Communicator with Strategic Insight | Designer | Advocate for Equity & Truth
Hard Truths & Honest Messaging: Mikhail Oparin’s Portfolio
Welcome to My Site – And My Reality.
I’m Mikhail Oparin, a Russian-speaking, gay, mid-career professional living in the Vancouver-Portland area, and I’ve spent over a decade honing my craft in strategic communication, public engagement, and visual storytelling. I’m disciplined, detail-oriented, and deeply invested in making communication meaningful. I’ve supported public schools, co-led equity initiatives, built campaigns that uplift marginalized voices, and contributed to projects with care and precision.
And yet, despite the praise, volunteerism, degrees, and experience, I’m still here. Still applying. Still being passed over.
Maybe it’s the accent. Maybe it’s the “blended whiteness” that makes me invisible. Maybe it’s being 50 and not fitting the mold of what a hiring manager expects. Or maybe it’s just the way the system works, leaving people like me to prove ourselves over and over while being told we’re “a top candidate.”
This site is not just a portfolio. It’s a record of what I’ve built, what I stand for, and what I continue to offer: clear, equity-centered messaging, professional design, and human storytelling that bridges communities and sparks change.
I invite you to browse my work, not just for credentials, but for character. Because behind every story or project is a real person still showing up, still creating, still hoping the right opportunity will finally recognize the value I bring.
I was born in Angarsk, an industrial city in Eastern Siberia built after World War II. It was created to power the Soviet Union’s petrochemical industry, a place of smoke and steel surrounded by endless forests and the deep blue of Lake Baikal just a hundred kilometers away. Growing up there meant learning to live between contrasts, the weight of factories and the pull of nature, the good and bad of daily life and the quiet humor of the people who made it through. From that world, I carried forward resourcefulness, patience, and the ability to find meaning and beauty even in difficult places.
Today, I live in the Portland–Vancouver area, where I’ve built a life as a communicator, designer, and advocate for equity and belonging. Over the years, I’ve worked with schools, nonprofits, and community partners to design campaigns, create content, and shape stories that lift underrepresented voices. This portfolio is not just a collection of work—it’s a reflection of persistence, care, and the belief that communication can move people toward understanding.
There is a part of my story that rarely fits neatly on a resume. It’s the persistence it takes to keep going as a 50-year-old immigrant, a gay father, and someone who has often been told he is “too intense,” when in truth, I am simply focused. These experiences have made me more grounded, more compassionate, and more determined to stay true to who I am and what I value.
And still, I keep going. Still creating. Still learning. Still believing that skill, integrity, and kindness matter.
If you want to work with someone who pays attention—to people, to words, to meaning—you’re in the right place. I don’t believe in buzzwords or empty talk. I believe in stories that speak honestly, work that brings people together, and ideas that make a difference.
I create communication that connects people. My work combines design, storytelling, and strategy to help organizations share their message clearly and meaningfully. I’ve developed tools and content that improve communication, increase accessibility, and reflect the voices of diverse communities.
Community Engagement
From 2020 to 2025, I’ve volunteered with the Equity Advisory Committee for Evergreen Public Schools, helping shape the district’s equity plan and guiding inclusive communication for more than 20,000 students.
In 2022, I co-created Embrace the Spectrum, an LGBTQ+ visibility campaign with a public resource hub, communication calendar, and outreach templates that help schools build awareness and belonging.
Professional Journey Highlights
Always With Hope – Edited, published, and promoted my late mother’s memoir, building lyudmilaoparina.com as a companion site to share her story worldwide.
Embrace the Spectrum – Co-developed a queer awareness and visibility campaign for Evergreen Public Schools, shaping communication strategies and inclusion tools.
Copilot AI Initiative – Led integration of AI-powered workflows at Ricoh/Kroger, improving proofing, file optimization, and project intake.
Ricoh Leadership Projects – Spearheaded sustainability efforts, communication templates, and process improvements across regional teams.
Foster Washington – Co-led a statewide foster care awareness campaign using video, social media, and print outreach.
Vancouver Arts LIVE – Created a digital hub connecting artists and audiences as part of my capstone project.
Veteran Employment Initiative – Supported military families with digital access and communication tools.
What I’m Looking For
A place where my voice is heard.
A team that values clarity, context, and care.
Work that matters to people, not just metrics.
I’m seeking opportunities in communication, outreach, or content strategy with organizations committed to ethics, inclusion, and social good. If that sounds like the kind of communicator you need, let’s connect.
Mikhail Oparin 