Ayanna Pressley’s career has been marked by history-making campaigns and a determination to advance an agenda focused on breaking cycles of poverty and violence. Pressley was first elected to the Boston City Council on November 3, 2009. In doing so, she became the first woman of color ever elected to the Boston City Council.
In 2011, Pressley faced a challenging reelection campaign and yet she competed and won in every neighborhood in the city, regardless of the neighborhood’s racial makeup. The Boston Globe proclaimed Pressley’s victory an “extraordinary feat.”
During her time in office, Pressley created and chairs a new standing committee, the Committee on Women & Healthy Communities. It is devoted to the causes that she has always championed: stabilizing families and communities, reducing and preventing violence and trauma, combating poverty and addressing issues which disproportionately impact women and girls. Pressley has earned local and national attention for her efforts to provide pathways to graduation for pregnant and parenting teens, ensure Boston high school students received comprehensive sexual health education and strengthen support services for families of homicide victims.
The Boston Globe named Pressley one of its 2011 Bostonians of the Year. BET recognized her with its 2011 Leading Woman Award and The Urban League honored Pressley as a Woman of Power.
Pressley’s political career spans more than 18 years including work as a Senior Aide for Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II and Senator John Kerry.
