As I have always said, those closest to the pain should be closest to the power.
Interpretation
Empower those who experience hardship to have a voice in decision-making.
Ayanna Pressley's quote emphasizes the importance of including individuals who directly experience pain and hardship in positions of power and influence. It underscores the belief that those who understand and endure struggles are best equipped to lead and advocate for meaningful change, as their insights can drive actions that truly address the needs of the affected communities.
In practice
In a discussion on social justice, one might say, 'As I have always said, those closest to the pain should be closest to the power.'
I'm not naive. All politics is about identity, right? Neighborhood politics, cultural politics, issue politics. It's not as though I don't get that. It's just - it has to be, I think, tempered in a way that is for our overall advancement and not to our detriment or obliteration. When I say 'our,' I don't mean just communities of color.
We should be uncomfortable with the growing gaps in our society, and we cannot allow ourselves to become desensitized to these injustices.
We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform in this nation, and yes, comprehensive immigration reform proposals are nuanced and complicated, but you know what shouldn't be? Our capacity to see each other's humanity.
You cannot have a government for and by the people if it is not represented by all of the people.
Raising me as a single parent, my mother held many jobs. Most of them had to do with the betterment and the advancement of our community and society at large. I grew up seeing her active in ministries at our church, with the homeless, as a social worker, with elderly, with youth, as a children's rights organizer with the Urban League of Chicago.
At the women's march, we held signs that said, 'Today we march, tomorrow we run.' They didn't believe us, but it's coming to pass.
There's some evidence that if you're recruiting, you tend to recruit a mini-me. Then you have a very comfortable group round a table. You all think alike. You agree. People are arguing that the banking crisis was because too many of the relevant bodies were thinkalikes, and that if they'd had more diversity, maybe it wouldn't have happened.
The ability to change one's views without losing one's seat is the mark of a great politician.
Moving into an unoccupied village when there's no opposition, I don't call that a military victory.
The greatest thing you do as a leader may not _x000D_ be what you do as a leader but who watches you _x000D_ do what you do.
We need a new model: If you can't explain it, you can't sell it.
I think playing cricket taught me more about working in teams and leadership that has stayed with me throughout my career.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.