Ayanna Pressley
Congresswoman, 7th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
“Women and girls deserve to lead lives free of violence and full of joy. Girls’ LEAP emboldens girls to stand in their power and to honor their right to safety. We are raising the next generation of activist leaders and with the guidance and partnership of organizations like Girls’ LEAP, I am confident that their voices will be lifted, and their futures will be bright."
Congresswoman Pressley is an advocate, a policymaker, an activist, and a survivor – and a long-time friend to Girls’ LEAP. She believes that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power and that a diversity of voices in the political process is essential to crafting more effective public policy.
Pressley has achieved a number of firsts. In 2009, she launched a historic at-large campaign for Boston City Council and won, becoming the first woman of color elected to the Council in its 100-year history. In 2018, she was elected Congresswoman, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Congresswoman Pressley was born in Cincinnati and raised in Chicago. She attended Boston University. She is the only child of a single mother and a father who was in and out of the criminal legal system. Congresswoman Pressley’s mother, Sandra Pressley, was a tenants’ rights organizer who instilled in her the value of civic engagement. Thanks in large part to her mother’s dedication to activism, Pressley has always been acutely aware of the role that government can play in lifting up families and communities.
For LEAP, Congresswoman Pressley is a friend, role model, a champion, and an inspiration. We are beyond grateful for her support.