A message from the Executive Director, Marcus C. MundY:
December presents itself in many cultures and customs as a magical, mystical time of year, and in practical terms we have been programmed to begin closing out the current year and ushering in the hope and promise of the new year, challenges notwithstanding. December 2025 is both the same pattern and quite an uncommonly different one.
Here at the Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC), and for almost a quarter of a century, our team has provided our region—through focus, grit, partnership, and mission—a magical, mystical alchemy that has made Oregon better for each and every Oregonian.
In just the last year, we have seen the fruits of our advocacy and voter education play out in the evolution and growth of our new City of Portland government; we have continued to develop and dominate culturally specific research and community data in our state through several of our endeavors—not least of which is the Modernized Anti-Racist Data Ecosystem (MADE) for Health Justice project that is entering its third year; we have led numerous sustainability and environmental justice efforts helping to better Oregon and Oregonians through cleaner water and air, more equitable regulations, and more accountable utility entities; and we have grown, adding incredible new members from their own storied organizations: Centro Cultural de Washington County and the Greater Middle East Center at IRCO. There is power in numbers, and ours just grew exponentially.
Above all, we have adhered to our north star, which is our mission of addressing the socioeconomic disparities, institutional racism, and inequity of services experienced by our families, children, and communities, and to organize our communities for collective action resulting in social change to obtain self-determination, wellness, justice, and prosperity.
My mom always told me to “be a today man, not a tomorrow man.” It was a simple phrase, but one that has stuck with me over decades.
My mom never finished college, she never quoted Shakespeare to me (although my dad loved to say his favorite quote from the Bard—“Out, damned spot!”—whenever he could work it into a conversation), she couldn’t help me with my calculus homework, but she was as wise and determined and committed a woman as I have ever been lucky enough to be around; and she always reminded me that if I had the ability to do something right, if I had the capacity to work on something timely, if there was no earthly reason for me to put off completing a job, then I had the responsibility to do so in real time.
CCC’s mission calls on us to do more than bring our technical skills, focus, and partnerships to our communities. It requires us to be a part of the righteous resistance that battles the rising climate of fear, xenophobia, racism, and other ill-advised policies and proclivities we see emerging from the current administration. And here at home, we must also battle the local jurisdictions that—through fear, apathy, or complicity—choose to capitulate to those pressures being directed toward Oregon. And we must fight these fights in real time.
So, as you consider where to spend your time and treasure over the end of this year and the beginning of the next, please remember that the CCC has been working alongside our communities over decades, that the fight continues, and that we need every single Oregonian to support our efforts if we are to progress. Do not retreat. We are making strides, or they wouldn’t be so strident and desperate in their attempts to impede us and community members like you.
These are challenging moments. These are not impossible moments.We must elect, we must mobilize, we must donate, we must strategize, and we must come together. We have the tools, the resources— all the fortitude we need—when we work together.
Their 15 minutes of fame are up. It is now that we reclaim our time.
Have a safe and prosperous December, and join us in January for the Coalition of Communities of Color’s next world-changing endeavor, and early and often in calendar year 2026 as we celebrate 25 years of delivering for Oregon.
Growing our Coalition and Impact
We’re thrilled to announce the addition of two new members to our coalition: Centro Cultural de Washington County and IRCO Greater Middle East Center! Both based in Washington County, these organizations work to remove barriers and provide essential support to Latino/a/e and individuals from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region living in Oregon. Keep an eye out for a message in January where we'll further highlight our shared commitment and impact.
We’re also excited to welcome Tara Liu (they/them) as our new Data Systems Administrator! Tara holds a master’s in computer science and a bachelor’s in urban planning. They were born in Beijing, China, and recently moved to Portland from Atlanta, Georgia. In this new role at CCC, Tara will help strengthen our technical capacity in quantitative research and support taking our data work to the next level.
Energy Resource Fair
Winter shouldn’t be dangerous but for many in Oregon, it can be. Our Environmental Justice team has been working hard to make sure no one is left in the cold, advocating for stronger protections, more resources, and better support during extreme weather. In November, we gathered community partners and neighbors for an energy assistance fair in NE Portland, offering resources, information, and connection to help everyone get through the season safely.
Thank you to Energy Trust of Oregon, Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Community Energy Project, Portland Water Bureau, and Northwest Natural for supporting our event!
Interested in learning more about Energy Justice? Download our free report for a deeper dive on our energy work and learn how you can get involved.
A Warm Community Welcome
Last month, our community gathered to welcome Dr. Shereef Elnahal in his new role as president of OHSU. Dr. Elnahal brings a distinguished record of service and leadership, including his recent appointment by President Biden as Under Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
We appreciated the opportunity to meet with Dr. Elnahal and the thoughtful questions he engaged with during our time together. We look forward to partnering with him and his team as we continue working to advance health equity for communities of color and others disproportionately affected by inequitable health systems.
New Article Alert: Community Data is Trusted Evidence
In research, understanding how and why something happens is just as important as knowing what the issue is. Still, many institutions tend to prioritize numbers and overlook the insight that comes from people’s lived experiences.
CCC’s Dr. Andres Lopez and Dr. Mira Mohsini of our Research Justice Institute recently published an article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review highlighting their work to bring more meaningful qualitative research into dominant quantitative datasets and the way it deepens our knowledge and creates meaningful, actionable solutions.
Power in CommUNITY: Support Community-led Racial Justice Work.
Through community-rooted climate solutions, culturally responsive and equity-driven research, and the cross-cultural movement power of our 20 member organizations, we work to transform systems so they truly serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color across Oregon.
And at the core of our work are the people and organizations who stand with us. Small acts make a difference but when we unite, our power multiplies and we create real change. We are grateful for the community we have built and we’d be honored to have your support us in this important work.