Maxwell Alejandro Frost made history this year by becoming the first Generation Z member of Congress. I was proud to endorse him during his crowded Democratic Primary in District 10 where he came out on top — not only for the values he leads by, but for the person he is too.
A truly remarkable individual, Maxwell was born to a Puerto Rican woman of Lebanese descent and a Haitian father. He was adopted as an infant — his mother is a special education teacher who migrated to the United States from Cuba in the Freedom Flights, and his adoptive father is a musician from Kansas.
A young man who understands struggle, Maxwell came of age as mass shootings, economic upheaval and discrimination took center stage in the United States. But instead of tuning out the news and turning a blind eye towards these very real problems, Maxwell found power in pain and took action for his community. He dived deep into gun safety prevention work with March For Our Lives, organized in the streets for Black Lives Matter and has been an unapologetic advocate for both LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom.
I first met Maxwell following the devastating shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; he and I were both working with impacted students and helped to organize a major gun safety rally in Orlando that coincided with nation-wide actions. He soon became the National Organizing Director for March For Our Lives, and would spend time working with the ACLU too.
When Maxwell decided to run for Congress, a lot of folks told him not to. Some said it “wasn’t his time” and that he should wait.
I 100% disagree. We’ve seen around the country the power of Generation Z — from school walkouts against the ‘Don’t Say Gay/Trans Bill’ to climate activists and gun safety organizers — this is a power that should not be hindered, it should be unlocked and supported. So when Maxwell asked me if he should run I didn’t hesitate to support him.
Our country is desperate for a new generation of leaders who are not bought and sold by corporations, for leaders who solve problems and focus on delivering results for the American people. For leaders who inspire engagement and unity — not apathy and division.
Maxwell is that leader. He is someone who centers policy around people and believes in bold change. Maxwell is exactly the kind of voice we need in Congress, the type of role model the next generation deserves and I cannot wait to see how he’ll continue to make history as the remarkable person he is.
To view the full list of Watermark’s Remarkable People of 2022, click here.
