The eighth of nine children, Gwen Moore worked her way up from high school student body president to representing Milwaukee in the House. But she has not forgotten the struggle of being a single mother with ambition to make a difference. “I wan

Robin Kelly (D-IL): The Master of ‘Popcorn Diplomacy’

Feb 26th, 2018 34m 21s

In November 2010, Robin Kelly’s career was at a crossroads. She had just been defeated in the race to become Illinois state treasurer. She is not the sort to lose elections. She beat a ten-year incumbent to win a seat in the Illinois House of R

Pramila Jayapal (D-WA): Strength Emerges in Times of Crisis

Feb 19th, 2018 38m 42s

The crucial phone call came during her sophomore year at George Washington University. Pramila Jayapal could afford only one phone call a year back home to India. Her parents had drained their savings so their daughter could study in the U.S. O

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FLA): Don’t Wait For That Perfect Opportunity

Feb 11th, 2018 32m 27s

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen began her political career 35 years ago when she was elected to Florida’s House of Representatives. After serving in the Florida state Senate, and 14 full terms in the U.S. House, Ros-Lehtinen (who everyone calls Ily) is ret

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA): Fighting From the Start

Feb 7th, 2018 34m 48s

Quite literally, Rep. Barbara Lee has been overcoming obstacles since birth. At age 14, she called in the NAACP to battle discrimination by her school’s cheerleading squad. Attending college as a single mother with two young children, Lee singl