|
| Affiliation | Democratic |
|
| |
2010-01-01 |
|
|
| Name | Andrew Charles Gall |
| Address |
College Park, Maryland , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
Unknown
|
| Contributor | U Ole Polecat |
| Last Modifed | Craverguy
Jul 29, 2010 07:05pm |
| Tags |
|
| Info | Andrew Gall, a proud resident of Prince George's County (College Park), graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor's degree in political economy and history. The day after he graduated he began work at a marketing firm. Despite the opportunity to earn six figures within two years, Andrew quit the firm after just a few months; "Although I liked my co-workers and found the work entertaining, I felt that something was missing. I hadn't yet figured out what it was, but I knew I wasn't finding the job fulfilling."
Then Hurricane Katrina struck, "I was safely removed from New Orleans- losing only a dinky old car- but watching the destruction wrought by the storm opened my eyes to the fragility of life and made me take stock of my priorities. I realized that I didn't want a job simply to make money, I wanted a job that would allow me to give back." Consequently, Andrew then took a job teaching English (he had run a Saturday classroom program as an undergraduate for local elementary and middle school children), and subsequently joined AmeriCorps VISTA (a national service program aimed at alleviating poverty in the United States). "I didn't know it at the time, but my mother was a VISTA member too. I don't find it surprising or coincidental though. My mom is the most inspiring person in my life, and it was witnessing her commitment to service [she is the director of a social service agency for youth] that catalyzed me to follow a similar path.” As a VISTA member, Andrew worked to find affordable housing solutions for the Municipality of Anchorage, ran a community clean-up in the city’s most impoverished neighborhood, and taught a grassroots community leadership training program.
After his year of service and some time off to care for his ailing grandmother, Andrew joined Obama for America. After beginning as an intern in Chicago, Andrew went on to work as a field organizer in Iowa, Alaska, Ohio, and West Virginia during the primaries and as a voter file manager in North Carolina and Colorado during the general election. “I joined the Obama campaign because I wanted to make a difference and I believed that the election of Barack Obama would be a tremendously positive step for our nation. I was inspired by his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, I was inspired by his life story, but I was particularly drawn to his campaign because of his strong and principled opposition to the War in Iraq, an opposition which I shared.” Knocking on doors and talking to voters across the country was a profound experience for Andrew. “I realized that, fundamentally, people all across our country share the same basic desires from the government and for their lives; certainly there is a great deal of diversity in the detailed particulars, but everybody is essentially searching for happiness, health, security, a fair shot in life, and a better life for those yet to come." In addition to seeing the country, the campaign changed Andrew’s perspective on life, "my real 'ah-ha' moment from the campaign was the crystallization of the possibility for individual and collective action to create change; while I was ingrained with the middle class platitudes of being able to do whatever I wanted, it wasn't until I spent time on the campaign and witnessed the power of individuals organizing in their communities- the power of people coming together to change the world- that I recognized the faultiness of apathy and richness of hope."
After working on the presidential campaign, Andrew began graduate school. He just completed his first year with a 3.96 GPA. “My singular professional goal is to create as much positive change as possible, and it was this goal that led me to pursue a master’s degree in public policy. Growing up I wanted to be a teacher, and I continue to believe that teaching is an absolutely tremendous profession, but I realized that, as a teacher, I could only reach the kids that happened to filter through my classroom, whereas, if I could help alter public policy to improve the system as a whole, I could benefit every kid everywhere in this country that goes through a public school system. This realization- this capacity to create real and meaningful change- is what led me to public policy and politics generally.”
"My fundamental philosophy of governance is guided by the idea that every child, no matter the circumstances they are born into, should have as close to an equal opportunity in life to succeed as possible." For Andrew, "government, when at its best, gives a voice to the voiceless and champions policy for the powerless... if I make a mistake, let it be in favor of those that have the least among us." Andrew hopes to be able to carry his vision for change to the people of Maryland, "whether advocating for resources to preserve our Bay, or standing up to bullying lobbyists, I firmly believe that, if given the opportunity to represent Maryland in congress, I will make this district incredibly proud.”
|
 | BOOKS |
 |
|
| Title |
Purchase |
Contributor |
|
| Start Date |
End Date |
Type |
Title |
Contributor |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
| INFORMATION LINKS |
|
|
|
