October 15, 2019

Also Endorsed by Newton and Brookline Leaders Hubie Jones and Colette Phillips

(Brookline, MA) — Propelled by a grassroots effort, City Year co-founder and national service movement leader, Alan Khazei, today announced that his campaign for U.S. Congress in Massachusetts’ 4th district raised $502,545 and recruited 325 volunteers in its first 3 weeks. Khazei was one of the first Congressional candidates to refuse corporate PAC and lobbyist money ten years ago, and once again he is not taking that money. “Corporate PAC and lobbyist money pollutes our system,” Alan Khazei said, “I am proud to have helped lead the way in rejecting the money that taints our process and blocks progress on everything from achieving gun law sanity to tackling climate change.” Refusing corporate PAC money is now the norm amongst many Democratic candidates.

“I’m honored by the outpouring of support from people all across the 4th district of Massachusetts, and beyond. And I’m inspired by their desire to join our campaign and restore our democratic values in Washington. I want to throw open the doors of Congress, bring people in and drive the special interests out, so we can get things done. We have a president whose assault on our values and democratic ideals represents an existential threat. The response from people all across the 4th District and the country, to rise up, organize and fight for our future, represents the best of America, because we are standing together for what we believe in.” said Alan Khazei.

“While Donald Trump tests the limits of executive authority every day, I believe the best answer is to push the limits of people power in our democracy. We the people can prevail. That’s been my life’s work. That’s why I’m running.” said Alan Khazei.

Khazei will report raising $366,818.11 through September 30th, and $502,545 through October 14th. Khazei also recruited more than 325 founding Khazei Corps campaign volunteers since entering the race on September 24th. The Khazei Corps is a group of committed grassroots supporters who have pledged to make phone calls, knock on doors, lead days of service throughout the district and days of action to call attention to the climate crisis, scourge of gun violence, need for economic fairness and other issues of concern to voters across the 4th district.

Colette Phillips, Founder of Get Konnected of Brookline enthusiastically backed Khazei for his Congressional bid. “My life is dedicated to building networks in Greater Boston that break down barriers between people with different backgrounds — and I have never met someone more committed than Alan Khazei to the mission of bringing people from different backgrounds together to solve our nation’s problems,” Phillips said.

Hubie Jones, a Civil Rights leader from Newton who has founded or co-founded more than 40 organizations dedicated to social justice, also endorsed Khazei and said, “Alan is an extraordinary visionary who gets things done – big things. He is a movement maker who unites diverse people to forge progress and transform lives. Alan is a tireless leader who has a deep commitment to racial, social and economic justice, causes that I have dedicated my life to. His track record of leading change and building movements – from City Year and national service, to Democracy Entrepreneurs is simply extraordinary.”

“I’m humbled to have Colette’s and Hubie’s support, they are both role models, powerful leaders for justice, and inspirations for me, as well as great friends and colleagues. With their help, and hundreds of others who are joining the Khazei Corps, we will demonstrate the power of people taking back our democracy,” said Alan Khazei.