Movement family, earlier this summer, I opened my inbox to questions from you, and this community delivered. My heart is full from reading the messages of courage and kindness.

There were also so many questions coming from a place of real hurt and fear about the state of our country. I just want to say: I’m with you, and I’m fighting for you.

Now, I’d like to take a moment to respond to some of your questions:

Ryan from South Carolina asks: How do you stay grounded and professional when working with elected officials whose views may be deeply at odds with your values, especially on issues of justice and equality?

I’ve been a Black woman my whole life — I’m not new to the challenges that come along with this work. My very existence is seen as a threat to some of my extremist, MAGA colleagues. That’s all the more reason for me to keep fighting for housing justice, reproductive justice, a fair criminal legal system, and other policies that uplift Black and brown communities.

My mother taught me early on that to be Black is something beautiful, but that I was being born into a struggle. And she had an expectation that I would do my part in that struggle — in the work of liberation for Black and all marginalized people. That’s how I stay grounded and keep moving forward.

Nina from Massachusetts asks: If I have five minutes a day to engage politically, what’s the most effective way to use that time to push back against rising authoritarianism in this country?

There is so much work to be done, but here’s my short answer: Organize — it’s our greatest tool.

Five minutes a day may not seem like a lot, but here’s what I suggest you can do to push back against Republican attacks on our democracy and hard-earned civil rights:

Call your members of Congress. Let them know you’re a constituent, and that you’re paying attention. It really does make an impact and on many issues, constituent calls from Democrats are far outnumbered by Republicans.
Check on your neighbors. Dr. King taught us that our beloved community is an antidote to cruelty and chaos, so we must grow our movement centered in love and righteous indignation.
Chip in $25 or whatever makes sense to you to this campaign. I ran for Congress to fight for the people — and that’s what I do every single day. Making a contribution takes less than five minutes and helps fight back against Trump’s authoritarianism.

Ada from Massachusetts asks: On a lighter note, your recent email mentioned your morning routine. Would you be willing to share what that looks like?

I wake up every morning around 5am and center myself with a reading from The President’s Devotional by Joshua DuBois. If I have time, I like to sneak in a workout before my day starts. I’m not a coffee drinker but I do have a few cups of green tea most days.

Now, I don’t know about y’all, but I’m an Aquarius and we like to make lists. Every day, I make lists of the things I want to accomplish. That list is often exhaustive. But there have been many days in my life when the only thing on my to-do list, the only task, was “get up.” And that’s okay. Our fight is a marathon, not a sprint. And we must practice self care.

Thanks for all of your questions! I keep each and every one of you in my thoughts. I hope you’re finding ways to center yourself and steady your steps on days when the ground feels like it's moving beneath our feet.

In solidarity,

Ayanna