Endorsement: Efrain Hudnell for Seattle City Council, District 3

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed Army veteran and lifelong servant leader Efrain Hudnell for Seattle City Council. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“Efrain's extensive background in the military, his dedication to public service, and his commitment to justice and community well-being make him an exceptional candidate for Seattle City Council. His experience as an Army veteran, law school graduate, and deputy prosecutor uniquely positions him to address the pressing issues facing our city. Efrain's passion, leadership, and tireless advocacy for mental health, veterans, and transit improvement demonstrate his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in Seattle.”

About Efrain Hudnell

Efrain was born in our nation’s capital and was raised in a military family which took him across the country as well as the world. Efrain later joined the service himself, first enlisting as a reservist in the US Army, but after being the first in his family to finish college right after high school, Efrain earned his commission in the Active Army. Efrain served as an Infantry Officer in Fort Polk, Louisiana and upon being promoted to Captain, Efrain transferred to the Military Intelligence Corps, where he served at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, eventually deploying in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Upon returning from his deployment, Efrain separated under honorable conditions from active service to attend Law School in Seattle Washington. As a law student, Efrain continued to serve in various capacities, including student government and internships with public sector employers, culminating in his organizing the entire graduating class of 2020 during the pandemic to petition the Washington State Supreme Court to waive the bar exam that year.

Efrain’s commitment to service continues to this day as a deputy prosecutor in regional mental health court/veterans court, as well as an advocate for transit in the greater Puget Sound. In his spare time, Efrain is an avid bike rider and train enthusiast.

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

Endorsement: Callie Barr for Michigan's 1st Congressional District

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed Veterans advocate and lifelong servant leader Callie Barr for Representative in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“Callie Barr’s dedication to supporting our military community, coupled with her legal expertise, positions her as a powerful force for positive change. We believe Callie's passion, resilience, and commitment to service make her the ideal candidate to represent Michigan’s First Congressional District. New Politics is proud to endorse Callie’s campaign.”

About  Callie Barr

Callie Barr is a 5th generation Michiganander and graduate of Cheboygan High School. After September 11, Callie’s husband, Matt, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served two tours in Iraq. Callie attended Central Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education.

Callie moved with her husband five times in 15 years, raising two girls and eventually caregiving for Matt after he suffered combat injuries, including post-traumatic stress and a traumatic brain injury. Frustrated by the lack of support for active military members and returning veterans, Callie became involved in advocating for the military and their families with Blue Star Families and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers.

She went on to receive a law degree, graduating with honors from
University of Michigan Law School to better advocate for policy changes at the federal level.

After graduation, Callie was quickly recruited to one of Michigan’s top law firms, where she worked to connect veterans to free legal services. Callie also volunteered with the Michigan Veteran Foundation, the largest shelter for homeless veterans in Michigan.

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

Endorsement: Sarah Klee Hood for New York's 22nd Congressional District

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed U.S. Air Force veteran and lifelong servant leader Sarah Klee Hood for Representative in New York’s 22nd Congressional District. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“Sarah’s background as an Air Force veteran, Town Councilor, and working mom reflects the type of leadership that will drive positive change. With a passion for service and the ability to bridge divides, Sarah is poised to make a meaningful impact in New York’s 22nd district. New Politics is honored to endorse Sarah’s campaign for Congress.”

About Sarah Hood

Born and raised in Central New York, Sarah comes from three generations of laborers who value service to country and community. Her mother was a nurse and her father was a union electrician for Niagara Mohawk. 

Sarah learned the values of hard work, personal responsibility, and the importance of putting family first from her parents and grandparents. While her dad worked in Oswego, he made it to all of Sarah’s school sporting events. She also saw how her parents opened up their home to care for their neighbors and Sarah walked picket lines when her mother supported the union’s fight for better wages and working conditions.

Sarah is a former Air Force Operations Officer where she led 140 personnel across 4 divisions, managed a budget of $25M, protected assets valued at $50B, and developed federal level policy.

As a technical software program manager, in the private sector, Sarah led an international team of engineers supporting programs across the globe.

Sarah transitioned to the economic development, nonprofit sector because she wanted to have a direct impact in her community. In her role as a senior director of operations, she was responsible for environmental policy initiatives for both NYSERDA and the Dept. of Energy.

She currently lives in Dewitt, New York with her husband Rob and two daughters, Olivia and Amelia.

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

The New Politics Podcast Episode 38: Derrell Frazier's Path from Poverty to Politics

Derrell Frazier is a lifelong Baltimore resident who grew up as the child of incarcerated parents who went on to run a successful campaign for city-wide office. Derrell talks about his early years being raised by a grandmother who was also raising nine other kids, the mentor who changed his life in middle school, and the many ways he has found to serve the people of Baltimore over the years.

