Coty Raven Morris is an assistant professor of choir, music education and social justice at Portland State. When the fall term began three weeks ago, Morris had exciting news she wanted to share with her students before choir rehearsal began. For a second year in a row, Morris had been nominated as a semifinalist for a GRAMMY Music Educator Award, chosen from a pool of more than 2,400 nominees. The winner will be announced during the GRAMMY Awards ceremony in January. 

Morris is also the founder of Being Human Together which builds connections between youth, educators and people from marginalized communities, including those who are unhoused, through conversations and choir performances. She joins us to talk about the impact the organization is having, and how her experience in a high school choir carved a path of opportunity out of childhood adversity.