Ruby Ruby N Lewis Lewis

About Ruby Ruby N Lewis Lewis

I am a creative leader, nonprofit executive, and educator with over 20 years of experience building programs that sit at the intersection of youth development, media production, fashion, education, and social impact.I serve as Chairwoman and President of Please Don’t Die Black Men (PDDBM), where I lead organizational strategy, governance, partnerships, budgeting, and program development for a mission-driven nonprofit focused on empowering African American youth and communities. In this role, I oversee branding, marketing, digital presence, contracts, policies, and large-scale community events while working closely with a Board of Directors to ensure sustainable growth and compliance.I am also the Founder & Creative Director of Unlimited Creative Corporations (UCCP), a multimedia agency I established in 2002. Through UCCP, I direct creative production across fashion design, digital media, branding, visual storytelling, and content creation. My work spans apparel and merchandise design, multimedia production, and culturally grounded storytelling showcased through fashion shows, publications, digital platforms, and community programming.As an Afterschool Program Teacher and curriculum designer, I lead industry-aligned programs in Fashion Design, Filmmaking, Journalism, Modeling, and Acting, guiding students through full production cycles that mirror real-world creative workflows. Students develop original clothing lines, produce short films, publish a youth-led magazine, and build professional portfolios for college, scholarships, and creative careers.Across all roles, my work centers on creative direction, production coordination, curriculum development, and inclusive leadership. I am passionate about creating pathways for underrepresented youth to access creative industries while building systems that are sustainable, ethical, and impactful.I bring a rare combination of executive leadership, hands-on creative production, education, and community advocacy, and I thrive in roles that require vision, collaboration, and real-world execution.

Experience

1. Afterschool Program Teacher

   Please Don\'t Die Black Men Pddbm

   Sep 2024 — Present · Vancouver, WA, US

   As an Afterschool Program Teacher for PDDBM, I lead four creative programs—Fashion Design, Filmmaking, Journalism, and Modeling/Acting—guiding students through complete, industry-aligned production cycles. I teach Fashion Design students to create original clothing lines using Adobe Photoshop, develop custom patterns and textile prints, and build brand identities. I coordinate two annual fashion shows, managing runway presentation, fittings, rehearsals, and backstage production.In journalism, I direct the youth-led PDDBM PROUD Magazine, where students conduct interviews, perform research, write and edit articles, capture editorial photography, and design layouts for both digital and print publication. In filmmaking, I instruct students in scriptwriting, character development, storyboarding, shot lists, cinematography, directing, and editing using iPads and Adobe Creative tools, culminating in a collaborative short film.I also lead PDDBM’s Modeling & Acting program for all ages, providing training in runway technique, posing, facial expression, stage presence, on-camera confidence, commercial performance, and professional etiquette. Participants perform in major fashion shows and community events, gaining real-world performance experience.Across all programs, I integrate entrepreneurship—teaching logo creation, marketing strategy, product development, and portfolio building for college, scholarships, and creative careers. I manage program logistics, coordinate events, support diverse learners, and maintain an inclusive, empowering environment that promotes confidence, skill development, and artistic expression.My work prepares students and participants for real opportunities in fashion, media, journalism, modeling, acting, and digital storytelling while deepening my expertise in creative direction, curriculum design, production management, and community-based arts education.

Education

• Portland Community College

  Associate of Arts and Sciences - AAS, Intermedia/Multimedia