Mario Mijares, Community Organizer

Mario Mijares, Community Organizer

mario@columbiariverkeeper.org
541-399-5354

Mario works as a grassroots organizer to engage people in Portland and other Lower Columbia River communities in climate and clean water activism. Mario has been a frontline volunteer activist since spring of 2017. Mario began volunteering for OPAL Environmental Justice, assisting the Bus Rider’s Unite campaign on stopping TriMet from investing over $11 million dollars into building a new jail facility. OPAL was Mario’s gateway into the world of environmental and social activism. In the two years leading up to the start of his career with Columbia Riverkeeper, he participated in two intensive “Organizers-In-Training” internships with OPAL, an internship with national organization Power Shift Network, and traveled across the U.S. for the Sunrise Movement as a speaker in their tour to raise awareness on climate issues and organize passionate youth to take action.

Mario joined Columbia Riverkeeper’s Canvass Team in January 2019. In that role, he talked to hundreds of people about Riverkeeper’s campaigns and activated individuals to become members of the organization.

Mario has a deep passion for equality, justice and the environment. Despite serious health challenges, Mario demonstrated a selfless will to learn, grow, and actively participate in his community. “When I was in constant debilitating pain and all my energies exhausted, there was absolutely nothing I wanted to do unless my heart was in it. Compassion and a drive to be of service to others literally allowed me to access greater reservoirs of strength to override depression and put myself out there.”

Mario is our newest community organizer based in Riverkeeper’s Portland office.