MEET CAMERON

PORTLAND GROWN LEADERSHIP.

"Cameron is a leader who shows up and fights for all Portlanders." 

—US Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse 

Cameron believes that everyone deserves to live in a place that gives them a chance to thrive.

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Homelessness exposed Cameron to the societal inequities that he and his peers faced, through no fault of their own. Thankfully, through the support of local 

nonprofits, Cameron was able to secure housing, finish his education, and find employment. During this time he also found his calling: to help others in the same way others helped him.

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At the age of 20, Cameron ran his first campaign as Mayor of Portland. His age and campaign stood out from the rest. For example, he walked the streets of downtown Portland wearing a colorful cardboard box that read “Vote Cameron for Mayor.” He did not win that election, but that experience planted the seeds for him to grow up in Portland’s civic and political culture. 

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Cameron gained this belief at an early age. As a child, Cameron lived in an unsafe home environment where he was a target of emotional and physical abuse. These experiences were the driving force in his decision to come to Portland as a homeless youth.

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But, Cameron knew even then that someone’s identity could unfairly determine their future. A zip code could predict the quality of housing, economic opportunities, and health outcomes. He believed that Portlanders deserved elected leaders who understood these challenges — because they had lived them too.

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For the past decade, Cameron has received the mentorship of trusted leaders, built deep connections to the community, honed skills as a policymaker, and been an outspoken leader when action was needed.

As Executive Director of Know Your City, Cameron educated the community about the history of Portland and how our shared geography impacts our future.

As the founder of Brown Hope, Cameron sparked conversations on reparations and racial disparities in our community.
 

As a community activist, Cameron brought visibility to income inequality, the local housing crisis, and climate change.
 

As a small business owner, Cameron provided trainings and coaching to local employers on how to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces.
 

As the Executive Director of Q Center, Cameron continues to strengthen community efforts against the rise of reported hate crimes in Portland - especially against LGBTQ+ community members.

Now, Cameron is ready to run for Metro Council District 5— bringing his Portland-grown leadership to elected office.

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As the next District 5 Metro Councilor, Cameron will bring a new kind of politics to our region — striving for a Metro that is representative of the lived experiences of communities who live here. 

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Cameron will fight to ensure Portland has an economy that works for all, healthier and more affordable communities, and courageous leadership on climate change.
 

“The future is ours. Let’s make a difference— together.”

—Cameron Whitten