Cam was born and raised in Minneapolis and has lived in or near the second ward since 1977 in the Cedar-Riverside, Longfellow and Seward neighborhoods. He currently lives in a duplex he owns in Seward with his family.
Cam graduated from West High School in Minneapolis in 1973 and from the University of Minnesota in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He subsequently completed graduate work in early childhood development and Montessori education and worked as a teacher throughout the 80s and 90s. Before joining the City Council in 2006, he operated a small child care program and children's music company and was Associate Editor of the newspaper, Public School Montessorian. He authored the book, Together with Montessori, an introductory guide to Montessori education.
Cam helped found the Minnesota Green Party, and has served on the boards of FairVote Minnesota, Common Cause Minnesota, and Minneapolis Center for Neighborhoods. He served as board chair for the Seward Neighborhood for several years in the 1990s, helping to lead the neighborhood's NRP process.