As Candace Avalos transitions from her role as Executive Director at Verde to becoming a Portland City Council member for District 1, I sat down with her to reflect on her leadership, accomplishments, and vision for the future. This conversation highlights her journey, Verde’s impact, and the lessons she carries forward into her new role.

How does it feel to step into this next chapter of your life as a Portland City Council member, and what emotions are you experiencing as you transition from leading Verde to serving the broader NE Portland community?

“Well, obviously, I’m really excited! But not just excited for me—excited for what this means for our community. We have drastically changed the way our city is going to govern and represent its people, and this is going to make a big difference for Verde because now we’re going to have a clearer way to interact with the city and advocate for the environmental justice needs of Cully and Portland at large.

It feels like a really nice next step for me and my leadership. Leaving Verde and bringing with me all of these experiences and all of these communities that we’ve been nurturing for years feels right. I’m super excited about what this next chapter will mean for me, for City Council, and for Verde. Because, you know, I’m always going to be an advocate for Verde and environmental justice. I’m excited to be able to be that voice for us on the City Council now.”

How do you feel Verde’s work has influenced the broader movement for environmental justice in Portland?

“Verde’s work has been so impactful because our specialty, and the magic we bring to this movement, is our deep relationships with Cully residents, Portlanders, and Oregonians. Over the last three years, under my leadership, I’ve really seen us blossom, step into our power, and transform how we show up as an advocacy organization—moving important legislation for our communities.

We’ve become a general voice for how our communities experience environmental injustice, and that’s at the core of our work. Climate change is rapidly affecting the world, but it particularly affects our communities. The way we’ve been able to change the narrative around what climate justice looks like when you center vulnerable communities has really shaped the conversation and will continue to grow our movement.

Especially as we are facing what is likely to be the next few years of challenges—working against a national administration hostile to our cause—this is an important moment to double down on our community. Unfortunately, nationally, we’re not going to have as many allies. But this is an opportunity for us to grow our movement, strengthen it, and deepen our relationships so that we come out on the other side much stronger.

What has been the most memorable or impactful moment during your time leading Verde?

“The way we’ve been able to move really big legislation—like the Oregon Clean Opportunity campaign of 2021 and how we’ve worked to improve the Portland Clean Energy Fund to better serve our communities—has been incredibly memorable. Those experiences were nourishing because they showed me the power of community movements, which are fueled by everyday Portlanders.

I’ve been inspired to see the fruits of our labor. When I visit a Líderes Verdes class or meet residents, when I attend a leadership institute, or when I hear directly from the people our work has impacted—those are the memories I’ll carry with me.

I’m also incredibly proud of the way we’ve nurtured leadership within Verde. Any new Executive Director brings transitions, but I feel like we made the most of it by recruiting people directly from the communities we serve. Watching our staff grow over the last few years—especially newer staff entering the field—has been inspiring. That focus on leadership is rooted in my background as an educator, and it’s what I’ll miss most about Verde.”

What’s the change or initiative you feel has left the biggest impact on Verde’s community?

“I’ve been saying that energy efficiency is the next frontier of the fight against climate change. The fact that we’ve been able to stand out with impressive programs that improve people’s quality of life while protecting the climate has been huge.

The Community Solar project, in particular, is a great example of where we’re headed as an organization and a movement. It’s about energy efficiency, but it’s also about affordability and access to life-saving resources. I’m excited to see how Verde continues to grow as a voice on the frontier of energy efficiency because that’s truly the future.”

What lessons have you learned from your work at Verde that you’ll carry with you into your role as a City Council member?

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how to turn community voices into policy. That’s what we’re so good at at Verde. We’ve mastered the art of translating lived experiences into a tangible policy agenda.

Another key lesson is to never take for granted the time it takes for people to share their experiences. At Verde, we compensate people for their time because we know it has value, especially for those in vulnerable communities where it takes even more effort to be heard. I’ve learned how to encourage people’s voices and lessen barriers for them to participate, and I’m excited to apply those lessons as a City Councilor.”

What are your priorities for building environmental wealth and uplifting historically underserved communities in District 1?

“District 1 is home to almost half of the city’s children. It’s also the most diverse district, with over 100 languages spoken. But life expectancy here is ten years less than in other parts of the city, and the wealth disparity is stark—average income here is $60,000 compared to $90,000 in other districts.

We have 28 out of the 30 high-crash corridors in Portland, which disproportionately affect District 1 residents. So, my priority is to address the environmental injustices behind these disparities. This means building basic infrastructure, increasing tree canopies to reduce heat-related disasters, and creating safe streets for all transportation modes.