In 2022, he threw his hat in the ring for a seat on the State Central Committee and found himself in a race with more than 20 other candidates; the top eight vote-getters would win seats on the committee. As a first-time candidate, Derrell came in 10th, just missing the cut to join the committee. It was a remarkable outcome for a first-time candidate, and Derrell has made it clear that he is just getting started.

Endorsement: Will Rollins for California's 41st Congressional District

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed former federal prosecutor and lifelong servant leader Will Rollins for Representative in California’s 41st Congressional District. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“As a Federal Prosecutor in the National Security Division at the Department of Justice, Will Rollins distinguished himself as a public servant who puts people over politics. At a time when our democracy is facing significant challenges, we need leaders like him who are committed to protecting our institutions and fighting for a better future for every American. New Politics was thrilled to support Will's last campaign and proudly endorse him again for Congress in California’s 41st District.”

About  Will Rollins

Will Rollins is a former federal prosecutor who focused on counterterrorism and counterintelligence cases in Southern California. After helping to prosecute some of the insurrectionists who attacked the US Capitol on January 6th, Will decided to challenge Republican Congressman Ken Calvert, who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Coming of age at a time when being gay was a crime in some states, Will and his partner Paolo know that government-sponsored discrimination has lasting effects on all Americans, our economy, and our national security. Will’s mother and father, a public defender and journalist, stressed the importance of justice and free speech at a young age. His parents taught him that although the system may not be perfect, every generation has a responsibility to improve it. With this in mind, Will is running for Congress to serve the 41st district of California and bring justice and accountability back to Washington.

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

New Power Endorsement: Michael Carpenter for Pooler City Council

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed U.S. Army veteran Michael Carpenter for Pooler City Council. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“Michael Carpenter’s commitment to serving his community, his leadership experience as a veteran, and his dedication to improving the lives of others make him the ideal candidate for Pooler City Council. His recognition by the Red Cross for his extraordinary and selfless commitment to advocating for and uplifting his community is a testament to his character and values. New Power is proud to endorse him.”

About Michael Carpenter

Michael Carpenter is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, mentor, husband, father, and community leader. He is a veteran of the Iraq War and currently running for Pooler City Council. Michael has been recognized by the Red Cross and the Department of Army for his extraordinary and selfless commitment to advocating for and uplifting his community. He is an engaged citizen and is active in several local groups. He currently co-founded, along with his wife, the Takaway Foundation, which is a new community nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of others. Michael is a member of the Pooler Lions Club, the Savannah chapter of the NAACP, 100 Black Men of America (Savannah chapter), Shriners, the local VFW, and the Georgia Sheriffs Association.

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

About New Power

New Power helps 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.

New Power Endorsement: Danny Cage for MESD Position 6

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed Community Organizer and Advocate Danny Cage for Multnomah Education Service District Position 6. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“Danny Cage is a leader with a heart for service and a passion for education. With his extensive experience in public service, Danny has the skills and knowledge needed to make a real difference in the Multnomah Education Service District. New Power is proud to endorse him.”

About Danny Cage

Danny is a tireless advocate and a community organizer. He has worked as a staffer in the legislature, public servant in the office of the governor, and a consultant to a nonprofit organization that works to expand access to public budgets for all Oregonians. 

In 2021, Danny was elected as a student representative and served on Portland Public Schools’ (PPS) Education Policy Committee and Facilities and Operations Committee. During his time on the policy committee, he championed the creation of the district’s Climate Crisis Response Committee, which works to reduce greenhouse Gas emissions from PPS operations. Danny currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Climate Crisis Response Committee. In 2022, he was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to serve as the youngest member of the state Environmental Justice Council which advises on natural resource use. 

Danny will bring his well-rounded community and government experiences to the Multnomah Education Service District to ensure every student has access to a quality education.

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

About New Power

New Power helps 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.

New Power Endorsement: Katrina Callsen for Virginia's 54th State House District

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed Teach for America alum Katrina Callsen for Virginia’s 54th State House district. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“Katrina Callsen’s personal story of overcoming adversity and her commitment to creating a better future for her community make her an ideal candidate to represent Virginia's 54th State House district. She understands how discriminatory policies can impact the quality of life for marginalized communities and seeks to amplify the voices of those who are underrepresented. New Power is proud to endorse Katrina and we look forward to supporting her campaign.”

About Katrina Callsen

Katrina Callsen is a Deputy City Attorney for Charlottesville and the Chair of the Albemarle County School Board. Her father was born during a time when interracial marriage was illegal in Virginia, resulting in her grandparents being unable to marry and their family roots being cut. This had a generational impact on her family’s relations. In 2016, Katrina and her father’s family were reunited, who surprisingly lived near her.

