Message from the Executive Director - Our Duty to Remember, and to Act

“Every once in a while, somewhere in the world, humanity goes on trial. And integrity. And decency. Every once in a while, common folks get called on to give the report card for the human race. In the name of humanity, do your duty, as you must.”

- Nels Gudmundsson, “Snow Falling on Cedars”

This fictional quote reflects an attorney beseeching a jury of his community members to perform their civic duty for a man of color who lived through the dual atrocities of war and internment.  He implores them to see his client as human.  A relatively low bar, but today’s date requires me to start with the basics.

We are at a turning point as Americans. Or not.

A year ago today, the life of a Black man was extinguished by pure malevolence, indifference to his suffering, and a fractured system of justice.

In the year since, a bit of humanity went on trial and curiously, almost unexpectedly, a bit of justice prevailed and the man who, endowed with the power of state violence authored George Floyd’s demise was himself removed from society for the foreseeable future.

Today is neither a celebration nor even a time of solemn remembrance. Today marks the 365th consecutive day that this incessant cycle of police brutality (particularly to Black men), qualified immunity, inadequate training, the prison-industrial complex, impotent policymakers, and powerful protectionist police unions continues to enable the unrelenting churn of violence visited upon people of color, under the color of law, day after day.

Today is a reminder of the scores of Black folks killed by police even after the hue and cry of society, the marches, policy changes and new laws, the editorials, the news stories, the statistics, and the promises made since George Floyd’s death. 

Today let us acknowledge that one conviction, one Senate election, one Black president, one Black Asian vice president are steps. But none of these are remedies for the systemic, intentional and transparent changes that must occur for integrity and decency and, yes, our very humanity to prevail.

Today is a marker for all of the hard work done over the past year, especially under the leadership of Black communities, and the hard work yet to come. Today all of us in society are required to do our duty to institute these changes and see them through, as we must.

So today, again, we must mourn George Floyd. We must personalize his loss, and the untold losses of community members who will never be counted. And we must collectively resolve to bury the platitudes and denials and do our duty to make change.

We’re Hiring: Climate & Health Coordinator

We’re hiring a Climate & Health Coordinator

CCC is hiring for a new position in our environmental justice program. We're seeking candidates who share our values and commitment to advancing environmental justice and health equity through coalition-building, partnerships, and community engagement. Download the full job description HERE.

The Climate & Health Coordinator will build on our existing advocacy around to create inclusive and representative governments. This role will focus on building campaigns and a broad based coalition to seek meaningful community input on local government issues, develop policies that create the conditions for equitable government, advance these issues in appropriate forums, and ultimately build a campaign to promote and win these policies at the ballot, especially around local government reform.

Applications are due Tuesday, May 17 , 2022. You can see the full job announcement here or download the full PDF job description.

---

---

In Solidarity with the Asian Community

Photo Credit: Tom Secor

---

Message from the Executive Director

We at the Coalition of Communities of Color would like to take this moment to remind our community that this country ought to be for all of us. CCC also wishes to remind our Asian families, members, friends, and colleagues that we are with you in this fight against the white supremacy that has always been a part of the United States and continues to deeply harm our community.

The recent, and predictable, spate of hate crimes targeting the Asian American and Asian immigrant community in the United States, and here in Portland, is both reprehensible and contrary to our deepest values of justice. And we must stop this hate.

The horrors and death visited upon the six Asian women in Georgia recently is only the latest in an ever increasing string of such atrocities. Such acts are predictable when one considers the harmful, hateful rhetoric spread by white supremacists and engrained systems of misogyny.

CCC is an alliance of 19 culturally specific, community-based organizations with representation from the following communities of color: African, African American, Asian, Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Slavic. We join together to support a collective racial justice effort to create conditions where all communities can thrive, free of fear and without hate or discrimination.

CCC was begun through the leadership of its founders, including those from the Asian, Asian American, and immigrant community. Our Asian and immigrant-representing members are integral to any success we have had as an organization. And our future success hinges upon our continued collaborations, as Oregonians, for the greater good. This past year has shown us more than ever about the importance of solidarity and fighting racism. CCC has long recognized the importance of deep and nuanced conversations about how white supremacy oppresses communities of color, that this oppression manifests itself in different ways across and within BIPOC communities, and how we must work together to dismantle it in all its forms. 

This pandemic of racism will not end in May, or 2021, because there is no vaccine that can be produced to quash its pernicious effects, and it certainly will not end by BIPOC communities taking on this burden of fighting their oppression alone. This is work that has to be done by all of us, now and for the rest of our lives. We need everyone to commit to this work and speak out against hate. 

