BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN AYANNA PRESSLEY A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO BE ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL IN ITS 103 YEARS HISTORY : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

                                          BLACK           SOCIAL         HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ayanna Pressley is a member of the Boston City Council in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the first woman of color to be elected to the council in its 103-year history.

Career

A native of Chicago, Pressley attended Boston University, but dropped out to support her mother who lost her job. After leaving Boston University, Pressley worked as a Senior Aide for Congressman Joseph Patrick Kennedy II and United States Senator John Kerry. During 2009, Pressley served as Kerry’s Political Director, responsible for managing his relationships with elected officials at the city, state and federal level and with various community leaders.

Pressley was first elected to the Boston City Council on November 3, 2009. The only woman in a field of 15 candidates, Pressley earned one of four At-Large spots on the city’s 13-member council with nearly 42,000 votes. After being sworn in on January 4, 2010 she became the first woman of color to serve in the 100-year history of the Boston City Council.

In 2011, Pressley faced a highly competitive reelection campaign, but finished first among At-Large candidates with 37,000 votes. She won 13 of the City’s 22 wards and finished 2nd in three others. Pressley dominated Boston’s communities of color and progressive neighborhoods.