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<h2>Frequently asked questions</h2><ol><li>Do I need experience? Nope. Fifteen minutes of training and you’re set.</li><li>Can I bring my kid/dog? Kids: yes (great helpers!). Dogs: only where allowed.</li><li>What if someone asks about the campaign? Keep it simple: “We’re collecting signatures to put Persis on the ballot; happy to share more info.” Offer a QR code or tell them to visit ElectPersis.com. </li><li>What if the voter isn’t sure they’re registered? Invite them to sign and we’ll verify. You can also share the voter registration link.</li><li>What if I run out of lines or sheets? Text your captain; we’ll bring more.</li><li>Can voters sign for multiple candidates? Massachusetts rules allow voters to sign more than one nomination paper for the same office. (We’ll cover details in training.)</li></ol>

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Persis is a champion who has fought her entire career for families like yours.

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Persis is fighting for a bold vision of a Massachusetts where families—not corporations or billionaires—come first, and where democracy is safeguarded from authoritarian threats. Her vision is one of a thriving Commonwealth where every child can grow up with strong schools, safe communities, a healthy environment, and economic security—because true democracy starts at home.

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<h2>Persis shows up for us</h2>Persis has spent her career fighting to ensure powerful institutions—whether it’s the federal government or national corporations—are accountable to the people. Persis is a social worker and a legal aid attorney; she has over a decade of experience directly representing low-income families in the Greater Boston area. She has spearheaded multiple successful lawsuits against the federal government and big banks to protect working families from exploitation, and led national coalitions of civil rights, labor, veteran, and consumer advocates to drive policy change improving the lives of millions of students and consumers.Outside the courtroom, Persis is a leader—in her church, in her children’s school, and across her community. Persis makes change with creative energy and a collaborative spirit to build up the organizations that make these neighborhoods our home.<ul><li>During COVID, Persis steadily carved a path forward for her church, ensuring that members could maintain a sense of community while staying safe.&nbsp;</li><li>As a parent council leader, Persis fought to ensure that every student has the resources they need to succeed in the Boston Public School system, from helping to address food insecurity during COVID, to fundraising to ensure students had access to first class science software, to organizing community meetings with school and local officials to give parents an opportunity to learn about our communities’ response to threats from ICE.&nbsp;</li><li>As a community organizer, Persis educated voters on the power of ranked choice voting as a means to increase participation and amplify voices in our democracy. Persis continues to fight tirelessly to create opportunities for real people without corporate slush funds to run for office, and to improve our election system to better reflect the will of the people.&nbsp;</li></ul>Persis doesn’t just talk about participation and inclusion—she embodies it.Let’s build a government that works for us!

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<h2>About Persis</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/44ae79cc-7ffc-4c15-9faf-edca597c8442/66c0f301-09c7-49da-be3c-f1287c4005a6/66c0f301-09c7-49da-be3c-f1287c4005a6.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3646%2C5469&amp;w=1500" alt="Persis Yu standing on a business street in Roslindale" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>Persis Yu is running for State Senate because families need a champion who will put people before corporate profits and safeguard our democracy from authoritarian threats.</h3>The daughter of an immigrant who fled fascism, long-time Hyde Park resident Persis knows firsthand the dangers of government corruption, repression, and economic insecurity. She has seen how fear and scarcity are weaponized to divide communities, and she's determined to ensure that Massachusetts remains a beacon of freedom, opportunity, and justice. As a parent of two Boston Public School kids, she'll fight for the families of Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood to secure a future for our children where they will not just survive, but thrive.For nearly two decades, Persis has been one of the nation’s fiercest advocates for families, workers, and consumers. She has taken on the biggest banks, loan servicers, and even multiple presidential administrations—suing Betsy DeVos, Linda McMahon, Bank of America, and MOHELA when they hurt consumers. Her strategic, bold, and innovative policymaking has already transformed millions of lives: she designed key pieces of the Biden Administration’s SAVE plan, fought for loan forgiveness that has cancelled nearly $200 billion in debts, and won critical protections for veterans, teachers, and working families. Where others have settled for half-measures, Persis has relentlessly pursued the end goal—economic justice and freedom from debt.Persis is a diplomatic, compassionate, and action-oriented leader. As a social worker and an attorney, she builds unlikely coalitions, brings communities together across differences, and turns bold ideas into real-world solutions. As a working parent active in her children’s school council, she understands the day-to-day challenges families face—whether it’s affording childcare, paying medical bills, or navigating underfunded schools. Her campaign is rooted in the belief that true democracy starts at home. That means affordable housing, universal childcare, strong public schools, environmental justice, reproductive justice, and a fair economy where families—not billionaires—come first. In the State Senate, Persis will be the bold, strategic leader families need to secure a thriving, joyful future for the next generation.

