Ray is the son of a Rwandese mother and an American father from Long Beach, California. He spent most of his formative years in eastern and southern Africa, came to Portland, Oregon in 2013 for college and has remained ever since. Having grown up in diverse communities as a result of the international schools he attended, Ray found a passion for student activism in college which informed his later career choices.
The majority of his adult and professional life have been spent as administrative support for city and federal government. Ray interned at both the City of Portland’s Office of Equity and Human rights and the City of Portland’s Office of the Mayor, supporting efforts to bring awareness to issues like juvenile incarceration and its disproportionate impact on the black community. This inspired a transition into government where Ray worked as a Staff Assistant/Constituent Services Representative for Mayor Charlie Hales and then Congresswoman Bonamici (OR-01), where he developed an intricate perspective into what matters most to Oregonians.
With a passion for community, Ray enjoys Portland for its vibrant music and food scene. Always open to try new things, on the weekends you can find him at a live show or cooking/BBQing with friends and family. As someone who grew up in a warmer climate and close to the coast, you can find him floating on the Clackamas river in the summer and by a fire in the winter.
Ray joined Seeding Justice in June 2023.