Michele Ruffin is currently the Oregon Advocacy Manager at Forward Together. She directs the Oregon state-based program toward policy wins and effective culture shift campaigns. In 2018, Michele led Forward Together’s canvass team aimed at defeating Measure 106 by building relationships with voters of color and having long-form conversations about abortion access at the door. The measure was fiercely rejected with one of the highest voter turnouts in Oregon’s history.
Michele previously served on the board of Oregon Green Schools, working to build greater infrastructure for recycle and reuse programs in K-12 schools across Oregon. Michele got her start as a government relations intern during the 2013 legislative session and then began field organizing in Washington County for same-sex marriage and LGBTQ rights. She eventually went on to join Governor Brown’s team, managing campaign schedules, building relationships with organizational leaders and assisting policy development. Michele comes from a strong campaign organizing background in both issue advocacy and state elections, but her heart has only one mission, to build political power for queer and trans Oregonians of color and their families. Michele enjoys drive-in movies, live theatre and weekend getaways with her wife, Rachel, her dog, Xena and her parrot, Erika.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
