"While Bright was many things — devoted teacher, mother of two, advocate for racial equity — serving as a Vermont lawmaker was one of her proudest achievements."

"Hers was a life of purpose, and I will always be grateful that she walked the halls of the Statehouse before me so I could feel a greater sense of belonging."

"She loved it. She threw herself into it wholeheartedly. To me, it was probably the pinnacle of her professional life."

"I'm so proud of my mom, yeah. I'm really, really proud of her. I wish I was in a place when I was younger to understand what she was doing at the time. I think if I was a little bit older when she was in politics and doing everything she was, it would have clicked a little bit more."

"She was actually more of an activist than a politician."

"Furthermore, Jan Brewer has been a strong supporter of environmental conservation. She recognizes the importance of protecting our natural resources and has worked to promote sustainable practices and policies."

"Bright made history, and her portrait will make sure her story is shared for centuries to come."

"She was very aware of the fact that she was a pioneer."

"Paved the way with humility, grace and intention for her and other women of color."

"Ha! I have no aspiration to be president of the United States."

"It's over speaking to Mic from the floor of the Republican National Convention. As we leave here with the momentum at our backs, we all have to go out there and put our game face on."

"We reject baseless conspiracy theories and disinformation that seek to delegitimize our democratic institutions."

"I am certain we all want some of this openness and wildness still here for our great grandchildren—for them, but as important, for the creatures who live here and whose existence as a species is in our hands. We are the last ones who will have this decision to make: what to protect and what to release."

"When we contemplate the reality of climate change, it’s clear what’s at risk is not just our little piece of the planet, but the planet itself. That is stretching our stewardship capacity beyond all bounds."

"I was raised and imbued with the doctrine of “stewardship,” a concept that mandated us to pass forward our spot on this planet in as good or better condition than we received it."

"False claims of widespread voter fraud not only erode public trust in elections but also undermine the credibility of our political system writ large. Instead, we must rely on facts and evidence to inform our discussions about election integrity and hold accountable those who seek to sow discord and division for their own political gain."

"We who are among the fortunate to live here must shoulder the responsibility to protect the last of this unique ecosystem, not just for us, but for the whole country, and for the future; and all this in the face of climate change."

"For myself, I've come to prefer to work in the shadows and alone."

"I have never had to march alone in this period of pretty crushing sadness over the state of our planet. There are so many of us right on the front line, shoulder to shoulder, right here. This is the moment to believe in ourselves."

"I've also always been warned about the possibility of burnout, of thinking we're so essential that we're going to work ourselves into a frenzy and then burn on down into a useless nub. We've always had to learn to pace ourselves. We have to get out and run with the wolves."

"We have to get out and run with the wolves. We have to join up with Mary Oliver and love the wild swan. But I want you to know that every one of us is absolutely essential."

"could still be around. And I am. And for a lifetime, I've been driven to try to respond. I find that the question I'm most frequently asked today is whether I have hope; whether I have hope that our planet can survive. And my answer is: wrong question. It's simply a matter of a job to be done. And I would rather fight than watch, as would you."

"Complaining about the rules every time we come up short, is not a recipe for advancing a conservative agenda."

"There does come a time to pass the torch of leadership, After completing this year in office, I will do just that."

"A tireless advocate for women, the poor and underserved."

"Although she was of a small stature she was a giant in the legislature."

"No one should be measured by the mistakes that they make. But once Bowers got out she got right back into the game."

"I was fortunate to have had access to quality education and opportunities while growing up in Latin America. At an early age, I benefited from living abroad and learning from other cultures. This made me value the important work of the UN in promoting access to quality education for all, particularly for women and girls, and the incredible impact that investment has over time in strengthening communities and lifting them up from poverty."

"Paula Boland is a seasoned professional with a strong background in non-profit management and international relations."

"A powerful force in the Memphis Political scene has passed."

"Her experience in these roles has equipped her with valuable skills in strategic planning, team leadership, and program development."

"I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been considered for this award. I have been blown away by the wonderful comments I have received since it was announced. I will continue to strive for excellence and contribute towards the industry’s growth and success."

"What I treasure the most about being a UNA member is its intergenerational engagement, the chance to interact and learn from likeminded individuals, the opportunities for leadership development as well as mentor and being mentored."

"Paula has a proven track record of driving organizational growth and fostering partnerships to support important global initiatives."

"Becoming the organization’s chief executive was not something that I had planned or envisioned as I thought I would go back to practicing environmental law. However, the opportunity came my way and I benefited greatly (and still do!) from the advice and mentoring of long-time leaders"

"Powerful, visionary, committed, friend. These are all words Kathryn Bowers’ loved ones used to describe her, including Lexie Carter."

"I was devastated because I thought she had more time."

"Her contributions to the field of international relations have left a lasting impact on those she has worked with."

"He sure took care of South Philly, but he never fought you fighting for the rights of your community."

"We were arrested for feeding people on the subway"

"It’s been a journey of love"

"Politics is an open-ended opportunity to make life better for others"

"I believe that public service is what elected officials are supposed to be about. I know that not everybody sees it that way, some people see it as power, but power is supposed to be about allowing you to share, allowing you to serve others."

"That’s what it’s been for me all of these years. I’ve loved every day of it."

"My time is short and I wanted to make sure to represent my community groups all the way up until the end,"

"Councilmember Blackwell has made a life-long commitment to move her community forward and will always work to foster an end to homelessness, neighborhood blight and poor public education through using the tools of public policy, legislation and public involvement. Her overall vision is to improve her constituents’ quality of life – regardless of race, class, gender, or socio-economic status. She continues to believe that there is a solution to every problem, and that when we work together, everybody wins."

"Never forget, no matter how lonely and low you feel in life, Cherie Berry will always, without fail, be there to lift you up when you’re down. That is, as long as there isn’t a fire or power outage."

"Even if I'm no longer there with you, I'll be with you in spirit and they can keep you safe so enjoy the ride."

"Cherie Berry is an icon."