Diversity champion earns leadership award

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The City Hall Atrium was a center for celebration last week as City of Portland employees and visitors gathered for the 2026 Betsy Ames Leadership Award ceremony.

Established in 2019, the annual award honors the memory of Betsy Ames, a respected City employee whose wisdom, mentorship, and diplomatic approach left an indelible mark.

This year, the honor was awarded to Judith Mowry, deputy director of the Office of Equity and Human Rights: a public servant whose multi-decade career exemplifies the very best of community-driven leadership.

Rooted in Community Activism

City Administrator Raymond Lee kicked off the morning by tracing Judith's remarkable history with the City, noting that her career is an education in Portland's modern history. Like many impactful public servants, Judith's journey began not in an office, but on the ground as a volunteer.

Following a hate crime in Sellwood where a cross was burned in front of a mixed-race couple's home, Judith stepped up to help form the Anti-Bigotry Coalition. That early desire to roll up her sleeves and protect her neighbors led her into professional mediation, and eventually, to a role at the City's Office of Neighborhood Involvement (now Civic Life).

Through the trust she built as an activist and mediator, Judith went on to lead the Restorative Listening Project, a vital initiative that opened difficult but necessary dialogues between Black and white Portlanders.

A Founding Voice for Equity

As one of the founding employees of the Office of Equity and Human Rights, Judith's influence has reached every corner of City infrastructure. From procurement and technology to community safety, her work has been centered on the philosophy of targeted universalism: creating a culture of true belonging without "othering" anyone.

Mayor Wilson, who shared remarks during the ceremony, highlighted the massive scope of Judith's day-to-day impact.

The depth of Judith's influence was mirrored in the numerous, detailed nominations submitted by her colleagues, including Ana Brophy and Elisabeth Perez, who both spoke at the event. Coworkers described Judith as a strategic force who "consistently steps into difficult spaces and helps people move forward together."

The Heart of Public Service

The ceremony also featured words from Sarah Ames, a City Attorney and Betsy Ames's sister, connecting the parallel legacies of the award's namesake and its newest recipient. Both Betsy and Judith shared a universal standard for great leadership: solving everyday challenges with fairness, acting with diplomacy, and fiercely mentoring those around them.

Congratulations, Judith, on a well-deserved honor, and thank you for making our city a more equitable place to live and work.