--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before running for the Washington State…" description: "\"Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. I had always believed that we needed to push for change on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/pramila-jayapal-5245_always_before-running-for-the-washington-state_1274285.jpg" --- # Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I… ![“Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. I had always believed that we needed to push for change on the outside, through community organizing and advocacy.” quote by Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/pramila-jayapal-5245_always_before-running-for-the-washington-state_1274285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/pramila-jayapal-5245_always_before-running-for-the-washington-state_1274285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/pramila-jayapal-5245_always_before-running-for-the-washington-state_1274285.jpg) > “Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. I had always believed that we needed to push for change on the outside, through community organizing and advocacy.” [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long‑term activism builds foundation for political office; change can be pursued both inside and outside institutions. **In simple terms:** Activism prepares for political impact; change works inside and out. Key Takeaway Leverage activist experience when entering formal politics. Themes activism politics change leadership Mood determined hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - community organizing - legislative work - public speaking Key Concepts civic engagement policy advocacy Questions to Reflect On - How will you maintain activist roots in office? - What strategies bridge community organizing with legislative action? A Different Perspective Transition may dilute grassroots focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Community organizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-organizing/) [Washington state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-state/) ## Related quotes > [Community organizing is all about building grassroots support. It's about identifying the people around you with whom you can create a common, passionate cause.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/community-organizing-is-all-about-building-grassroots-support-it-s/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I learned about community organizing from my parents. As a child, their stories were so instructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-learned-about-community-organizing-from-my-parents-as-a-child-their/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I was with - he wasn't the president then, but - Barack Obama, when he was running, in Washington, during Black Congressional Caucus Weekend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/i-was-with-he-wasn-t-the-president-then-but-barack-obama-when-he-was/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [The boys have been running Washington for a long-ass time. We're talking 200-some-odd years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/the-boys-have-been-running-washington-for-a-long-ass-time-we-re/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I was on the committee that helped raise the minimum wage here in Seattle. I introduced a statewide bill to raise the minimum wage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-was-on-the-committee-that-helped-raise-the-minimum-wage-here-in/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I became an immigrant, civil and human rights advocate, then the first South Asian elected to the Washington State Legislature and the only woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-became-an-immigrant-civil-and-human-rights-advocate-then-the-first/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I love my district, the 37th Legislative District in Washington State, where I have lived for more than 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-love-my-district-the-37th-legislative-district-in-washington-state/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I have my chops in organizing, and I know how to create political space through movement building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-have-my-chops-in-organizing-and-i-know-how-to-create-political/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [“Obama’s formative background is the left-wing fever swamp of Chicago “community organizing,” a gussied-up term for systematic rabble-rousing that has now become acceptable enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/obama-s-formative-background-is-the-left-wing-fever-swamp-of-chicago/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [ All the eight years of \[Barack\] Obama when \[George W.\] Bush was asked repeatedly, "I don't do that. I had my time. It's his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/all-the-eight-years-of-barack-obama-when-george-w-bush-was-asked/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Michelle and Barack \[Obama\] epitomize what my father set the stage for - they epitomize global community organizing. I'm a global child, I was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaak-shabazz/michelle-and-barack-obama-epitomize-what-my-father-set-the-stage-for/) [Malaak Shabazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaak-shabazz/) > [The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-pick-the-target-freeze-it/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [It is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul/it-is-necessary-to-begin-where-the-world-is-if-we-are-going-to-change/) [Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul/) > [Baltimore is a beautiful city. I started doing a lot of community organizing back in 1999 and met so many great people in neighborhoods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/baltimore-is-a-beautiful-city-i-started-doing-a-lot-of-community/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I've done community organizing my whole life and I think to myself, as an organizer, we don't wait for people to come to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarana-burke/i-ve-done-community-organizing-my-whole-life-and-i-think-to-myself-as/) [Tarana Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarana-burke/) ## More by Pramila Jayapal > [The fact that the immigration issue was the first thing Trump took aim at was a good thing for me, because it's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/the-fact-that-the-immigration-issue-was-the-first-thing-trump-took/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [Some