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<h3 style="text-align: left;">1) Quick training (15 min.)</h3><h4>We’ll cover the do’s and don’ts so every signature counts.</h4><h3>2) Grab a packet. </h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">We’ll prep town-specific sheets, clipboards, pens, and a short script. Pick up or we’ll drop it off.</h4><h3 style="text-align: left;">3) Collect &amp; return. </h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">Hit a transit stop, event, or your block, and then return sheets for certification by the deadline.</h4>

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<h2>To Contribute by check or cash:</h2>Please make checks payable to "The Yu Committee", and mail to PO Box 365202 Hyde Park, MA 02136The campaign can receive contributions by cash of up to $50.

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Persis Yu filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of the cities of Albuquerque, N.M., Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, and also includes the nation's two largest teachers unions and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, comes less than a week after the U.S. Department of Education published a rule change to PSLF.-WBUR

Cities suing the Trump administration over PSLF

&nbsp;“Schools are struggling,” says Persis Yu, the Boston-based deputy executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center. What’s striking, she says, is “the willingness of schools to basically sell their own name to these for-profit companies — or nonprofits, at least in name or in tax status.”-Boston Globe

Online university UMass Global could spell financial trouble for the state

For Immediate Release: October 7, 2025 Press contact: <a href="mailto:press@electpersis.com">press@electpersis.com</a>Kreyòl ayisyen anba a; 以下是海地克里奥尔语<h2 style="text-align: center">Persis Yu, Hyde Park Attorney, Advocate, Community Leader, and Boston Public School Mom, Launches Campaign for State Senate</h2>Yu is running to represent Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood; pledges to fight for a bold vision of a Massachusetts where families—not corporations or billionaires—come first.October 7, 2025 | Hyde Park, MA — Today, Hyde Park attorney, advocate, and community leader Persis Yu launched a campaign for the Massachusetts State Senate seat representing Norfolk and Suffolk. As a State Senator, Yu pledges to fight for the families in Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood to build a fair economy where families—not billionaires—come first.“As a working mom raising two Boston public school students, I know the economics of raising a family no longer work. While housing, childcare, and groceries get more expensive, Trump is selling out our families to billionaires and big corporations,” said Massachusetts State Senate Candidate Persis Yu. “As the daughter of an immigrant who escaped fascism, freedom and democracy are not just abstract ideals. I understand the stakes for our neighbors and our community in Trump’s idea of America. But true democracy starts at home. Families in our district deserve a champion who will fight for a future for our children where they will not just survive, but thrive.”Across her decades-long career as a social worker and attorney standing up for the most vulnerable people in Massachusetts and across the country, Persis has sued big banks, tech companies, debt collectors, airlines, and Donald Trump’s Department of Education on behalf of families, workers, and labor unions. Her advocacy on behalf of people with student debt led President Biden to deliver more than $200 billion in debt relief to 5 million people across the country—including nearly $3 billion dollars in debt relief to nearly <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/15/map-where-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-went.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">70,000 people in Massachusetts</a>.“As a veteran, I value leaders who put people first—and Persis Yu has done that her entire career. She has spent years standing up for working families and making sure systems work the way they’re supposed to,” said Patrick Campbell, U.S. Army Veteran &amp; Consumer Advocate. “Persis is a leader who combines deep expertise with a genuine commitment to service, and she’s never afraid to roll up her sleeves to get results. For veterans and all Massachusetts residents, she will be a strong and trusted voice on Beacon Hill.”