Ricardo Ramírez

Founder & CEO

Ricardo Ramírez founded Forward Shift Strategies after 15 years of experience in advocacy, political, and social justice communications. Before launching Forward Shift Strategies, Ricardo served as democracy program director for ReThink Media, a data-driven nonprofit organization focused on building the communications capacity of social justice organizations across the country. He was also a senior member of the communications team at Advancement Project’s national office, where he worked with organizations at the forefront of grassroots racial justice and civil rights fights, including efforts to expand the right to vote and defend immigrant and refugee rights. During his tenure with AP, he helped power communications strategies that resulted in thousands of people with past felony convictions regaining the right to vote.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Ricardo got his start through years of work in political press offices, including the U.S. Senate and the Democratic National Committee, where he served as a regional press secretary as well as Latino communications director. He was an integral part of President Barack Obama’s successful 2012 campaign in Florida, where he led communications for much of the I-4 corridor.

Ricardo’s background is in media relations. A regular commentator on democracy and justice in the media, he regularly gets clients mentioned in outlets like The New York Times, Associated Press, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, La Opinión, EFE, and others.

A seasoned messaging strategist dedicated to making bold ideas accessible to key audiences across various issue areas, Ricardo has trained hundreds of leaders and practitioners on how to discuss topics such as immigrant and refugee rights, economic justice, and democracy.

Ricardo is a firm believer in the importance of messaging as a tool for everyday life, especially when pleading with his toddler, Mateo, to change his mind.