Ruby N. Lewis is the Founder, Chairwoman, and President of Please Don’t Die Black Men (PDDBM), a Vancouver, Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth, strengthening families, and creating opportunities through education, arts, and community engagement. An internationally published author, multitalented artist, educator, and community advocate, Ruby brings over 20 years of experience in creative leadership, civil rights advocacy, and nonprofit development. Since founding PDDBM in 2007, she has championed cultural representation, youth empowerment, and educational opportunities. Through free afterschool programs in fashion design, journalism, cooking, gardening, and entrepreneurship, Ruby continues to inspire young people to discover their talents, develop leadership skills, and build brighter futures. While PDDBM centers the experiences of Black communities, its programs welcome youth and families from all backgrounds.
