Ruth Buffalo
• – • The Jasper Hotel
About the speaker
Ruth is an educator, community organizer and public health professional. She has served in various capacities focused on building healthy and safe communities. Her work on advisory councils has primarily focused on women's health, women's leadership development and local food systems. She has 25+ years of community advocacy work.
Regarding her work in public policy, Ruth is a former Fargo Native American Commissioner and North Dakota Lawmaker. She has introduced new laws focused on public safety, prevention and awareness of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) and Human Trafficking, and the creation of a Missing Persons Database. She serves as board President for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. She is a co-founder of the local FM MMITP Taskforce. She is an appointed commissioner to the Not Invisible Act Commission.
Her consultant and independent contract work has included several nonprofit organizations and tribal nations with a focus on improving the quality of life for all communities. Her work includes research and advocacy, community capacity-building and continued reconciliation efforts through education.
Ruth is originally from Mandaree, North Dakota and currently resides in South Fargo with her husband and four children. In 2018, she was elected to serve a four year term in the North Dakota legislature representing the people of North Dakota as a Representative for District 27.
She is a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Chiricahua Apache. Ruth earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (2002) and Master degrees in Management (2005), Business Administration (2010), and Public Health (2016).
In 2022, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Concordia College. She is a 2019-2020 Women’s Peacemaker Fellow, former Chair of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition and a 2017 recipient of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 40 under 40 leadership award. The Fargo Forum named her among local leaders to watch in 2019. She was selected as the 2019 North Dakota Women of the Year by the ND Women’s Network and received the 2019 Arc of Justice Award from the ND Human Rights Coalition.
Local partners
Their hotel in Fargo, North Dakota, is the perfect spot for today‘s travelers. Boasting modern rooms, an award-winning restaurant and lounge, and an energetic assortment of events, Jasper Hotel is the ideal place to stay, play, and create your own memorable adventure.
The purpose of the Downtown Community Partnership (DCP) is to serve our community through Advocacy, People, and Events. DCP is a strong advocate for businesses, residents, and community partners focused on economic growth, vibrancy, and advocacy of Downtown Fargo.
Kilbourne Group is built on RESPECT for the past, GRATITUDE for the present, and INSPIRATION for the future. Founded in 2006, Kilbourne Group has a deep passion for urban spaces and an experienced understanding of how design and amenities can respond to today’s demand for walkable, mixed-use, urban cores in communities.
Marvin is a fourth-generation family-owned and -led business, with more than 7,000 employees across 16 cities in North America. The Marvin portfolio of products for builders, architects, and homeowners is designed to provide exceptional solutions for any project, with a focus on creating better ways of living. Since the company’s inception, Marvin has earned a reputation as an innovator and industry thought leader. Today, the company is driven by a purpose to imagine and create better ways of living.
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation headquartered that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports and sells computer software, consumer electronics and personal computers and services. At Microsoft their mission and values are to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential.
Looking to level up your career, gain new skills, or change careers? At NDSCS-Fargo and the new Career Innovation Center, you’ll find flexible programs built for busy students and working professionals.
From associate degrees that launch you into high-growth careers, to short-term training tailored for business and industry, NDSCS-Fargo is designed to connect you with opportunity. Hands-on learning, employer partnerships, and real-world facilities mean you don’t just study here—you get career-ready here. That’s why NDSCS-Fargo is…The Smarter Way to College.
Additional details
Coffee Kicks off at 8:00am, Program kicks off at 8:15!
Join us in Rosewild on the first floor of the Jasper Hotel! Concerned about parking? Check out the Downtown Parking guide here: https://www.fargoparking.com/locations
Location
