Judge Remy Drabkin
Remy Drabkin is a leader and innovator whose work bridges housing policy, environmental activism and social justice reforms. As McMinnville, Oregon’s first female Mayor, Jewish and queer-identified, she redefined local government by championing inclusive housing solutions and disassembling inequitable code and policy. Her policies addressed the housing spectrum including emergency and transitional sheltering solutions and affordable and workforce housing policy. During her mayorship she was invited to be a fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Design and completed that work supported by the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, an honor bestowed on only 8 mayors annually.
Founder of Remy Wines, Drabkin merged sustainability with innovation, participating in the co-development of a carbon-sequestering structural concrete formula during winery construction. Her business also serves as a hub for community impact, incubating the region’s first LGBTQIA serving non-profit and hosting the world’s first Queer Wine Fest. She has been broadly recognized in her industry including being named by Wine Enthusiast one of the 40 most influential people in the wine industry and she and her wines receive ongoing accolades for their quality and leadership.
Drabkin’s work includes mentoring emerging leaders and community relationship building, she pioneered the “Sprout Summit,” an activator event building circular city models. Her commitment to justice and community-driven solutions creates systemic changes, positioning her as a visionary in leveraging the built environment for societal transformation.
