Neda Moussapour immigrated to the United States from Iran when she was five years old. Though she hasn’t been able to go back since elementary school, her identity as an Iranian has remained the most integral part of her life and has tremendously shaped the person that she is today. Being an immigrant, Neda sometimes feels as though she lives her life in two worlds. Growing up, she struggled navigating between these worlds and tried her hardest to keep them separated. It was not until college that she learned how to confront the barriers she put up throughout her whole life, but she feels incredibly grateful that she did because they continue to drive her passions and purpose. Neda speaks English as her second language and while she is still sometimes unable to nail down English expressions, the process of becoming multilingual and challenging her brain to process her thoughts in three different languages (and counting) has unlocked new worlds for her to explore and people to connect with. Neda grew up as a translator for her family and as such, her responsibilities as a child were abundant and different than her peers. She is fascinated by the power of languages but also aware of how alienating and frustrating it can be to not be able to communicate in an unfamiliar environment and feel as though your worlds don’t connect. Because of this, Neda is deeply committed to advocating for multilingual individuals and immigrants in the healthcare community — a passion that brought her to Change Matrix (CM).
What drew you to CM?
When I interviewed for Change Matrix, I had a lovely time speaking to a few of my colleagues. I felt as though the conversations we had were genuine and comfortable. While I was nervous, I was reassured by how much my goals and passions align with the work that Change Matrix does as well as the people who work here. As I mentioned above, I am committed to better understanding how to mitigate inequalities that exist in the healthcare system. In talking to others, I found that many held similar goals, which was incredibly encouraging to hear.
What is your role at CM?
At Change Matrix, I am a Project Associate for Expanding the Bench. I research and curate resources from the evaluation field, coordinate the Advisory Team, work on the Fundraising and Field Building Team, and assist with some administrative tasks. I just recently joined the Colorado Equity Compass and I’m looking forward to exploring what roles I will have there!
Which project or assignment are you most excited about?
I am really excited to dive deeper into my work with the Colorado Equity Compass. My background primarily resides in science research, which is a field that is typically less concerned with community engagement. I strongly value the power of one’s lived experience and look forward to learning more about how we can utilize data and stories collectively and in unison to better understand inequalities in communities.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside of work, I really enjoy listening to music. I’m kind of all over the place when it comes to genres but I make an effort to consume media in whatever language I’m practicing. For the past couple of years, I’ve listened to a lot of Latin pop and reggaeton. I also love to workout and play rugby, which I played in college. I’m a huge football (soccer) fan and will impulsively buy match tickets any chance I get.