Katrina’s parents, who were a teenage, interracial, pregnant couple in Virginia in 1984, both dropped out of high school. They got married, but were not welcomed in school. Her father joined the military, which led Katrina to grow up as a proud military brat. Despite the serious financial struggles of growing up in a large enlisted family, Katrina’s parents stressed the importance of education, which inspired her to attend Yale University and UVA Law on academic scholarships. She worked fast food and customer service jobs to support herself during her time there.

Today, Katrina’s dual roles as an elected leader for Albemarle County and Deputy City Attorney for Charlottesville have given her the unique experience of witnessing the impact of state laws on her community daily. She works tirelessly to improve academic achievement and empower students with skills and opportunities. Having experienced firsthand the consequences of having fundamental rights denied, Katrina knows how vital it is to have a hard-working representative advocating for the future.

Katrina’s priorities are protecting women’s reproductive rights, enacting meaningful gun legislation and ensuring that every child has access to an equitable and well-funded public education.

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

About New Power

New Power helps 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.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 37: Emily Cherniack, Founder of New Politics

Emily Cherniack is the visionary Founder and Executive Director of New Politics and the New Politics Leadership Academy. A lifelong servant leader, she did a year of service with City Year in Boston and has been serving ever since. When her mentor, City Year co-founder Alan Khazei, ran for Senate in Massachusetts in 2009, she joined his campaign and had her first experience of politics.

After seeing how challenging it was for a candidate from the world of service to succeed in politics, she was inspired to start an organization to bring more servant leaders into politics and help them succeed.

In this episode, Emily talks about why she first joined City Year, why she founded New Politics, and what she has learned from her journey.

Also, because March is Women's History Month, she talks about her experiences as a woman in the combative world of politics, and how she handles being a Founder, Executive Director as well as a mother to two young children. Emily is a remarkable servant leader, and her story is the story of our organization.

We're excited to (finally!) lift up her voice on our podcast!

The New Politics Podcast Episode 36: Angelo Pascuiti, the former Marine Sniper who is still Answering the Call

Meet Angelo Pascuiti: he is a former Marine Corps sniper and Reconnaissance Team Leader who is currently involved in an effort to rethink the way the Marine Corps trains its new Marines. He’s also an alum of New Politics Leadership Academy program Answering the Call. Angelo has become an outspoken champion of our work.  In this conversation, Angelo talks about how his own life has been shaped by his experiences in the Marine Corps, and why he believes our politics could be transformed if more servant leaders were in elected office.  

The New Politics Podcast Episode 35: Jennifer Marshall's Journey from the Navy to Stranger Things

Jennifer Marshall is best known as the actress who plays Max's mother on Stranger Things, the smash hit on Netflix. She's also a Navy vet, a mother of four, a licensed private investigator, and an alum of our Answering the Call program. She joins us on today’s podcast to talk about her journey from service to Hollywood and how she manages to stay grounded as a servant leader in the world of entertainment. She also talks about the cancer journey she has been on for the past two years. Jennifer is a remarkable servant leader who is finding ways to use her platform as an actress to support military veterans in the entertainment business and beyond.

In this episode, she references the great work done by the Hunter Seven Foundation (https://hunterseven.org/), an organization working to support veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic environments during their service.  

Barriers to local politics: Viable candidates opt out

The New Politics Podcast Episode 34: Phillip Jones, the youngest Mayor of Newport News, VA

Phillip Jones is a Naval Academy graduate and Marine. He grew up in Newport News, Virginia, and dreamed of serving his home community by running for Mayor.  In the 2022 election cycle, the opportunity appeared and Phillip jumped into the race.  He ran a great campaign and won the election, becoming the youngest Mayor ever in that city (Phillip is 33 years old).

In this episode, Phillip talks about what it was like being the son of two Air Force pilots, why he chose to serve, and what it was like seeking to serve again through politics. He also talks about how his journey has been influenced by New Politics Leadership Academy programs. 

The New Politics Podcast Episode 33: Ashely Dickerson, Four-time AmeriCorps Alum

In this episode we highlight Ashely Dickerson, one of our Answering the Call facilitators who is an alum of FOUR AmeriCorps programs.

Ashely grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and participated in her first AmeriCorps program in college. That program was called the Breakthrough Collaborative, and it involved providing academic support to young people in schools.  She went on to do another year of education-focused service with City Year San Antonio, and then followed that up with a year of service with Public Allies in Phoenix.  Finally, she spent a year working on education policy with AmeriCorps VISTA.  