“I know from personal experience how crippling student debt and abusive collection practices can be. When I felt like my student debt was a hopeless topic to address, Persis Yu stood up for me and fought to hold the systems accountable. Because of her relentless work, my hopes and dreams around education were rekindled and I reclaimed my educational future. My credit was repaired, increasing my score by over 60 points, and I was freed from the emotional burden of predatory lending systems,” said former client, Toneva M. “Working with Persis empowered me, and I gained knowledge and awareness of consumer rights. Persis pursued every avenue of possibility for solution with me and remained persistent to ensure I received the justice I deserve and that our laws promise. She didn’t stop fighting until all my student debt—over $84,000—was cancelled! Persis has always been a fearless and principled champion for families like mine, and I trust her to keep fighting for justice in our State Senate.”Outside the courtroom, the longtime Hyde Park resident and mom to two kids in the Boston Public Schools, Persis is a leader in her church, in her children’s school, and across her community.“Persis is a dedicated and effective community leader who shows up, rolls up her sleeves, and works to build a vibrant and robust community for the Grew’s families and staff,” said Ariana Sicairos-McCarthy, Roslindale resident, Boston Public School teacher, and Grew School Parent Council Co-Chair. “Through her work as an advocate and a lawyer, Persis has directly improved the lives of many of my fellow teachers—giving them the financial security to serve the students they love, while enjoying the economic freedom they deserve. Persis has the vision and the tenacity to protect our families at this moment. I am proud to support her for MA State Senate.”Persis promises to bring her decades of policy advocacy and expertise to fight for working families: meaning affordable housing, universal childcare, strong public schools, environmental justice, reproductive justice, and a fair economy.“Families and seniors in our district are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of groceries and health care, while corporate greed and political inertia has left our town in limbo, stretched thin, and without vital medical care,” said Kate Sibbing-Dunn, Norwood resident and former School Committee Member. “Persis is the bold leader we need to tackle the challenges working families in this district face. She has a fresh perspective and a long history of effective advocacy at the State Senate.”...Pou piblikasyon imedya: 5 oktòb 2025Kontak laprès: <a href="mailto:press@electpersis.com">press@electpersis.com</a>Persis Yu, ki se Avoka Hyde Park, Defansè, Lidè lominotè, ak manman ki gen pitit nan Lekòl Piblik Boston, lanse kanpay li pou l ka vin Senatè Eta aYu ap prezante tèt kòm kandida pou reprezante Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole ak Westwood; li angaje l pou lite pou yon vizyon solid pou Massachusetts kote yo fè fanmi yo pase an premye, men pa sou antrepriz yo oswa milyadè yo.5 Oktòb 2025 | Hyde Park, MA — Jodi a, avoka, defansè, ak lidè kominotè Hyde Park, Persis Yu, lanse kanpay li pou l ka vin Senatè Eta Massachusetts ki reprezante Norfolk ak Suffolk. Kòm Senatè Eta a, Yu pwomèt pou l goumen pou fanmi yo nan Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, ak Westwood pou konstwi yon ekonomi ki jis kote yo fè fanmi yo pase an premye, men pa milyadè yo.“Antanke yon manman k ap travay ki ap leve de elèv ki nan lekòl piblik Boston, mwen konnen ekonomi pou leve yon fanmi pa mache ankò. Pandan kay, gadri ak manje ap vin pi chè, Trump ap vann fanmi nou yo bay milyadè ak gwo konpayi,” se sa kandida pou Senatè Eta Massachusetts, Persis Yu, te di. “Antanke pitit fi yon imigran ki te chape anba fachis, libète ak demokrasi pa sèlman lide abstrè. Mwen konprann sa ki anje pou vwazen nou yo ak kominote nou an nan vizyon Trump genyen pou Etazini. Men, demokrasi veritab la kòmanse anndan kay. Fanmi nan distri nou an merite yon chanpyon ki pral goumen pou yon lavni kote timoun nou yo pa sèlman siviv, men yo pral fleri.”Pandan plizyèn dizèn lane karyè li kòm travayè sosyal ak avoka ki te kanpe pou moun ki pi vilnerab nan Massachusetts ak atravè peyi a, Persis te pousuiv devan lajistis gwo bank, konpayi teknoloji, kolektè dèt, konpayi avyon ak Depatman Edikasyon Donald Trump lan pou defann fanmi, travayè, ak sendika. Angajman li pou defann moun ki gen dèt etidyan te pouse Prezidan Biden bay plis pase 200 milya dola nan soulajman dèt pou 5 milyon moun atravè peyi a, ki gen ladan prèske 3 milya dola nan soulajman dèt pou prèske <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/15/map-where-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-went.html">70,000 moun nan Massachusetts</a>.