Ron Williams

Ron Williams is an Industrial Areas Foundation trained Community Organizer residing in Portland, Oregon.  Has been a local and national leader in recovery advocacy since 2001.  Ron is a person with lived experience in substance use disorder, homelessness, and engagement with the criminal justice system.   

Ron holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Portland State University, is a co-founder of the Recovery Association Project, an original member of the National Recovery Movement and a founding board member of Faces and Voices of Recovery.   

Ron has held various leadership positions in organizing and social justice policy advocacy with Central City Concern, First United Methodist Church, Black Parent Initiative, Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good and Oregon Action, where he served as Executive Director from 2010-2014. 

Ron has served on national boards and leadership teams including, ELCA Congregational Based Organizing Team, US Action Board of Directors, and Alliance for a Just Society Board of Directors.  Ron has also worked as a union shop steward and served on the Oregon Bakers Local 114 Executive Board.   

Ron has participated in multiple winning grassroots organizing campaigns in the mainstream and recovery community organizing dating back to 1999.  Ron has led numerous issue campaigns on issues of affordable housing, police accountability, racial profiling prevailing wage jobs, pre-apprenticeships for minorities and formerly incarcerated persons, health care, green jobs, health equity and economic inequality.   

Ron is the father of two adult sons and three grandchildren.  Ron enjoys spending time on the golf course where he maintains a handicap in the low twenties.  

Ron currently Co-Chairs the Oregon Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act (M110) Oversight and Accountability Council and is the Director of Outreach for the Health Justice Recovery Alliance.