I’ll never stop fighting for justice and our collective liberation.

A parent is a child’s first teacher — and I had a great one in my mother.

My mother, Sandy, may she rest in peace and power — gave me my roots and my wings. And as I reflect on the story that brought me here — the historic moment in 2018 when I became the first Black woman elected to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives — I keep going back to my mom, who shaped the soil in which I am rooted.

I grew up as an only child born during the month of February — Black History Month. And my mother declared at a young age that I was destined to make Black history.

From the day I was born, my mother made sure I understood my power and my worth, but also that I was being born into a struggle. And it was her expectation that I would play a role in that struggle — the fight for justice and our collective liberation.

She raised me on her hip at tenants’ rights organizing meetings, on the campaign trail, and in the voting booth. My first coloring book was by the Chicago Defender — Chicago’s historic Black newspaper — where I filled in sketches of afros and Black liberation fists. Instead of telling me fairytales, she read me the speeches of Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm.

She was a super voter and fierce activist who taught me the difference between your job and your Work: Your job is what you do to pay the bills. Your Work is the Work of organizing, of community-building, of justice-seeking.

Through her dedication to activism, she taught me that the power of the people is always greater than the people in power.

And she taught me the importance of standing in my power fully.

It’s because of her guidance and unwavering support that I came to Boston and started on a trajectory that would change my life. A trajectory that would lead me to speak truth to power in Congress. A trajectory that would become the origin of my leadership story.

In moments where I question if I’m on the right path, I go back to my mom. I remember how some of the greatest injustices and disparities I’d ever witnessed and lived through — injustices my mother helped me understand — were legislated at the federal level. And I remind myself that the decision I made to run for Congress is one I would make over and over again.

When I look at families struggling to afford housing, the life-saving drugs they need to survive, the cost of a quality education, I hear my mom’s voice reminding me that I was born two months early because I was ready to get to Work. And I’m reminded that we have to keep governing like lives depend on it, because they do.

That’s why I’ll never stop fighting to ensure the people closest to the pain are closest to the power. So if you’re all in to fight for justice and our collective liberation — just like my mom — please make a contribution now to power our movement for bold, transformative policies that put people first and deliver real results for workers and families.

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Yours in service,

Ayanna