“Antanke yon ansyen sòlda, mwen apresye lidè yo ki mete moun an premye, epi Persis Yu fè sa pandan tout karyè li. Li pase plizyè lane ap defann fanmi k ap travay epi asire sistèm yo mache jan yo dwe mache,” se sa Patrick Campbell, ansyen sòlda nan Lame Ameriken ak defansè konsomatè, te di. “Persis se yon lidè ki konbine gwo ekspètiz ak yon angajman sensè pou bay sèvis, epi li pa janm pè mete men nan travay pou jwenn rezilta. Pou ansyen sòlda ak tout rezidan Massachusetts, li pral yon vwa solid epi konfyab nan Beacon Hill.”“Mwen konnen, atravè eksperyans pèsonèl mwen, kijan dèt etidyan ak pratik koleksyon abizif ka kraze moun. Lè mwen te santi mwen te sanzespwa pou rezoud dèt etidyan mwen an, Persis Yu te leve kanpe pou mwen epi li te goumen pou fè sistèm yo pran responsablite yo. Poutèt li pa t janm kanpe nan travay li, espwa ak rèv mwen sou edikasyon te reviv, epi mwen te reprann avni edikasyon m. Yo te repare kredi m, nòt kredi m te monte plis pase 60 pwen, epi mwen te libere anba chay emosyonèl sistèm abizif pou prete lajan,” se sa Toneva M., yon ansyen kliyan, te di. “Travay ak Persis te ban m fòs, epi mwen te aprann dwa konsomatè yo. Persis te chèche tout chemen posib pou te ede m jwenn yon solisyon, epi li te rete pèsistan pou asire mwen jwenn jistis mwen merite ak sa lalwa pwomèt. Li pa t sispann goumen jiskaske yo te anile tout dèt etidyan mwen an ki te plis pase $84,000! Persis te toujou yon chanpyon ki gen anpil kouraj epi ki onèt pou fanmi tankou pa m nan, epi mwen mete konfyans mwen nan li pou l kontinye goumen pou jistis nan Sena Eta nou an.”Lè li pa nan tribinal, rezidan Hyde Park depi lontan an, ki se manman de timoun ki ale lekòl piblik Boston, se yon lidè nan legliz li, nan lekòl timoun li yo, epi nan tout kominote l la.“Persis se yon lidè kominotè ki devwe ak efikas, ki toujou prezan, mete men nan travay, epi angaje l pou konstwi yon kominote solid ak dinamik pou fanmi ak anplwaye Grew yo,” se sa Ariana Sicairos-McCarthy, rezidan Roslindale, pwofesè nan lekòl piblik Boston ak ko-prezidan Konsèy Paran Lekòl Grew la, te di. “Gras ak travay li kòm defansè ak avoka, Persis te amelyore dirèkteman lavi anpil nan kolèg pwofesè mwen yo. Li te bay yo sekirite finansye pou sèvi elèv yo renmen yo, pandan y ap jwi libète ekonomik yo merite a. Persis gen vizyon ak detèminasyon pou pwoteje fanmi nou yo kounye a. Mwen fyè dèske mwen sipòte li pou Senatè Eta Massachusetts la.” Persis pwomèt pou l envesti plizyè dizèn lane eksperyans li nan defans politik pou goumen pou fanmi k ap travay: sa vle di lojman abòdab, gadri pou tout moun, lekòl piblik solid, jistis anviwònmantal, jistis repwodiktif, ak yon ekonomi ki jis. “Fanmi ak granmoun aje nan distri nou an ap lite pou kenbe ritm ak ogmantasyon pri manje ak swen sante, pandan kipidite konpayi ak mank mouvman politik mete vil nou an nan yon sitiyasyon ensètitid, ak resous limite, san swen medikal esansyèl,” se sa Kate Sibbing-Dunn, rezidan Norwood ak manm Komite Lekòl la, te di. “Persis se lidè vanyan nou bezwen pou atake defi fanmi k ap travay yo ap fè fas nan distri sa a, pou pote yon vizyon fre ak yon istwa long nan defans efikas kont enterè pisan nan Sena Eta a.”...For Immediate Release: October 5, 2025 Press contact: <a href="mailto:press@electpersis.com">press@electpersis.com</a> Hyde Park律師、社區倡導者與波士頓公立學校學生母親 Persis Yu 宣布競選州參議員 Yu 將參選代表波士頓、 戴德姆(Dedham)、諾伍德(Norwood)、沃波爾(Walpole)及 韋斯特伍德(Westwood) 的麻州參議院席位，承諾讓麻州成爲一個以家庭爭取福利，而不是企業或億萬富翁為優先。 2025年10月5日｜麻州海德公園 (Hyde Park)— 今日，海德公園的律師、倡導者及社區領袖 Persis Yu 正式宣布參選麻薩諸塞州參議院，代表諾福克與薩福克地區。Yu 承諾將為波波士頓、 戴德姆(Dedham)、諾伍德(Norwood)、沃波爾(Walpole)及 韋斯特伍德(Westwood) 的家庭爭取，打造一個以家庭而非億萬富翁為優先的公平經濟。 「作為一位在職母親，養育兩名波士頓公立學校學生，我深知如今養家的經濟結構已經失衡。房價、托育與食物價格節節上升，而川普卻在將我們的家庭出賣給億萬富翁與大企業，」麻州參議員候選人 Persis Yu 表示。「身為逃離法西斯政權的移民之女，自由與民主對我而言並非抽象理念。我明白在川普的美國願景下，我們的鄰里與社區所面臨的風險。但真正的民主始於家庭。我們地區的家庭值得擁有一位為孩子未來奮戰的捍衛者，讓他們不僅得以生存，更能茁壯成長。」 在她數十年的職涯中，Persis 作為社工與律師，一直為麻州及全美最脆弱的群體發聲。她曾代表家庭、工人與工會，起訴大型銀行、科技公司、債務催收公司、航空公司以及川普時期的教育部。她為學貸借款人的倡導促使拜登總統推動超過2,000億美元的學貸減免，惠及全國500萬人，其中近7萬名麻州居民獲得約30億美元的減免。 「作為退伍軍人，我敬佩那些將人民放在首位的領導者，而 Persis Yu 一生皆是如此。她多年來為工薪家庭發聲，確保政府真正為人民運作，」美國陸軍退伍軍人暨消費者倡導者 Patrick Campbell 表示。「Persis 結合深厚的專業與真誠的服務精神，從不畏懼親力親為以取得成果。對退伍軍人以及所有麻州居民而言，她將是州議會中堅定而值得信賴的聲音。」 「我親身體會過學貸與不當催收的壓迫……」前客戶 Toneva M. 表示。「當我認為學貸問題讓我毫無希望時，Persis Yu 為我挺身而出，讓制度負起責任。她的努力讓我重燃對教育的希望，信用分數提高了超過60分，並脫離了掠奪性貸款帶來的心理重擔…… Persis 一直是像我這樣家庭的無畏與有原則的捍衛者，我相信她會在州參議院中繼續為正義奮鬥。」 在法庭之外，這位長期居住於海德公園（Hyde Park）、有兩名波士頓公立學校學生的母親，也是教會、學校及整個社區中的重要領袖。 「Persis 是一位全心投入且高效的社區領袖，她總是親力親為，致力打造充滿活力與凝聚力的社區，」羅斯林代爾（Roslindale） 居民、波士頓公立學校教師及 Grew 學校家長委員會共同主席 Ariana Sicairos-McCarthy 表示。「通過她的倡議與法律工作，Persis 直接改善了許多教師的生活，讓他們能在財務穩定下專注於學生，同時享有應得的經濟自由。她具備遠見與毅力，是當下保護我們家庭所需的領袖。我很自豪支持她競選麻州參議員。」 Persis 承諾將運用她數十年的政策倡議經驗與專業知識，為工薪家庭而戰：包括可負擔的房屋、普及的育兒服務、更強大的公立教育、環境正義、生育權正義，以及更公平的經濟。 「我們地區的家庭與長者正艱難應對日益高漲的食品與醫療費用……」Norwood 居民兼學校委員會成員 Kate Sibbing-Dunn 表示。「Persis 是我們所需的勇敢領袖，她能應對工薪家庭面臨的挑戰，並將她長久以來的政策經驗與對抗權勢的實績帶入州參議院。」

