Ayanna Pressley Biography (1974–)
Ayanna Pressley Biography (1974–)
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from Massachusetts. She is a member of "The Squad."
Who Is Ayanna Pressley?
A Chicago native, Ayanna Pressley moved to Boston to attend college, and began her political career working for Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, before working for then-Senator John Kerry in various roles for 13 years. Before her election to Congress, where she became part of a group known as “The Squad,” Pressley served as the Boston City Council’s first elected woman of color.
Early Life and Education
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 3, 1974, and raised in what she described as a “tough” Chicago neighborhood, Ayanna Soyini Pressley is the only child of tenants’ rights organizer Sandra Pressley and Martin Terrell, who struggled with heroin addiction and spent 16 years in and out of prison. Pressley’s father later overcame his addiction and became a published author.
She attended Chicago’s private Francis W. Parker School, where she served as class president from 7th grade through her senior year. A cheerleader and debater, she was selected as her graduating class’s commencement speaker, and was named “most likely to be mayor of Chicago.”
READ MORE: Ayanna Pressley Biography (1974–) https://www.biography.com/political-figure...
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from Massachusetts. She is a member of "The Squad."
Who Is Ayanna Pressley?
A Chicago native, Ayanna Pressley moved to Boston to attend college, and began her political career working for Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, before working for then-Senator John Kerry in various roles for 13 years. Before her election to Congress, where she became part of a group known as “The Squad,” Pressley served as the Boston City Council’s first elected woman of color.
Early Life and Education
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 3, 1974, and raised in what she described as a “tough” Chicago neighborhood, Ayanna Soyini Pressley is the only child of tenants’ rights organizer Sandra Pressley and Martin Terrell, who struggled with heroin addiction and spent 16 years in and out of prison. Pressley’s father later overcame his addiction and became a published author.
She attended Chicago’s private Francis W. Parker School, where she served as class president from 7th grade through her senior year. A cheerleader and debater, she was selected as her graduating class’s commencement speaker, and was named “most likely to be mayor of Chicago.”
READ MORE: Ayanna Pressley Biography (1974–) https://www.biography.com/political-figure...
QUICK FACTS
Ayanna Pressley
February 3, 1974 (age 48)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Ayanna Soyini Pressley