As I’m headed into my first full term in Congress, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my journey to this point and who inspired me to take up this mantle of servant leadership. My mother is the light and inspiration that has led me down this path today.
Growing up, my mother emphasized the importance of my education and the value of fighting for what I believe in. From a young age, I excelled academically, even being invited to a gifted program on the west side of Cleveland. But with my father working and our lack of transportation, my zip code excluded me from this opportunity.
Despite my disappointment, my mother taught me not to complain but to be the change we want to see. We doubled down, ensuring I would excel the best I could with the tools I had, never giving up, all while my mother continued to fight for my place in the gifted program. With time, our fight paid off, allowing me to bus across the city to attend classes. My mother’s persistence instilled in me a drive to fight that I still carry today.
I tell this story to show the willpower and drive we must bring with us today as we navigate tumultuous times.Governing is a fight, and like my mother, we must persist.
While we won’t have a Democratic majority in the House when we return in 2023, we must overcome adversity and build a broad coalition of support across the aisle to create the change we want to see.
As we head into 2023, my Democratic colleagues and I are already at work creating an economy that every American can thrive in, protecting our voting and abortion rights, and so much more. We have fought for our rights and freedoms for decades, and we will continue to persist.
As a Cuyahoga County Council member and Chairwoman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, Shontel Brown has spent the last decade serving the people of Ohio and building coalitions. Now, as the Congresswoman for Ohio’s 11th District, she will fight for affordable quality health care, jobs that pay fair wages, a strong public education system, and equity and justice for all. Will you join her and be the change we need?
