TL/DR –
Pablo Iván McConnie-Saad, an Oberlin College graduate, is running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District. McConnie-Saad, who worked as a policy advisor for the U.S. Department of the Treasury and advised former President Joe Biden on the Inflation Reduction Act, is of Puerto Rican descent and grew up in a low-income family in South Philadelphia. As part of his campaign, McConnie-Saad hopes to attract young people who share his vision and believes his experiences resonate with an international audience.
Pablo Iván McConnie-Saad, Oberlin Alumnus, Launches Congressional Campaign
Pablo Iván McConnie-Saad, an Oberlin College graduate from the class of 2010, has joined the race for Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District which encompasses Philadelphia. McConnie-Saad’s academic journey includes a Hispanic Studies major degree from Oberlin and later earning a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate of philosophy from the University of Delaware.
His professional background involves time spent as a policy advisor with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he played an instrumental role in advising former President Joe Biden on the Inflation Reduction Act.
McConnie-Saad’s Political Beginnings at Oberlin
McConnie-Saad was actively engaged in politics during his time at Oberlin, an institution renowned for its activism and political mobilization. His political journey began there and carried through to Obama’s historic election.
Even before his time at Oberlin, McConnie-Saad displayed a strong sense of diversity and perseverance. As a Puerto Rican growing up in South Philadelphia, he experienced financial difficulties and discrimination, having to frequently move as his parents struggled to secure a mortgage. Despite these challenges, McConnie-Saad and his brothers managed to attend good schools through scholarships.
Experience as a Low-Income Student at Oberlin
McConnie-Saad fondly recalls his time at Oberlin as a low-income student. Despite coming from a less affluent background, he found a like-minded community where he felt included. Being a federal work-study student, he was able to work while studying and never felt deprived of job opportunities due to his financial background.
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellowship Experience
Drawing from his experience as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow, McConnie-Saad shared his interest in understanding the economic paradox of the Democratic Republic of Congo – a country immensely rich in minerals, yet also the poorest in the world. His research shed light on how the U.S. government’s actions contributed to the country’s current state and drew parallels with the situation of working people in the U.S., revealing a system that often works against them.
Challenges of Fighting for the Working Class
Tackling systemic issues like affordable healthcare, McConnie-Saad finds it challenging to fight for the working class while aspiring to be a governmental figure. Drawing from his Oberlin experience, he finds inspiration in the institution’s history of fighting the system from within.
Oberlin Legacy in Career
The community-governance model of Oberlin, where student-run communities learn how to manage a society, was an aspect that McConnie-Saad greatly admired and has implemented in his career. This experience, he believes, paved the way for his understanding of governance and society.
Role of Youth in McConnie-Saad’s Campaign
McConnie-Saad is eager to engage young people in his campaign. He invites those who share his vision to join him, asserting that his particular story resonates not just on a local level, but on a national and global scale as well. He perceives his campaign as a movement and an opportunity for others to get involved, promising to learn from and mentor those who join him.
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