Meet Dr. Lewis
Dr. Brittany Lewis is the Founder and CEO at Research in Action, a ground-breaking social benefit corporation established in 2018 to reclaim the power of research by centering community expertise. In deep collaboration with hundreds of community members, she co-created the innovative Equity in Action model that redistributes power and is accountable to the inherent leadership of impacted community members at every step of the research process.
Equity in Action Mixed-Methods Action Research
Community-Led and Transformative Processes
A former University Professor and Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Lewis has spent more than 15 years working in partnership with local communities impacted by racial injustice to co-create new knowledge and drive policy change that makes a real difference in people’s lives. Her research has been used to catalyze action in myriad ways, including but not limited to:
in a Minnesota Supreme Court to expand rights for tenants facing evictions
at the Minnesota State Legislature to inform the human services and public safety impact agenda
at Hennepin County to remove a harmful self pay policy at homeless shelters
at the City of Minneapolis to guide the creation of a tenant protection ordinance
Authentic Leadership Speaker, Coach, and Mentor
Dr. Lewis has authored a number of policy action reports such as The Illusion of Choice: Evictions and Profit in North Minneapolis and The State of Black Women’s Economics in Minnesota. She is also the co-author with Anika Ward of the forthcoming book Audaciously Grounded, which is a toolkit for BIPOC leaders and their allies seeking to be champions for racial justice, while keeping their souls intact.
Collaboration, Capacity Building Self Awareness, and Conflict Navigation Leader
In her capacity at Research in Action, Dr. Lewis leads multiple research projects in deep collaboration with a multi-racial, gender-diverse team that models how multi-racial coalitions with Black expertise at the helm are needed to create equitable change. She is a well respected coach and trainer who supports leaders and organizations utilize the values and tools developed in the Equity in Action model to grow in their strategies, self awareness, and impact.
Racial Justice Policy and Practice Trainer
Dr. Lewis is also a sought after thought partner and leader. She is featured in the award winning documentary Jim Crow of the North and is the recipient of the Bush Foundation Fellow and the University of Minnesota Engaged Scholars Award, among many other accolades.
-
2022
Searching for Stability: Futility, Choice, and Access in the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program commissioned by the UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs and the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority
Brooklyn Center Housing Report: Livability, affordability, accessibility commissioned by the City of Brooklyn Center
Brooklyn Park Housing Report commissioned by the City of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County, and the State of Minnesota
2019
The Illusion of Choice: Evictions and Profit in North Minneapolis commissioned by the UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs and other partners
2015
The State of Black Women’s Economics in Minnesota commissioned by the UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs and the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance.
-
2019
“Evictions & Inequality in North Minneapolis: Centering Community in the Creation of Public Policy” in Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice, 3(1): 17, 1–14
The Black Freedom Struggle Further North: How Black Civic Activists and Grassroots Organizers in North Minneapolis, Minnesota Used A Local Governmental Instrument to Pursue Racial Reform from Within a White Liberal Urban Regime” in the National Political Science Review Vol 20.3
2016
“Beyond the Marches and into the Trenches: Black Women, Community Engaged Research, and Urban Community Development” in Powerlines Vol 4.1
2015
“Yearning: Black Female Academics, Everyday Black Women/Girls and The Search for a Social Justice Praxis,” In the National Political Science Review Vol. 17.1
-
2021
“Rediscovering My Purpose: The Politics of Race, Access, and Change” in Sparked: George Floyd, Racism, and the Progressive Illusion, edited by Walter, Jacobs, Wendy Thompson, and Amy August
2016
“The Black Shadow of White Sympathy: Hunger Games, Disposable Black Girlhood, and the Unspoken Politics of the National Gun Debate” in Dangerous Discourses: Feminism, Gun Violence, and Civic Life edited by Catherine Squires
2014
“At the Margins of the American Political Imagination: Black Feminist Politics and the Racial Politics of the New Democrats” in Race and Hegemonic Struggle in the United States: Pop Culture, Politics, and Protest, edited by Mary Triece and Michael Lacy
-
-
The Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Advisory Committee (Former)
The City of Minneapolis Housing Advisory Council Committee Member (Former)
The State of Minnesota Working Group on Police Deadly Force Encounters Committee Member (Former)
Minnesota Legal Rights Center, Board Member (Current)
The Minnesota Housing Partnership, Board Member (Former)
-
2021
University of Minnesota Commnuity Engaged Scholar Award
2020
Bush Foundation Fellowship award
History Makers at Home Award by the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department
Top 100+ Leading Black Women by the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce
My journey:
A series of humbling events
If you would have told me that, one day, I would be a Ph.D., researching communities as a profession, I wouldn't have believed you. As a queer Black girl who once experienced homelessness before finding security and love with a local Black family, I’ve learned a lot about life—and how I can create systemic change and strive toward a stronger tomorrow.
It all started in college. When I took urban studies and urban politics classes, I was struck to see that Black women were framed as the culprits of urban decay, time and time again. It hurt me. The people who have sustained me the most when I needed it were Black women.
I wanted to be part of telling their story—a story that exists in the margins.
I fell in love with bell hooks and Angela Davis. I fell in love with women who were, far before their time, radically asserting their identities and ideologies that disrupted the nation.
To put it simply: Black women tell you the truth that we often don't want to hear.
Work with Dr. Lewis
Hire thought leader and action researcher Dr. Lewis to speak at your event or provide individualized coaching services.
Discovery Meeting: Free, one-time consultation for a government, for-profit or non-profit partner to discuss a potential project idea.
Coaching Session: Sliding scale fee for an individual or organization looking for personal, professional or project based advise, business development, support or thought partnership.
Booking a Speaking Engagement: Free one-time consultation for an individual or organization looking to book Dr. Brittany Lewis for a speaking engagement, panel, workshop or training.
Targeted Strategy Sessions: Sliding scale fee for securing a series of 3-4 one on one’s to support strategy development and planning around a specific initiative or topic.