Nichole Mossalam to challenge Paul Donato in State Rep. race

  Nichole Mossalam has officially announced her candidacy for State Representative of the 35th Middlesex District, which includes parts of the cities of Malden and 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,” said Mossalam. “I strongly believe our politics need to be inclusive and value the contributions of all the residents of our district. 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.”

  Mossalam is the former chair of Malden’s Disability Commission. There, she applied a collaborative leadership style that resulted in the installation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication boards at all Malden Public Schools’ playgrounds for the use of non-verbal children. Additionally, Mossalam led efforts that secured a $40,000 grant that funded a city-wide accessibility study that created a transitional plan making the city eligible for more grant funding, rolled out police-stop communication cards for the hard of hearing, and recently secured another $45,000 in grant funding for accessibility improvements for the Malden Senior Center.

  As former co-chair of Our Revolution, a state-wide progressive advocacy organization, she 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.

  Mossalam was also the founding director of the Islamic Cultural Center of Medford, where she ran interfaith programming and coordinated community outreach. Her interfaith organizing work included bringing Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other faith leaders together to support institutions such as “Malden Unites Against Hate” and a “Fastathon” which raised $7,000 to support the work of Housing Families. She is a firm believer in rolling up her sleeves and helping make change happen, and has served Medford and Malden in many capacities.

  Mossalam and her husband, Mohanad, came to Malden eight years ago with their first son, and have had two more children since. They chose to lay down their roots and raise their three children and two adopted dogs here because they love being a part of the community in Malden and Medford where people have different backgrounds, and where new residents live side by side with families that go back generations, yet they share so many of the same concerns, are engaged in civic life, and work together to strengthen our cities. They have a collective passion for working hard and giving back.

  Mossalam is challenging State Representative Paul Donato in the Democratic Primary. Donato is currently serving his 11th term.