Dr. Brittany 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 process model that redistributes power and is accountable to the inherent leadership of impacted community members at every step of the research process.

Using human-centered design to move from equity-based language to equity-based actions.

  • Book

  • Coaching

  • Speaking

  • Research

“When someone says there is
only one way,
I challenge you to show them 10.”

About Dr. Lewis

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.

Dr. Lewis has authored numerous 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. Her research has been used to catalyze action in myriad ways, including but not limited to: 

  • in the 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, Minnesota to remove a harmful self pay policy at homeless shelters

  • at the City of Minneapolis to guide the creation of a tenant protection ordinance

Author and Scholar 

Drawing on her work as a community researcher and nonprofit consultant, Dr. Lewis developed the Equity in Action (EIA) model as a framework for closing the gaps between communities, researchers, and institutions. In Building a New Table, Dr. Lewis guides readers through the steps of EIA: assessing the landscape, building the community action council, co-developing a research approach, data collection, community review, and identifying solutions.

Racial Justice Trainer and Capacity Building Coach

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. 

Leadership, Collaboration and Research Speaker

Dr. Lewis is also a sought after thought partner, leader and speaker. 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.