Endorsement: Pavel Payano for Massachusetts Essex SD - 1
WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics’ New Power Project today endorsed public servant Pavel Payano for State Senator in Massachusetts’ 1st Essex District. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:
"Pavel Payano has demonstrated what an insightful and courageous public servant he is. Pavel has seen so many of the barriers keeping his community from thriving, and as their next State Senator, he’ll deliver meaningful change by bringing folks together. Pavel’s commitment to economic equity and to finding common-sense solutions are exactly the type of leadership needed at the local level. New Power is thrilled to endorse this dynamic servant leader.”
About Pavel Payano
Pavel Payano’s family came to Lawrence, Masaschusetts in the late 1980s in search of the American dream. As a product of the Lawrence Public School system, the son of two Lawrence Public School Teachers, he is deeply committed to improving K-12 education and making higher education more affordable and accessible to working class families. Pavel received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UMass Amherst, a masters in public affairs from UMass Boston and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. He served as the Director of Operations for ALPFA, a non-profit organization charged with expanding opportunities for leaders in the global market. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at Merrimack College where he taught graduate classes in Community Development & Community Organizing.
Pavel has dedicated the last eleven years of his life to serving the Lawrence community, first as a School Committee member and currently as a City Councilor At- Large. As a member of the Lawrence School Committee, he advocated for initiatives that reduced the achievement gap and increased post-secondary student enrollment. As a City Councilor, he has successfully led on public safety measures, secured additional public school funding, and spearheaded public health initiatives. Pavel’s commitment and passion lies in working to eradicate racial and economic inequities and ensure that every person has an opportunity to achieve the American dream.
About New Power
An initiative of New Politics, which itself aims to lower the barriers of entry into politics for outstanding leaders with military or national service backgrounds, the New Power Project is uniquely focused on recruiting and empowering values-driven individuals who have grown up in marginalized or underserved communities. We focus on community-based leaders who are ready to seek office now. The New Power Project will reach out to potential candidates through a number of national networks, including in partnership with Opportunity Youth United. New Power will help candidates overcome the barriers that so often prevent people like them from seeking and winning public office, barriers similar to those faced by women and working class candidates such as lack of social capital, absence of a fundraising base, lack of the “right credentials,” and many more. The New Power Project’s mission is to break down these barriers and expand the pathways into elected office for a new generation of servant leaders.
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