Meet Alex Morse
He's a 2010 Wellstone Action alum. And he's also the youngest-ever Mayor in Massachusetts, and the youngest openly gay Mayor in the nation.
Alex is 22. His first "real job" out of college will be to serve as the Mayor of his hometown, a seat he won by just 608 votes. He takes office next month.
How'd he do it?
By putting Wellstone Action's strategic guidance to work. Says Alex, "I knew I wanted to lead my community. We have too many families living in poverty, and our unemployment, crime, and high school dropout rates are all higher than the national average. And I also knew I couldn't do it alone - I was going up against the establishment, an incumbent with nearly 20 years of service. I did lots of online research, read more about Camp Wellstone, and knew it's what I needed to prepare myself.
Wellstone Action gave me the foundation to run an effective
grassroots campaign. It taught me everything, from base building to finance to
fundraising to media to the campaign timeline. And most importantly, it taught
me that progressive candidates need to get serious about reaching new and
disengaged voters.
I started base building immediately after the training, connecting with people in their kitchens, in their living rooms, on their doorsteps. I grew up in the digital age, and I also speak Spanish fluently, so I reached out in person and online to communities that are often ignored by politicians, seeking to tell a new story about the City of Holyoke - one that was written for everybody.
I believe in what Wellstone Action teaches: that we need community grassroots support and really great people in elected office to make good public policy in this country".
You may not live in Holyoke. But you had a part in this story. Because your support of Wellstone Action lets us train Alex, and thousands like him, all over the country. Fully 50% of our Camp Wellstone program is supported by donors like you. More than half of our campers depend on your help - they'd never be able to attend Camp Wellstone without you.
Will you help us train the next Alex Morse?
We know you join us in congratulating Alex on his incredible victory. And we hope you'll help us find and train even more inspiring progressive leaders. Thank you for supporting Camp Wellstone, and especially those participants who could never get to camp without you.
P.S. "Any progressive candidate, at all levels of government, should enroll in Camp Wellstone". ~ Alex Morse, Alumnus, Camp Wellstone - New York AND Mayor-Elect of Holyoke!
Why Not You? Sign up for Camp Wellstone - Twin Cities or Camp Wellstone - Madison TODAY!