Nate was born and raised in Idaho, loving the mountains and access to nature. After graduating with a degree in Architecture with a focus on urban design that’s ecologically responsive, he and his partner felt compelled to flee the ever-advancing suburbia for the ever-green forests and bikeable glory of Cascadia. Through the process of building their home together, Nate dug deep into the community and has learned the true value of each and every person, especially those left behind by the systems we’ve created. He’s engaged in a variety of projects and political efforts as advisor, strategist, and advocate for community leadership in shaping the future of our neighborhoods.

With a strong commitment to social equity, his real passions both personal and professional lie in collaborating with others, ‘cuz that’s where the best ideas pour out of our souls and into the light. The consummate idealist, he believes there are win-win solutions to every problem we face, but they can only be found if we stop: collaborate, and listen. Through bold, thoughtful, and inclusive planning, together we can create plans and policies that will ensure people can thrive with everything they need from housing that’s affordable, to meaningful living-wage work, shops and essential services, places to connect in community with each other, and most importantly; access to resilient natural open spaces that will support a sustainable future for generations to come.

Read about Nate’s motivation for volunteering with OLGP in the Clackamas Review.