Today, she works as a Program Manager for Foster Ed Arizona, a program that supports foster youth. She has also facilitated multiple Answering the Call programs, and in that capacity is helping other servant leaders get clear about their own desire to serve again through politics.

Ashely is an amazing servant leader, and we're excited to lift up her voice and experience on today's show!

The New Politics Podcast Episode 32: John Walters

John Walters is an Air Force Vet turned leadership coach who serves as a facilitator for our Answering the Call program.

In this episode, he talks about his decision to serve and tells us a bit about his work with the Personnel Recover Agency.  As a Training Manager with that agency, he teaches soldiers how to handle the pressures of isolation and separation, whether that involves finding oneself behind enemy lines or taken into captivity by enemy forces.

He talks about his decision to become a certified Goldman Emotional Intelligence Coach, and why he finds it so meaningful to serve as a facilitator for our Answering the Call program.  

John is a remarkable servant leader, and we're exciting to highlight his story on this episode of the podcast.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 31: The Mission Continues

This episode features interviews with Rene Foster and Janet Newsome, both Navy vets deeply involved in the Women's Veteran's Leadership Program run by TMC. They talk about their own service journeys, explain the work being done by TMC, and discuss why TMC is happy to partner with New Politics in promoting our programs to the veterans in their community.

To learn more about TMC, visit https://www.missioncontinues.org/.

The New Politics Podcast Episode 30: Zach Maurin

Zach Maurin in a City Year alum who has gone on to spend most of his professional life fighting to expand national service opportunities here in the United States.  As the co-founder of ServeNext, he got Presidential candidates campaigning in New Hampshire to publicly support the cause of national service.  Later, he served as the Executive Director of Service Nation as well as Service Year Alliance, two organizations dedicated to advancing the cause of national service.  

Today, he is the co-founder of Storied Hats, a purpose-driven apparel company that creates baseball hats that are sustainably made and are free from corporate logos.  He also serves as a board member for the New Politics Leadership Academy.

In this episode, Zach talks about how his time at City Year impacted his life and shares stories from his lifelong effort to make national service a civic rite of passage for young people here in the U.S.  

Endorsement: Hannah LeGris for Lexington City Council

WASHINGTON D.C.—New Politics today endorsed educator and lifelong public servant Hannah LeGris for City Council in Lexington, Kentucky’s Third Council District. Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics released the following statement:

“New Politics is proud to endorse Hannah LeGris for re-election to the Lexington City Council. Through her policy work and tireless advocacy, Hannah has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving others, and to ensuring a better and safer future for her community. We can’t wait to see this vibrant servant leader’s continued impact on behalf of her hometown.”

About Hannah LeGris

Throughout her career, Hannah LeGris has worked in the nonprofit, private, and education sectors. Hannah knows the value of listening, creating inclusive dialogue, and building relationships. Working with a variety of stakeholders in diverse industries has taught her how to get things done. As a council member, Hannah is a member of the General Government and Social Service and the Environmental Quality and Public Works committees. Additionally, Hannah serves on a number of 3rd District and LFUCG boards and commissions. 

In addition to her role on council, Hannah works at the University of Kentucky helping undergraduate students explore career options and learn to engage meaningfully with their communities. She holds a B.A. in English from the College of Wooster and an M.A. in English from the University of Kentucky. In her personal life, Hannah is an avid pedestrian and bicycle commuter because she enjoys experiencing the city at a more human pace. She lives in the Mentelle Park neighborhood, where she enjoys talking with her neighbors, writing, and walking dogs with her partner Andrew. ​

About New Politics

New Politics is a bipartisan organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders who have committed their lives to serving our country, either through the military or national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised more than $8.5 million for their candidates, electing more than 30 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.   

The New Politics Podcast Episode 29: Sal Ramirez

Sal Ramirez grew up as the fourth of seven children in a big Mexican family in East Los Angeles.  After completing undergrad at UC Santa Barbara, he decided to enroll in the Peace Corps and served as a Secondary School Health Educator in Khazakistan.  He was supposed to stay for two years, but the program was shut down after his first year due to widespread political instability in that country.  

He returned to the U.S., completed a Masters in Public Policy at Brandeis, and launched a career in the non-profit sector back in California. In 2022, he found a unique way to serve again through politics: he campaigned to serve as the honorary mayor of his hometown of Carmichael, California by raising funds for local non-profits.  He ended up raising the most money of all the candidates and stepped into the role of Honorary Mayor, a year-long post in which he has found a way to contribute in substantive ways to policy debates impacting his community.

In this episode, Sal talks about his service journey, his experience as a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ plus community, and his experiences serving as an honorary mayor.

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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