Ayanna Pressley is an advocate, a policy-maker, an activist, and survivor. Raised in Chicago as the only child of an activist mother who instilled in her the value of civic participation, Ayanna understands the role that government should play in helping to lift up communities that are in need of the most help.

Ayanna is no stranger to breaking down barriers in public service. Her election to the Boston City Council in 2009 marked the first time a woman of color was elected to the Council in its 100-year history. And after 8 years of engaging community voices and making sure they have a seat at the table at the city council level, she wants to bring this approach to Congress and is seeking the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District.

Massachusetts’s 7th Congressional District is the most diverse district in the delegation and among the most unequal in the entire country. And this is the result of decades of policies that have hardened systemic racism, increased income inequality, and advantaged the affluent. Now, more than ever, we need representatives, like Ayanna, who has proven to be a proactive partner in her community, and who will not shy away from difficult political fights. Just as man-made policy has led us to the inequality we see today, so too can intentional, empathetic policy.

That’s why Ayanna is running for re-election to Congress. A reliable vote is no longer enough - especially in a deep blue district. Ayanna believes that the 7th Congressional District deserves intentional, activist leadership that elevates the voices of everyone in the community.