Ayanna Pressley

I am probably an outsider because I challenge conventional narratives about who should have a seat at the table. ”

People close to me personally, politically, have expressed frustration that I'm not the political animal that they wish that I were. ”

Public service and community organizing and movement building is such a part of my DNA that it's really hard to separate it. ”

Because boys tend to dominate the narrative for who's at risk, sometimes they dominate the lion's share of services, too. ”

There's many law changes, policy changes I can point to. But a lot of my work has also been to name the issue that no one else named - to spotlight it, to advocate for it. That's where all advocacy begins. I've asked different questions. I've raised different issues. ”

We must acknowledge that issues like systemic racism, economic inequality, and the achievement gap are the result of manmade policies. ”

I used to turn in, like, 20 money orders to pay my rent - $20 for this one, $30 for this one. I didn't have a checking account. ”

I've always had a love affair with Boston. ”

Since being elected to the City Council, I have been unwavering in my commitment to address issues uniquely impacting women and girls and advance policies that stabilize and strengthen our communities. ”

I don't have stars in my eyes. I'm not personally ambitious. I'm very aspirational. ”