Coalition of Communities of Color Summer Soiree Remarks

June 18, 2026

Good evening! Congratulations to the Coalition for 25 years of successful activism on behalf of Oregonians. I'm honored to celebrate with you tonight.

I love coalition work. The most transformative changes that have happened in Oregon have been possible because of strong, impactful coalition work. The Coalition of Communities of Color has been absolutely integral to the hard work to end racial disparities and lift up all communities. The Coalition's ability to coalesce and amplify the work of culturally-specific community-based organizations - through research, advocacy, and communications - has been game-changing.

As Speaker and now as Governor, I've been honored to work in concert with CCC to reduce disparities in access to health care, strengthen educational outcomes for all students, help families have more financial security, and fight for a clean energy future. That partnership has shown me what's possible when Black, Indigenous, and people of color lead and when state government listens.

One of the lessons I've learned in my years of public service is that people don't need charity - they need change. We need an economy that works for the people who make it run.

That's why I've partnered with CCC on raising the minimum wage, protecting tenants from unfair rent increases, and making sure people can afford to take family leave to support themselves and their families. We've worked on affordable housing - so families can stay in the communities they love rather than being pushed out. On tenant protections - so renters aren't exploited. On fighting climate change - because communities of color bear the heaviest burden of pollution and environmental racism. And on paid family medical leave - because workers should never have to choose between a paycheck and caring for their families.

I'd be remiss not to mention the federal threats we face. The Trump administration is targeting immigrant communities with ICE raids and deportations. They're coming after reproductive healthcare. They're attacking voting rights. These attacks disproportionately affect communities of color.

I have a clear message to those in Washington D.C. who think they can bully Oregon into abandoning our values: You've got it wrong. Oregon won't stay quiet. And we're not backing down!

I want simple things for our state. Every Oregonian should be able to afford a home. Every parent should be able to take their kid to the doctor without worrying about the bill. Every family should have access to high-quality, affordable childcare. And every older Oregonian should be able to afford to age in place - in the community they love, near friends and family.

We are building this future together - a future where working families don't just survive, they thrive. And no matter what you look like or where you were born, prosperity is a possibility for you - not a privilege for a few, but a promise for all.

Coalition of Communities of Color, thank you for 25 years of leadership. Thank you for never giving up. Thank you for making sure that people of color are not an afterthought - but are at the center of the decisions that affect our lives.