Who I Am and Why I Am Running for Boston City Council At-Large

I grew up in a tough neighborhood in Chicago.  Bad influences and distractions were around every corner. But I also learned that my neighborhood could be a nurturing, positive place to grow up. We make mistakes when we stereotype neighborhoods as “bad,” not worth our attention or investment, or different than our own.

What I learned growing up holds true for Boston.  We may say we’re from South Boston or the South End, Roxbury or West Roxbury, Chinatown or Charlestown, or another neighborhood when we’re asked where we live.  The truth is, we’re all Bostonians and our future is a shared one.

My mother raised me on her own because my father was battling an addiction and was in and out of prison for most of my childhood.  We often lived paycheck to paycheck.  Thanks to my mother’s sacrifices, I was able to attend one of the best schools in Chicago.  I believe that no family should have to make the sacrifices my mother made.  Our schools should be rewarding for all students.  We can do better, and I want to help our schools get better.

I came to Boston to attend Boston University, but never graduated.  As it turned out, I also had to make sacrifices for the sake of our family.  My mother lost her job, so I left school to work full-time to support her.

Fourteen years ago, I was given the unique opportunity to work for Congressman Kennedy as a constituent services representative.  Through my work in his office, I was able to help families like mine access opportunities and services.  It was a start to my career in public service that I’ll forever be grateful for and has opened so many doors that I never dreamed would be available to me.

Since then, I’ve worked on behalf of families throughout Massachusetts as Senator Kerry’s Political Director, served in leadership positions with groups such as the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus and the Young Professionals Preventing Child Abuse and the Children’s Trust Fund. In addition, I mentor with the Young Black Women’s Society and Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, and am a member of the NAACP.  I also serve on the Boards of several Boston and statewide organizations, including the UMass Boston Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus and Emerge Massachusetts.  I have dedicated my career to public service, and especially ensuring that women and minorities are given equal opportunities to succeed.

And I’m also proud to say that I am a Dorchester homeowner, the first ever homeowner in my family.  

Why am I running?

I believe that the City Council is responsible for responding to the needs of all of the people throughout every neighborhood in Boston.  Having spent the last 14 years as an advocate for women and children’s issues, an activist for increasing civic participation in all of our neighborhoods, and having served on the staffs of both Congressman Kennedy and Senator Kerry, I understand the role that government can play in empowering neighborhoods, providing assistance to individuals, and leveraging resources to benefit our communities.

I also believe government should be representative of the people they serve. If elected, I would be the first woman of color in the history of the Boston City Council. But while being the first woman of color elected would be an achievement, I’m not running just to make history.  I think that as an African-American woman, raised by a single mother, with almost 15 years of experience working as an advocate for services and opportunity, I will bring a fresh and unique perspective to the City Council that will benefit the entire city.

Finally, I believe that the Boston City Council has an important role in shaping the vision and future of our great city.  The Council isn’t only the legislative partner to the Mayor, but also a significant stakeholder in this incredible community project that is Boston.  It has a role in determining what the city is able to provide our citizens, how the city prepares our children for the future, and most important, how the city engages the people of Boston.

National and statewide issues that dominate headlines are important, but there are issues that are managed on the municipal level that are just too important to ignore.  Issues like educating our children, keeping our streets safe, making sure that families can afford to live in the city, and the economic future of Boston are all issues that are debated by the Council.

As your City Councilor, I pledge to be accessible, accountable, and serve as an advocate for all of Boston because I understand that we want all of our children to be safe when they’re walking home, all of our schools to have the best facilities, and for everyone who visits us to remember that Boston is that “city on a hill” that John Winthrop famously spoke about.    

I am looking forward to starting a conversation with you through this campaign and taking your ideas and concerns to the City Council.

Thank you for this opportunity to let you know a bit more about me and why I am running, and I’ll be back soon to offer more in-depth proposals about what I hope to accomplish if elected.  Meanwhile, I am happy to answer your questions here or feel free to visit my website at www.ayannapressley.com to get more information.

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