WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government — endorsed Jackie Gordon for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 2nd Congressional District.

Jackie Gordon was born in Jamaica, West Indies and grew up in Queens, New York.. For over 30 years, she has served as a dedicated educator in the New York City and Long Island Public School systems. Ms. Gordon earned degrees in education from Hunter College and Queens College and while in school, enlisted in the United States Army Reserve; ultimately serving for over 29 years in the Armed Forces. Ms. Gordon has served our country overseas during Operation Desert Storm as a platoon leader, at Guantanamo Bay during the Global War on Terror as an operations officer and in Afghanistan in 2012 as Commander of the 310th Military Police Battalion. Ms. Gordon retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014 from the Army Reserves. 

Founders of The Collective PAC, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement: 

“The Collective PAC is proud to endorse Jackie Gordon for the U.S. House of Representatives as she launches her campaign today. Ms. Gordon currently serves as a guidance counselor at Wilson Technological Center in Farmingdale, where she mentors and advises Long Island high schoolers. She is also a proven public servant who served on the Babylon Town Council from 2007 to 2020. During her tenure on the city council, Ms. Gordon pushed for the revitalization of Wyandanch Village, worked to direct resources to veterans and military families and raised almost $1 million for the Wounded Warriors Project through the annual Soldier Ride in Babylon. We were proud to support Ms. Gordon during her bid for this seat in 2020 and we are confident that she can flip this seat from red to blue next November. Jackie Gordon’s experience as a public servant, educator and veteran makes her the best leader to represent the 2nd Congressional District of New York in Washington and The Collective PAC looks forward to supporting her once again on the campaign trail.”

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government — condemned Boston City Council candidate Mary Tamer on her campaign’s use of blatantly racist mailers targeting Kendra Hicks, a Black woman running for the same city council seat. 

Founders of The Collective PAC, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement: 

“The Collective PAC is appalled by the blatantly racist and tired campaign tactic used by Mary Tamer’s campaign to attack her fellow city council challenger, Kendra Hicks. Editing and darkening a Black candidate’s photo in campaign mailers has unfortunately been a longstanding political tactic to fearmonger voters against Black candidates like Kendra Hicks. This form of discriminatory and petty campaign tactics has no place in Boston politics and as the former president of the city’s League of Women Voters campaigning to represent all Bostonians, Mrs. Tamer should be ashamed of her racist actions against a Black woman. Boston voters deserve better and clearly, Mrs. Tamer is not interested in representing the best interests of people of color and as such, should not be elected to serve the residents of district 6 in the Boston City Council. 

Last month, The Collective PAC endorsed Kendra Hicks for Boston City Council and would like to take the time to restate that Mrs. Hicks is an experienced organizer, nonprofit executive and racial equity consultant who has worked tirelessly to enact  change in her Jamaica Plane neighborhood. She is an outstanding leader who understands the challenges and opportunities facing Bostonians and The Collective PAC looks forward to helping Mrs. Hicks continue her work to ensure that Boston is a city that represents and works for the best interests of all residents.”

Kendra Hicks (candidate for Boston City Council) is a proud first-generation Black Dominican woman, mother, wife and artist. She was born in the Bronx, NY and in 1990 relocated to Jamaica Plane with her family and has called it home ever since. At the age of 13, Mrs. Hicks discovered her calling to become a community organizer and an agent of change. For the past five years, she has served as Director of Radical Philanthropy at the historic Boston-based organization Resist and if elected to city council, will continue to work on educational equity, safe and affordable housing and environmental justice. 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective, the nation’s largest group of affiliated organizations dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government  —  honors the Honorable Colin Powell. Founders of The Collective, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement: 

“The Collective is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the former history maker and U.S. Secretary of State, the Honorable Colin Powell. Born in New York City in 1937, Secretary Powell dedicated his life to serving his country as a distinguished soldier and groundbreaking leader in the military. Throughout his storied career, Secretary Powell always strived for excellence: becoming the nation’s first Black national security advisor, the youngest and first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first Black U.S. Secretary of State. His dedicated leadership helped shape American forgien policy in the late 1990s and early 2000s and blazed a trail for generations to follow. The Collective is grateful for Colin Powell’s steadfast stewardship, exemplary commitment to truth and service, and unyielding faith that through hard work, our country could become its best version possible for all people.”

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE 

The Collective is a group of affiliated organizations working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. Through our affiliated organizations — The Collective PAC, The Collective Super PAC, The Southern Strategy, Collective Future and The Collective Education Fund — we are strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.