Jill Barkley Roy

Jill Barkley Roy serves as Director of Emerge Action Fund, Emerge’s c4 sister organization. Emerge Action Fund focuses on civic engagement, recruitment, and training of candidates for non-partisan races.

After completing her undergraduate work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Jill relocated from her native home of Michigan to Maine in 2004. She quickly became involved in local and statewide politics, with a focus on issues that impact the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community.

While gaining experience in the non-profit sector advocating for victims of domestic violence and their children, Barkley went on to pursue a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. In 2012, Barkley worked to successfully organize Republicans United for Marriage for the Yes on One campaign. The ballot initiative granted the freedom to marry to every Maine couple.

Active in her community, she is a former candidate for elected office, former Chair of the Portland Democratic City Committee, and Co-Founder of Pride Portland!. She has been honored twice as Portland’s Best Activist by the Portland Phoenix, and honored with leadership awards from the League of Young Voters and Equality Maine.

Before joining the team at Emerge America, Barkley served as the Executive Director of Emerge Maine and is a graduate of the Emerge Maine Class of 2009. Barkley lives in South Portland with her wife Amy, daughter Kennedy, and Golden Retriever, Jacob who all bring joy to her life every day.