellectual collegiality with all of those whom she encountered on her foray into the Pacific Northwest.
Shweta has been part of the bedrock of CCC’s work since March 2016, laying an incredible foundation for CCC’s research justice program and establishing communities of color as leaders in this necessary and specific work. Many of you have become familiar with her CCC opus, “Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County”, but Shweta has been the fierce force behind many other important research projects in our region such as Portland United Against Hate—reporthatepdx.com and capacity building initiatives such as the Research Justice Fellowship in Washington County.
She has been instrumental in helping to transform the conversation around the necessity to lead with race, and has used pointed, community focused tools, data, and analysis to drive the legislative and policy discussions in which we are all immersed.
Though I have worked with Shweta more briefly than my predecessors, I have gained a wealth of knowledge about how to become a better arbiter of my own and my community’s experience, and I am a better person and leader for it. I would expect that most if not all of those Shweta has touched with her learned compassion over these years have similar tales of expanded perspective and appreciation for a new, justice driven approach to view the world.
While it is true enough that we will miss Shweta’s research expertise, her leadership, and her indefatigable dedication to battling for the right thing, we are confident that her next move will propel her to even loftier heights as an advocate for racial justice, and we’re excited to see what she’ll do next. Her last official day at CCC will be November 4. Please join us this Friday, November 1 at Cully Central (4579 NE Cully Blvd., Portland, OR 97218) from 5PM-7PM to bid her well, and farewell.
CCC’s bittersweet search for a new Research Director begins now, so please see our website for the job description and share copiously with your networks.
In the interim, if you have any questions or need assistance on projects for which Shweta was the lead, please contact me directly, or other CCC staff.
Marcus C. Mundy
Executive Director
Coalition of Communities of Color