I also want to elevate East Portland’s parks. Visiting Portland’s parks has shown me the glaring disparities between wealthier neighborhoods with amenities like splash pads versus barren parks in East Portland. These inequities are due to a lack of political representation and voice, which I aim to change.”

What bold or transformative policies do you envision championing on the City Council to tackle climate injustice and create more equitable opportunities for BIPOC and low-income communities?

Verde advocating for PCEF at Portland City Hall

“The thing I’m most excited about is how I’m going to continue to guide and maximize PCEF [Portland Clean Energy Fund]. I think that is such a critical opportunity, and as you know, Verde has not only been instrumental in getting that historic legislation passed, we also have been at the forefront of fighting to protect it. So, I’m really going in understanding what we’re facing and the pressures of what PCEF is facing. I’m hoping that my voice, along with many other voices that got elected, are going to help us champion that program and make sure it’s being allocated in the way that it was intended. Which is to do exactly this. Tackle climate injustice, create more opportunities, make sure people have more life-saving climate infrastructure. So, that’s really at the top of my list because at the end of the day, we know that it takes dollars to move an agenda, and this is an opportunity to take a really big pot of money and activate it in a way that’s going to center frontline communities.

Now that we’re going to have districts, part of the whole goal of having this new system, making the councilors legislative, was so that we could have time in our districts, understanding our communities, talking to voters, and that helps to shape our agenda. So, I’m really looking to stand up strong constituent services and district offices and just build a new relationship with the community because we’ve lost a lot of trust with them, understandably. Especially in East Portland. When I was knocking on doors, people were like, Who are you? Why are you at my doorstep? I’ve never met a politician in my life. Nobody has ever cared about me. And, they’re not wrong. I think restoring trust is going to be essential so people can be invited to participate in their democracy in a meaningful way. I think those are two big areas that I want to focus on that will impact this in particular.”

What does success look like for you as a Portland City Council member?

“I feel like it does go back to trust. Rebuilding Portlanders’ trust in the ability in their government to deliver its promises is how I’m going to measure my success. At the end of the day, I want to nurture a relationship that will build trust, and that will also help build patience. I want Portlanders to keep on the vision. I feel like that’s what we’ve been struggling with. We’ve just been kind of yo-yoing between policies. Like, we’ve tried this policy thing that didn’t work. Throw it away! You know what I mean? I think a lot of that has to do with a lack of communication and trust. So, I feel like I’m going to measure my success in my first four years as being able to activate East Portlanders and have them participate in a more meaningful way and feel like they are being heard and that their issues are being accounted for and the decisions we make as a whole council, not just for District 1. So, I just feel really passionately about re-engaging the community. I think that will help mark other areas of success which will be making sure we will get resources.”

What message do you have for the Verde community as you transition into your new role?

“First and foremost, it’s important for people to know that Verde is strong. We are strong, stable, and have worked hard to build up our internal systems to better serve our communities. Luckily, because I’ve been running for a year, I knew that this transition was possible, so the board, the leadership of the organization, and I worked for several months to create stability and a contingency plan. Verde’s new Interim Executive Director is our Deputy Director, Blythe. I made the decision to hire a Deputy Director for exactly this reason. To make sure that we have a strong leader ready to take on this moment if it were to come to it.

Verde team celebrating Cully Park’s 5th birthday

I think it’s important for people to understand that we [Verde] are an important leader in the environmental justice movement for Oregon. Sadly, we have seen some transitions in our environmental justice communities that have destabilized our movement. People are leaning on Verde in this movement to continue strengthening it, and they can depend on us. I just want people to know that we’re prepared to take on what’s next, and we’ve been preparing for this. We’re excited about what this transition means for how we grow. And as a reminder: I’m not going far! You know? I will be Verde’s champion as long as I live, and I mean that so seriously. I want people to know they have an ally in me on the council, and I will do everything in my power to strengthen Verde's relationship with City Hall to ensure our agenda is accomplished.”

Candace Avalos departs Verde not just as a leader, but as a trailblazer in the fight for environmental justice in Portland. Her transformative impact will continue to resonate, and while her presence at Verde will be deeply missed, her next chapter inspires hope and determination. As she steps onto the Portland City Council, we are eager to see her champion the voices of underserved communities and drive meaningful change across our city. Thank you, Candace, for your visionary leadership, your courage, and your steadfast commitment to equity and justice.

Candace Avalos: A Farewell Q&A

Congratulations, Candace! Our Transition Plan