Nichole Mossalam Enters State Rep. Race In Malden, Medford

MALDEN, MA — Nichole Mossalam is running for state representative in the 35th Middlesex District. She will challenge 11-term State Rep. Paul Donato in the Democratic primary.

Mossalam is the former chair of Malden's Disability Commission, former co-chair of progressive advocacy organization Our Revolution Massachusetts and the founding director of The Islamic Cultural Center of Medford.

"I believe we can do better addressing the needs of our community. I am running because I believe that we need elected leaders who are committed to all our working families and who are reliable advocates for those who need an ally in government," Mossalam said in a statement.

On the Disability Commission, Mossalam applied a collaborative leadership style that resulted in the installation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Boards for the use of non-verbal children at all school playgrounds in Malden.

She also played a pivotal role in securing a $40,000 grant that funded a city-wide accessibility study, which created a transitional plan that allowed the city access to more grant funding, rolled out police-stop communication cards for the hard of hearing, and led to another $45,000 grant for accessibility improvements at the Malden Senior Center.

As former co-chair of Our Revolution, a statewide progressive advocacy organization, Mossalam helped create a firm foundation in the organization's first year, build an inclusive environment for activists, and supported local chapters in their advocacy of issues that strengthen their communities.

At the Islamic Cultural Center of Medford, Mossalam ran interfaith programming and coordinated community outreach. Her work included bringing Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other faith leaders together to support institutions like "Malden Unites Against Hate" and a "Fastathon," which raised $7,000 to support the work of Housing Families.

Mossalam and her husband Mohanad came to Malden eight years ago with their first son, and have since had two more children and adopted two dogs.

A press release from her campaign says her family chose to lay down their roots in Malden because they love being a part of a community where people have different backgrounds and where new residents live and collaborate with families that go back generations. They have a collective passion for working hard and giving back, and Mossalam is a firm believer in rolling up her sleeves and helping make change happen, according to the release.

"I strongly believe our politics need to be inclusive and value the contributions of all the residents of our district," Mossalam said. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our diverse working class community puts a spotlight on the challenges that all our families face in times of crisis but also shows how much we can accomplish when we support each other. We deserve a representative who values our diversity, who brings people together around our shared concerns, and who respects the dignity of all. We need an independent leader who will put the concerns of our families first."

The 35th Middlesex District includes parts of Malden and Medford.