Yu is running to represent Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood; pledges to fight for a bold vision of a Massachusetts where families—not corporations or billionaires—come first.

Persis Yu Launches Campaign

<h4>A real democracy welcomes every voice and expands freedom for all.</h4><h3>Fighting Authoritarianism</h3>Authoritarianism thrives when power goes unchecked and voices are silenced. We see this across the Trump Administration and his corruption of the entire federal government. We see this as President Trump tries to silence critics, from deporting activists to calling for comedians to be taken off the air. But we can fight back by defending democratic norms, confronting extremism, and ensuring our state government is working for the people, not for special interests.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Safeguard democratic institutions by protecting election workers, independent courts and judges, and ensuring a peaceful transition of power</li><li>Counter hate speech and disinformation by supporting community-based prevention and promoting media literacy and fact checking&nbsp;</li><li>Ensure the Attorney General has the staff and resources to defend Massachusetts against retaliation and corruption</li></ul><h3>Building a Better Democracy at Home</h3>Our democracy is stronger when voters are informed and engaged, and our elected leaders are supported by a true majority. The Massachusetts legislature is ranked the least effective and least transparent in the country. In order to effectively fight authoritarianism, we need to shore up our democracy at home.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Bring ranked choice voting to communities across Massachusetts to end the problem of vote splitting, and ensure that our elected officials truly reflect the vibrancy and diversity of our community and our elections better represent the true wishes of the citizens</li><li>Fight for transparency and stipend reform in the legislature so that we can hold our elected officials accountable for their votes</li><li>Protect the right of all people in the Commonwealth to vote by fighting for same-day voter registration, multi-lingual ballots, and aggressive enforcement against voting rights violations</li></ul><h3>Ensuring Choice and Bodily Autonomy</h3>Freedom means having the choice to make decisions for your body and your future. That requires more than access to a single procedure. People deserve comprehensive, stigma-free care throughout their lifetime, from early and honest health education, to mental health support, to culturally competent public services that meet people where they are.As senator, Persis will:&nbsp;<ul><li>Protect abortion access on all fronts, by stabilizing support for clinics and expanding clinic capacity, safeguarding medication abortion access, and ensuring healthcare coverage without stigma&nbsp;</li><li>Protect personal health and safety by banning the sale or disclosure of personal health care data and shielding everyone involved in abortion care or gender-affirming care, from patient to provider</li><li>Ensuring comprehensive healthcare coverage, including contraception, maternal health, and community-based touchpoints that respect the complexities of gender, culture, and family planning</li></ul><h3>Racial and Economic Justice</h3>Access to a job, education, and a safe and healthy environment should never be determined by a person’s skin color or zip code. But staggering wealth disparities and systemic racism are driving unequal outcomes for Black and brown families across the greater Boston area. Across the board, Massachusetts must address systemic inequities in order to build a truly fair and inclusive economy.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Protect efforts to advance racial equity from the Trump Administration’s attack on DEI</li><li>Improve access to health care in communities of color and tackle disparities in health outcomes—particularly maternal and mental health&nbsp;</li><li>Strengthen protections to ensure that law enforcement who violate civil rights are held accountable</li></ul><h3>LGBTQ+ Rights</h3>Everyone deserves to live openly and freely. And yet, the rights, safety, and dignity of queer and trans kids are under threat.As senator, Persis will:&nbsp;<ul><li>Establish clear protections in housing, employment, healthcare, education, and public accommodations—and real enforcement when rights are violated</li><li>Enact strong anti-bullying enforcement; inclusive curricula; name/pronoun respect; access to facilities that match students’ gender identity; staff training so every classroom is a safe classroom; confidential, trauma-informed protocols for student support; and prohibit policies that out students to unsupportive environments&nbsp;</li><li>Fight for streamlined ID changes for minors with parental/guardian support, protections for trans youth in foster care and shelters, and safe access to sports consistent with medical and civil-rights guidance</li></ul><h3>Immigrant Justice</h3>Our communities and country were built by immigrants and we are all better because of their contributions. Unfortunately, aggressive attacks by the Trump Administration have threatened the lives and livelihoods of our neighbors. Massachusetts must be a champion for immigrant safety, dignity, and opportunity.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Fight for the fundamental right to due process by ensuring language access and competent legal defense for immigrants targeted by the Trump Administration</li><li>Ensure strict firewalls between state services and federal agencies so no immigrant needs to fear for their safety when accessing public benefits&nbsp;</li><li>Aggressively pursue violations of wage-theft and worker exploitation, and protect whistleblowers who raise the alarm about employers violating the law &nbsp;</li></ul>