As long as our communities face racism, we are here for our Asian friends, neighbors, and families, and urge all of our members, community members, and leaders to take action to support those who are impacted during this time of acute pain and beyond. We ask that you look to our member organization APANO’s response to the Atlanta shootings and the resources they have shared, as well as the open letter organized by the Pacific Islander and Asian Family Center of IRCO, now with hundreds of signatories.

CCC urges you to act, either through one of the many organizations, links, and useful vehicles listed below, or on your own, in your community, with people you know.  For it is only through your deliberate, intentional actions as individuals that we can begin to make the long lasting change this country so desperately needs, and that communities under siege, like our Asian, Asian American, and immigrant communities, our brothers and sisters, both deserve and crave.

Please help break the cycle.  Please support our Asian family. Please join us in this collective effort.

In Solidarity,

Marcus C. Mundy, Executive Director

Coalition of Communities of Color

---

Resources

Please see the following resources for Asian communities and allies. Thank you to Coi Vu and IRCO for collecting these resources.

Sources to report a hate incident/crime in addition to calling law enforcement:

• In Portland: Portland United Against Hate

• Statewide: Oregon Department of Justice

• Nationally: Stop AAPI Hate

• Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) 

Mental Health/Social Support Resources:

• Asian Health & Services Center’s mental health support 

• Portland Racial Equity Lines for Life 

• IRCO’s Pacific Islander and Asian Family Center (PIAFC) 

• APANO 

• Asian Mental Health Collective 

• Mental Health America 

Webinars/Conversations/Resources:

• #StopAsianHate toolkit

• APANO and PUAH: Resilience to Hate Resource Guide 

• National Council on Asian AmericansNational Council on Asian Americans Break the Cycle: A Conversation About the Rise of Anti-APIA Racist Violence 

• Asian American Advancing Justice trainings on How to Respond to Harassment for People Experiencing Anti-Asian/American Harassment and more 

• Stop AAPI Hate: Safety Tips for Those Experiencing or Witnessing Hate 

• Hollaback' s Guide to Bystander Interventions 

• White Sexual Imperialism: A Theory of Asian Feminist Jurisprudence (wlu.edu) 

• Coalition of Asian American Leaders To our Non-Asian Allies

---

In Remembrance

Learn Our Names

Photo Credit: Tom Secor

Thank You & Farewell to See Eun Kim

At the end of January, the Coalition of Communities of Color said thank you and farewell to our Leadership Development and Training Director, See Eun Kim, as she moves on to an exciting position as the Director of Executive Appointments at the Governor’s Office.

When CCC first initiated the Bridges Leadership Program in 2011, the goal was to advance racial equity in Oregon through a stronger pipeline of leaders of color with more development opportunities, a denser network of connections linking leaders of color to each other, and ultimately the dismantling of structural racism. As CCC has continued to strive toward this goal, we have made immeasurable progress, with over 500 alumni who are leading and driving systems change at the local and state level.

"During her time at CCC, See Eun laid the groundwork to launch the Bridges program into its second decade. We are thrilled that she will be continuing her work in bringing new leaders to state boards and commissions, and building equitable systems to support these leaders," said CCC Executive Director Marcus Mundy. "See Eun has been an asset to the Coalition and we thank her for her many contributions within CCC and to our member organizations."

“I am grateful for the relationships that were built, and I appreciate the good work we got to do in elevating BIPOC communities and issues that affect us all. During a time when we faced unprecedented challenges in our state and nation, I witnessed the resiliency of our communities and the power of unity. While at CCC I dedicated myself to ensure that the voices of underrepresented communities were heard, valued, and interwoven into the decision-making process,” See Eun reflects.

“In my next role as the Director of Executive Appointments at the Governor’s Office, I am eager to bring this same commitment to advancing racial equity. My first day will be on February 9th, 2021. I look forward to being in touch and partnering with you to create a more representative and equitable Oregon.”

Thank you again See Eun—we are so excited to work with you in your new role.

Community Organizations Call for Mark Shull's Resignation

Community Letter Calling for Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull’s Resignation

 January 27, 2021

We, the undersigned organizations, unequivocally condemn Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull’s statements concerning Muslims, Black people, immigrants and refugees, transgender individuals, and others, and demand his immediate resignation. Since these comments have come to light, Shull has reinforced his previous hateful and degrading statements, undermined his purported attempts at apology toward the Muslim community, and remained silent on his hateful statements targeting trans individuals.

Shull’s previous statements were so deeply problematic that they alone rendered Shull unfit to serve as a commissioner. And since these statements have come to light, Shull has repeatedly demonstrated that he maintains these views through public statements and to his constituents, and at his core remains unapologetic.

At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Shull continued his tirade against Muslims and unabashedly repeated hateful and Islamophobic lies. He has been silent on the hateful comments toward the trans community that denied their basic dignity. He has failed to account for his degrading comments toward other marginalized groups. And at the very press conference where he claimed to apologize, he stated that “All lives matter,” a fundamental refutation that Black lives do indeed matter. 

