Candace Avalos

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT CANDACE AVALOS

Candace Avalos (she/her/ella)I’m a first-generation “Blacktina”—the daughter of Black Americans from the South and Guatemalan immigrants who made Washington, D.C. their home in the 1970s. Originally from Virginia, I hold a B.A. in Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish and Italian) and an M.Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration from James Madison University. I moved to Portland in 2013, and it’s where I found both my purpose and my forever home.Today, I serve as the Portland City Councilor for East Portland’s District 1 and Chair of the Homelessness and Housing Committee. I lead with heart, transparency, and a deep commitment to community-rooted solutions—bringing people together to turn bold ideas into tangible change. My leadership is shaped by lived experience, two decades of work in education and nonprofit advocacy, and an unwavering belief that government should reflect and uplift the people it serves.As a values-driven strategist, I thrive at turning complexity into clarity. My natural curiosity fuels a drive to learn and collect knowledge, while my creativity sparks fresh solutions to persistent challenges. Guided by deeply held principles, I organize people and resources with purpose, inspiring trust and alignment. At my core, I’m both a realist and a visionary—grounded in belief, energized by ideas, and committed to putting them into action for meaningful change.Before running for office, I was Executive Director of Verde, an environmental justice nonprofit delivering green infrastructure and climate investments to frontline communities. Prior to that, I spent eight years at Portland State University mentoring student leaders and teaching civic engagement. My public service has also included leadership roles on the Citizen Review Committee, Portland Charter Commission, and boards including Street Roots, Coalition of Communities of Color, Portland: Neighbors Welcome, and more.I’m proud to have co-authored and helped pass Measure 26-217 (real police accountability) and Measure 26-228 (charter reform)—both critical steps toward a more just, representative Portland.At my core, I believe public service is about people, not politics. I lead with empathy, organize with vision, and fight for a city where equity isn’t an afterthought—it’s the blueprint.When I’m not at City Hall, you’ll find me painting, gaming on my Nintendo Switch, tending to my plants, singing karaoke, or trying to visit every single park in Portland.