Building a real democracy that welcomes every voice and expands freedom for all—across race, faith, gender, and zip code.

A Free and Just World

State representative races aren’t until 2026, but state Sen. Mike Rush now has an opponent in Hyde Park’s Persis Yu. Rush, a conservative Democrat, is the state senator for the Norfolk/Suffolk District seat, and was first elected to the seat in 2010, and has not had an opponent.-Jamaica Plain News

Persis Yu Challenging State Sen. Mike Rush

Persis appeared as a guest on WBUR’s On Point to discuss how private student lenders will make more money off of students after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

What to know as the student loan industry becomes more privatized

Education is vital to a well-functioning democracy. Every child deserves access to safe and quality education—regardless of their family’s income or zip code. A vote for Persis is a vote for people to get an education without taking on a lifetime of debt.&nbsp;Persis has fought tirelessly to protect teachers’ pocketbooks, representing the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in its lawsuits against the student loan servicer, MOHELA, for its abusive practices, which denied teachers access to vital programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and against the Trump Administration when it blocked access to affordable repayment plans for tens of millions of borrowers<h4>Early Childhood Education</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/44ae79cc-7ffc-4c15-9faf-edca597c8442/5b0d70d9-ad8b-4eeb-ba5f-65a046d2a326/5b0d70d9-ad8b-4eeb-ba5f-65a046d2a326.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3553%2C4202&amp;w=1500" alt="Persis with a young child on a bench" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">The economics of childcare are broken. Families can’t afford it; educators and caretakers—mostly women—aren't paid a living wage; kids lose out. Meanwhile, the federal government is attacking Head Start and dismantling the few programs we do have for low-income families, making childcare programs cost more than what working parents earn. Persis has seen these disparities up close—as a former social worker, she witnessed the challenges families face both finding and paying for safe and quality care. The research is clear: students coming into public kindergarten have wildly different early childhood educational experiences, further stratifying students by wealth—and she knows we can do better.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Fight for free childcare</li><li>Ensure access to universal pre-k programs throughout the state</li><li>Fund programs that help childcare providers invest in the long-term sustainability and retention of their dedicated staff</li></ul><h4>K-12 Education</h4>Every child in Massachusetts deserves access to high quality schools. Despite the vast resources of the Commonwealth, too many public schools are struggling for resources. Teachers are on the front lines—supporting students who continue to struggle with mental health and behavioral issues in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and protecting children from attacks on LGBTQ+ youth, whose families are targeted by ICE, and from other threats to equitable education. Persis will make sure that investing in children and teachers is the highest priority.&nbsp;As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Ensure teachers and paraprofessionals are paid wages that allow them to live in the communities they serve and keep up with the rising cost of living</li><li>Increase funding for public schools and ensure a more equitable distribution to districts, long overdue investments in buildings and infrastructure, and to reduce class sizes and ensure all students have access to the academic and extracurricular supports and programming necessary to thrive</li><li>Give schools the resources to protect students from attacks on LGBTQ+ youth, attempts to ban access to books or other materials, and other threats to equity in access and curriculum&nbsp;</li></ul><h4>Higher Education</h4>Higher education is too expensive for working- and middle-class families, even as a degree is necessary to access most middle-class jobs. Massachusetts has made great strides in expanding access for low-income families but it is still too far out of reach for too many. To make matters worse, the Trump Administration is attacking higher education on all fronts so it can limit access to higher education to only the wealthiest white students and punish colleges for providing education that promotes democracy or ideologies Trump doesn’t agree with. Without comprehensive action, Massachusetts’ progress in this space is at risk. Persis has spent her career working to ensure that getting an education does not result in a lifetime of unaffordable debt.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Provide free college for all students across the Commonwealth to ensure that no student is trapped with unaffordable debt in order to get an education</li><li>Defend against efforts to eliminate affirmative action and other policies that promote racial and economic opportunity for students of color and low-income students, and promote equitable access by banning legacy admission to Massachusetts universities&nbsp;</li><li>Fight for stronger free speech protections on college campuses for students, faculty, and staff</li><li>Protect students from predatory private companies looking to profit off families desperate to provide a better future for their children and achieve the American dream</li></ul>