Dozens of organizations, community leaders, and elected officials from across the political spectrum—including all of his fellow County Commissioners—have done the right thing and rejected hate by calling for his resignation, as have thousands of community members. 

For the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of thousands of Clackamas County residents, there is no time to go through any further attempts at reconciliation or apologies. Shull is a sitting commissioner who will regularly vote on ordinances and policies that impact the communities he has repeatedly dehumanized. Shull is not entitled to this seat and is completely unfit to serve, and if his wishes are for genuine reconciliation, he must resign to prevent additional harm.

Shull is absolutely unfit to serve in office and must resign immediately. We call upon all members of our community to be in solidarity and join us in this demand.

Oregon Food Bank

Oregon Futures Lab

Oregon League of Conservation Voters

Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Oregon Working Families Party

Our Oregon

PCUN

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

Portland Business Alliance

Peace & Social Concerns Committee of the Multnomah Friends Meeting (Quaker)

Self Enhancement, Inc.

SEIU Local 49

Stand.earth

UFCW Local 555

Unite Oregon

Urban League of Portland

Verde

List of Signatories:

Africa House

APANO

Asian Family Center

Basic Rights Oregon

Coalition of Communities of Color

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Forward Together

Hacienda CDC

Human Access Project

Imagine Black

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)

KairosPDX

Latino Network

NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon

Native American Youth and Family Center

New Oregon Movement

Next Up & Next Up Action Fund

Oregon Education Association

If you would like to add your organization to this letter, please complete this form.

Announcing Our 2021 Legislative Agenda

The 2021 legislative session has just begun, and the Coalition of Communities of Color is proud to release our priority legislative agenda. Every session, CCC engages throughout the legislative process to pass bills that increase opportunity and advance racial justice for communities of color.

As we continue respond to the pandemic, we also are looking to systemic change that will create a more equitable future for all. Our agenda is made up of legislation identified by our members, who work directly with communities to build solutions that will enable Black, Indigenous, and other Oregonians of color to thrive.

Our 2021 Priority Legislation

• Supporting Families

• Community Safety

• Economic Justice

• Strengthening Democracy

• Immigrant and Refugee Justice

• Environmental Justice

We'll also be building on our work around education justice, health equity, and more. Learn more about specific legislative items on our website here, and you can also download a PDF of our agenda. We'll be adding updates and more information as the legislative session advances, as well as opportunities for community members to get involved.

Learn more about CCC’s endorsement process and what it means here. The positions on our agenda represent only the position of CCC as a coalition and not individual members. Please contact CCC's Advocacy Director, Elona Wilson, at elona@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org with questions.

CCC Statement: Call for the Resignation of Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull

The Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) addresses the socioeconomic disparities, institutional racism and inequity of services experienced by our families, children and communities. Our member organizations organize our communities for collective action resulting in social change to obtain self-determination, wellness, justice, and prosperity. We do this throughout Oregon, including Clackamas County, where many we serve live, work, worship, and raise their families.

The recent abhorrent, unconscionable, and dehumanizing comments that have come to light from the social media accounts of recently-elected Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull, comments which revealed his untrammeled opinions on Muslim residents and others in his county, are incompatible with the high integrity, leadership, and public service required of an elected official, along with being incompatible with basic human decency.

As such, CCC unequivocally condemns his statements concerning Muslims, Black people, immigrants and refugees, transgender folks, and others, in the strongest possible terms. We wish to add our full-throated opposition to his continued presence as a Clackamas County Commissioner to the scores of legislators, organizations and residents who have already done so. We demand Commissioner Shull submit his resignation immediately.  The residents of Clackamas County deserve a commissioner advocating for all residents without fear or favor.  

To their credit—and as a stark reminder to Mr. Shull of how misplaced his perspectives on our Muslim community are—CCC member organization the Muslim Educational Trust, along with a group of our local Muslim and other faith organizations has demonstrated extraordinary generosity and reached out to Mr. Shull to invite him into conversation at one of their mosques to learn about Islam and our Muslim community members.

As recent state and national events have made clear, there is no place for racism and xenophobia—and the violent attacks on community members and on our democracy that they fuel—in the shared space we call the United States, particularly when those ideas are fueled by ignorance rather than understanding, and certainly not when those ideas are nestled in the heart and mind of an elected official representing and making decisions for the wellbeing of tens of thousands of Clackamas County residents. 

After considering all of these factors, CCC believes this final, simple fact:

Mark Shull is absolutely unfit to serve in office and must resign immediately. We call upon all members of our community to be in solidarity and join us in this demand.

—

Africa House

Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)

Asian Family Center

Coalition of Communities of Color

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)

Latino Network

Unite Oregon

Verde