Candace Avalos

Candace Avalos represents District 1 on the Portland City Council, covering East Portland. As a first-generation "Blacktina" - the daughter of Black Americans and Guatemalan immigrants - she brings a unique perspective to her role. After earning her Master's in Education from James Madison University, she moved to Portland in 2013 and spent 8 years at Portland State University mentoring student leaders in civic engagement. She then led Verde, an environmental justice nonprofit, as Executive Director for three years. Her civic experience includes chairing the City of Portland's Citizen Review Committee (police oversight) and serving on the Portland Charter Commission that designed the city's new government structure. She is one of twelve inaugural members of Portland's new expanded city council after voters approved charter reform.

First-generation "Blacktina" - the daughter of Black Americans from southern Virginia and Guatemalan immigrants who made Washington, D.C. their home in the 1970s. Her Guatemalan grandparents came to the United States fleeing violence, poverty, and lack of opportunities. Her grandfather immigrated in his early thirties by airplane, while her mother and grandmother came across the border - two very different experiences. Her mother was born in Guatemala and came to the U.S. when she was just five years old. Her mother received citizenship at age 18, and Candace was born when her mother was 20. Growing up in a multiracial, multilingual household instilled a deep commitment to justice, equity, and people-centered leadership.