people have called me the anti-Trump, and I'm so proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/some-people-have-called-me-the-anti-trump-and-i-m-so-proud/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [We don't get a more responsive government unless we start to systematically run organizing campaigns to change the way government works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/we-don-t-get-a-more-responsive-government-unless-we-start-to/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I would attend a State of the Union by a president with whom I disagree if I felt she or he was otherwise respectful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-would-attend-a-state-of-the-union-by-a-president-with-whom-i/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I've always believed that immigration is really about who we are as a country and what we're willing to stand up for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-ve-always-believed-that-immigration-is-really-about-who-we-are-as-a/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [Individuals whose asylum claims have been accepted have gone on to become professors, soldiers in our military, artists, and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/individuals-whose-asylum-claims-have-been-accepted-have-gone-on-to/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I feel like young people, more than anyone in the country, always have their moral compass on perfectly straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-feel-like-young-people-more-than-anyone-in-the-country-always-have/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [Trump has hated Amazon for a long time, and I think that that came out in many interviews that he's done with 'Vanity Fair'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/trump-has-hated-amazon-for-a-long-time-and-i-think-that-that-came-out/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I am on the side of the working person across the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-am-on-the-side-of-the-working-person-across-the-country/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [It took me 17 years to become a U.S. citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/it-took-me-17-years-to-become-a-u-s-citizen/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [When I was a little girl, my dad always said to me that I was going to be this great businesswoman, that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/when-i-was-a-little-girl-my-dad-always-said-to-me-that-i-was-going-to/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [When women are told that sexual harassment is 'part of the job' or when assistants of both sexes enable harassing behavior, they have bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/when-women-are-told-that-sexual-harassment-is-part-of-the-job-or-when/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I'm not a complainer. I'm a doer. So if I see something is wrong, then I feel like I have to get in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/i-m-not-a-complainer-i-m-a-doer-so-if-i-see-something-is-wrong-then-i/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [As we say we fight for working people, we have to make sure our policies reflect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/as-we-say-we-fight-for-working-people-we-have-to-make-sure-our/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [The vast majority of immigrants - regardless of the conditions of war and poverty that may wrack their home countries - come and contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/the-vast-majority-of-immigrants-regardless-of-the-conditions-of-war/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) [Explore all 102 Pramila Jayapal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) ## More Activist quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Social media is not just another way to connect feminist and activist voices - it amplifies our messages as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/social-media-is-not-just-another-way-to-connect-feminist-and-activist/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I have never been an activist for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-have-never-been-an-activist-for-anything/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [I've been an activist in the LGBT community for a long time. I think nothing's changed, I'm just a little bit more focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-ve-been-an-activist-in-the-lgbt-community-for-a-long-time-i-think/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [I've been an activist since I was a teenager. I was always curious about what we would now call social justice. I remember just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-ve-been-an-activist-since-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-always-curious/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I think that compared to other politicians who have been put in jail in the past, compared to the human-rights activists in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-that-compared-to-other-politicians-who-have-been-put-in-jail/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [Black gay activists should try to build coalitions of people for the elimination of all injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/black-gay-activists-should-try-to-build-coalitions-of-people-for-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [You do what you know is good, because it's good, and then you have a certain peace of mind, saying, you've been an activist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-do-what-you-know-is-good-because-it-s-good-and-then-you-have-a/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Obviously the transgender movement has not progressed in the way that the gay and lesbian movement has. But Im an activist - thats just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/obviously-the-transgender-movement-has-not-progressed-in-the-way-that/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [“If you teach your children how to bully, or do nothing to stop them, teach them also how to die for their cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/if-you-teach-your-children-how-to-bully-or-do-nothing-to-stop-them/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) [Browse all 773 Activist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. 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