Meet Bri
Bri
Williams
I’m Bri Williams. I’m a mom, social worker, mental health consultant, and public policy leader with more than 10 years of experience working on behavioral health, housing, and community well-being.
A champion
for district 2
I’ve seen what happens when government listens—and what happens when it doesn’t.
I’ve spent my career bringing together community members, nonprofits, and government to tackle difficult problems and make public systems work better for the people they serve. My experience includes helping shape local and regional policy and serving in leadership roles focused on behavioral health and community health.
I’m not running to manage the status quo. I’m running to build a Multnomah County where working families can afford to stay, all communities can thrive, children have opportunity, and every resident can count on their government.
Born and raised in Northeast Portland, Bri understands both the promise and the challenges facing Multnomah County.
I’m a lifelong District 2 resident, and I’m running for Multnomah County Commissioner because I believe county government should be accountable, responsive, and connected to the everyday experiences of the people it serves.
I want to bring my experience as a social worker, policy leader, and community advocate to the County Commission and help build a Multnomah County where people can access the services, stability, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Bri
Williams
Bri Williams is a mental health consultant, social worker, and public policy leader with years of experience advancing behavioral health equity, housing stability, and community health.
She has helped shape county and regional policy through leadership on the Ryan White Planning Council, co-chairs the Multnomah County Behavioral Health Equity Committee, and serves in multiple elected and appointed roles within Oregon’s Democratic Party. Her career has focused on bringing together government, nonprofits, and community members to solve complex challenges through collaboration and accountability.
Bri Williams is a lifelong District 2 resident, social worker, behavioral health leader, and community advocate running for Multnomah County Commissioner because she believes government should be accountable to the people it serves and rooted in the lived experiences of the communities it represents.
Born and raised in Northeast Portland, Bri understands both the promise and the challenges facing Multnomah County.
She was born to a single mother while her father was incarcerated due to gang involvement. Her mother, the late Nikki Williams, was a respected social worker, tradeswoman, and community activist who dedicated her life to fighting for housing justice, resisting gentrification, and creating opportunities for working families. Through Habitat for Humanity’s first Women’s Build, Nikki became a homeowner in Portland’s historic Boise neighborhood, instilling in Bri a lifelong belief that stable housing is the foundation for healthy families and thriving communities.
Bri attended Albina Head Start, King Elementary, Boise-Eliot, and Grant High School before continuing her education at Portland Community College and Portland State University. Through the Transfer for Free program and PSU’s Advanced Standing program, she earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while raising an eleven-year-old and a nine-month-old, she graduated magna cum laude with her BSW before earning her MSW with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Bri’s commitment to public service is informed not only by her education but by her own lived experience. As a survivor of domestic violence, she experienced housing instability, lived in a domestic violence shelter with her first son, and relied on public assistance while rebuilding her life. Those experiences gave her firsthand knowledge of the barriers many Multnomah County residents face and strengthened her belief that effective government must be compassionate, accessible, and focused on long-term solutions. Behavioral health services through Garlington became a turning point in Bri’s life, inspiring her career in social work and behavioral health. Today, she is a mental health consultant providing culturally responsive behavioral health services to Black communities while helping organizations improve equitable access to care.
She has dedicated her career to ensuring that people experiencing trauma, mental health challenges, and systemic inequities receive the support they need to heal and thrive.
Bri has built a record of leadership through public service and community engagement. Since 2018, she has served on the Ryan White Planning Council, including four years as co-chair, helping shape policies that improve HIV care and support services throughout the region. She currently co-chairs the Multnomah County Behavioral Health Division’s Equity Committee, advancing equitable behavioral health policies and improving outcomes for historically underserved communities.
Her civic leadership also includes serving as a Precinct Committee Person for House District 44, an SCC Alternate Delegate with the Democratic Party of Oregon, and an executive officer with the Democratic Party of Oregon Black Caucus. Bri understands that the responsibilities of a County Commissioner extend far beyond casting votes.
Commissioners oversee a multibillion-dollar budget, direct county policy, and are responsible for delivering essential services that affect every resident. Bri’s education, professional expertise, lived experience, and years of collaborative leadership have prepared her to make thoughtful, data-informed decisions while keeping community voices at the center of government.
As Commissioner, Bri will focus on expanding affordable housing, strengthening behavioral health and addiction services, supporting public safety through prevention and accountability, addressing homelessness with evidence-based solutions, investing in youth and families, and ensuring county government delivers equitable services to every community. Her vision is grounded in a simple belief: every person deserves the opportunity to live in a safe neighborhood, access quality behavioral health care, find stable housing, earn a living wage, and build a future for their family. Bri Williams has spent her life serving Multnomah County—not because it was easy, but because this community invested in her. Now she is ready to bring that same commitment, accountability, and collaborative leadership to the Board of County Commissioners.
Prior Government & Civic Experience
Co-Chair, Multnomah County Behavioral Health Department Equity Committee
Co-Chair, Ryan White Planning Council
Executive Member, Democratic Party of Oregon Black Caucus
Community Advocate and Public-sector Professional Focused on Behavioral Health Equity, Culturally Specific Services, and Community Engagement
Prior Government & Civic Experience
Multnomah County Behavioral Health Department Equity Committee
Co-Chair
Ryan White Planning Council
Co-Chair
Democratic Party of Oregon Black Caucus
Executive Member
Community Advocate and Public-sector Professional Focused on Behavioral Health Equity, Culturally Specific Services, and Community Engagement
Housing Stability
Behavioral Health
Community Safety & Trust
Accountable Government
Stronger Programs & Services
Small Business & Workforce Development
Join the movement
Make a Donation Today
Bri’s campaign is powered by people who believe Multnomah County District 2 deserves strong leadership that is community-centered, accountable, and focused on real solutions. By donating your contribution helps us reach more neighbors. Donate today and inform your friends and neighbors.