Education is vital to a well-functioning democracy. Every child deserves access to safe schools and quality education, regardless of their family’s income or zip code.

Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

Education

“As senator, I will fight for policies that drive down costs including universal childcare and free college, hold corporations accountable, and ensure that Massachusetts is on the forefront of progressive policies that champion working families,” Yu said as quoted in the Jamaica Plain News website.

Sen. Mike Rush of West Roxbury... is facing a challenge from Persis Yu, a progressive-leaning Hyde Park resident who heads a nonprofit aimed at protecting borrowers from predatory lending.

Challengers are stirring for runs against Boston’s state senators

“No one is arguing for the status quo,” said Yu. “But until there is a real investment in higher education, both on the federal and state level,” millions of students and their families will continue to rely on federal debt, with now-tightened conditions.”-Boston Globe

Student loan debt may be tougher to pay off after passage of Trump’s big bill

The reality is that families need more help. Despite the proliferation of cheap goods, the fundamentals like housing, education, and health care are too damn expensive. Despite the wealth in our communities, our schools are struggling for resources.<h3>Housing</h3>Every family in Massachusetts deserves safe and affordable housing. And yet, families across the Commonwealth are still grappling with the harm caused by segregation and the outsized influence of corporate landlords and investors who artificially inflate both the housing market and rental prices.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Ban the use of algorithms that artificially inflate the price of rent and reduce the supply of housing</li><li>Fight to stabilize rental prices through rent control policies</li><li>Work to right-size our zoning laws in order to ensure adequate and accessible housing for all residents</li><li>Support the development of multi-family housing through greater investment in infrastructure and transportation</li></ul><h3>Corporate Accountability</h3>Our economy should prioritize the needs of working families over the profits of corrupt billionaires. But corporations routinely get away with mistreating workers, unfairly knocking small businesses out of the market, and gouging consumers.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Crack down on corporate abuse by ending wage theft, predatory business practices, and junk fees</li><li>Put people before profits by tying public contracts and tax breaks to living-wage jobs, fair pricing, and transparent supply chains</li><li>Protect consumers, workers, and small businesses by banning practices that allow monopolies to rig the economy</li><li>Make the largest corporations pay their fair share</li></ul><h3>Worker Power</h3>Despite record inflation and record profits, wages have stagnated, forcing families to do more with less. If you work in the Commonwealth, you deserve to be safe, respected, and paid a living wage. Persis has spent her career fighting on behalf of workers and unions in the growing fight against corporate greed.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Work to end abusive non-compete agreements that lock workers into low paying jobs and prevent them from achieving their full potential</li><li>Support workers’ right to unionize without retaliation and fight to strengthen the power of unions to ensure that workers can benefit from the value they create</li><li>Increase the minimum wage to $20 per hour and demand rights for all workers, including domestic workers, immigrants, and gig workers–no exceptions, no loopholes</li></ul><h3>Transportation</h3>Mobility is a civil right. Decades of neglect have left Massachusetts’ infrastructure in bad shape. The MBTA is unreliable, too many roads and bridges are long overdue for repair, and traffic congestion is the 4th worst in the country. Too many neighbors lose jobs, time, and opportunities because safe and reliable transportation is out of reach. Where you live or what you earn should never decide whether you are able to get to work, school, or the care you need.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/44ae79cc-7ffc-4c15-9faf-edca597c8442/060da71c-bbd3-41c4-a7a5-5f186414dfc5/060da71c-bbd3-41c4-a7a5-5f186414dfc5.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3433%2C5150&amp;w=1500" alt="Persis Yu on a Roslindale sidewalk with an MBTA bus in the background" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="35" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Treat public transportation as a public good by investing in critical infrastructure, like increasing access and frequency of transit in underserved corridors, expanding first and last mile connections</li><li>Ensure pricing equity through the commonwealth with free busses, expansions of subway lines, and expanding zone 1A pricing to all of Boston</li><li>Relieve congestion and improve air quality through expanded bike paths, bus lanes, and other strategies that move people, not traffic</li></ul>

Making Massachusetts affordable for the working families who make this state great.

