Jackson opens new field office, gets boost from female friends

Sometimes you need help from your friends.

That’s what City Councilor Tito Jackson got recently when a group of female supporters gathered to raise money and give him a boost in his bid to unseat Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

“We are pulling together our friends to meet and get reconnected with Tito in his run for mayor,’’ said Stephanie Anderson Garrett, who ran Jackson’s first campaign and helped organize last week’s event, which drew about 65 people.

The “Women for Tito” soiree was held at the Harborside Inn downtown. It’s one of many gatherings Jackson and his supporters have launched since he announced he was running for mayor in January. Jackson is also preparing to open a new campaign field office on Warren Street in Roxbury, which will have its grand opening this month, the campaign said.

Anderson Garrett said many people view Jackson as an authentic voice for their causes, including boosting public education and small businesses, and curbing crime.

“We care about this city … and we care about the vision that Tito Jackson has for this city,’’ Anderson Garrett said.

As Jackson campaign videos played on a screen in the background, women who spoke at the event described Jackson as a fighter who does not quit.

“I decided to support Tito because I think he can do the job,’’ said Sarah Ann Shaw, a longtime community activist and pioneer in Boston journalism. “I knew his mother. … I knew his dad. I think Tito can make a change in Boston. Boston needs to have a change.”

She said that although Boston has more people of color than in the past, that representation is not readily seen at City Hall.

Jackson closed out the event with a call to action. Are you ready to knock on doors?’’ he said. “Are you read to make phone calls? Are you ready to win?”