Boston City Councilor to Speak at Newton MLK Event

NEWTON, MA -- On Monday, Jan. 18, at 10 a.m., Mayor Warren welcomes Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley to Newton to serve as the keynote speaker at the annual City of Newton Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event at Our Lady Help of Christian Parish.

“I am delighted to welcome Councilor Pressley to join us in celebrating the work and legacy of Dr. King,” Mayor Warren said in a statement. “Councilor Pressley embraces the values that Dr. King spent his life fighting for, and we look forward to sharing this important community event with her.”

First elected in 2009, Pressley was the first woman of color ever elected to the Council, said the announcement. In 2015, Pressley earned the EMIILY’s List Rising Star Award and was named one of Boston Magazine’s Power Players. In 2014, Pressley was named to Boston Magazine’s Power of Ideas list, was a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Ten Outstanding Young Leaders honoree, and earned the Victim Rights Law Center’s Leadership Award.

All are welcome to attend, and guests are encouraged to bring a few new toiletry items for a toiletry drive being organized by the Rotary Club of Newton. Items we are hoping to collect include toothpaste, shaving cream, toilet paper and diapers.

The drive will benefit each of Newton’s food pantries.