Economic Opportunity

Safety is not just about crime, and it certainly isn’t created by marching the national guard into our cities and towns. A safe community means clean water to drink, reliable transportation to get to school or work, and affordable healthcare when you get sick. But our community must also address emerging issues that threaten our safety: like safeguarding our personal information from data brokers and AI. Persis is running to make Massachusetts safe for our kids and families.<h3>Clean Air and Water</h3>Clean air and safe drinking water should not be luxuries. Massachusetts must expand its investment in climate-smart infrastructure so every neighborhood can breathe easy. We must also hold polluters accountable for their role in climate change, and ensure those penalties benefit the communities hardest hit by our climate crisis.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Crack down on companies that engage in illegal dumping and hazardous pollution</li><li>Improve the resilience of our communities by bolstering pipes, storm drains, and other infrastructure that puts our homes and streets at risk during severe weather events&nbsp;</li><li>Increase clean energy by expanding eligibility for front-end rebates for homeowners who make energy improvements, electrifying buildings and schools, and expanding Massachusetts’ conservation programs</li></ul><h3>Robust and Universal Healthcare</h3>Healthcare is a human right. High quality healthcare should be accessible in every neighborhood, without months-long wait times and surprise costs. Medical decisions should be made by doctors and patients and not driven by corporate profit.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Ensure full coverage for all people by closing coverage gaps and simplifying enrollment in public insurance options</li><li>Protect the rights of all genders to control their body, including a woman’s right to choose and the universal right to gender-affirming care</li><li>Expanding accessibility of routine care in your community through school-based clinics, mobile health clinics, and language-accessible care options</li><li>Get corporate interests out of healthcare</li></ul><h3>Protecting Personal Data</h3>Every day, companies are mining data from social media, bank accounts, and more in order to drive up costs to the highest amount they think you will pay. You have the right to control how your data is used, and no company should be allowed to engage in exploitative pricing.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Establish meaningful privacy rights, like mandatory opt-in consent, data-minimization requirements for companies operating in the Commonwealth, and the right to delete for all consumers</li><li>Ban harmful practices by companies like the use of sensitive data or biased algorithms in housing, employment, lending, and insurance decisions</li><li>Impose big penalties for big violations so that companies stop thinking of fines as “the cost of doing business”</li></ul><h3>Freedom from violence and harm</h3>People deserve to walk their streets and send their kids to school without fear of violence. Ensuring trust in law enforcement is essential to keeping communities safe. Law enforcement officers are vital public servants who should be held to the highest standards of professionalism. But Massachusetts must do more to address the underlying causes of crime and violence: economic insecurity, mental health, and substance abuse.As senator, Persis will:<ul><li>Take a comprehensive approach to preventing gun violence and ensuring that Massachusetts remains one of the safest states in the nation</li><li>Reform our criminal justice system to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities while strengthening protections to ensure that law enforcement who violate civil rights are held accountable</li><li>Expand access to vital life-saving services and infrastructure, such as substance abuse prevention and mental health services, while supporting families with comprehensive after-school programming and better economic opportunities</li></ul>

Making Massachusetts safe for our kids and families.

Public Safety

Voters in Massachusetts are genuinely dissatisfied with the slow pace of change on Beacon Hill, as evidenced by the 71.6 percent of the vote in favor of the 2024 ballot question authorizing the state auditor to audit the Legislature.

Voters in Massachusetts are genuinely dissatisfied with the slow pace of change on Beacon Hill, as evidenced by the 71.6 percent of the vote in favor of the 2024 ballot question authorizing the state auditor to audit the Legislature."...student borrower advocate Persis Yu is challenging incumbent Mike Rush, who has represented the district for 10 years."-Dorchester Reporter

Primary challengers emerge for select State House seats in Boston

Persis appeared as a guest with host Paris Alston on WGBH's Rooted to discuss the college debt crisis with other education experts.

 What happens if you can’t repay your student loans?

Persis Yu, a Hyde Park lawyer active in <a href="https://protectborrowers.org/about/our-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">protecting consumers from rapacious lenders</a>, filed <a href="https://ocpf.us/r?f=19426" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">paperwork</a> today to run for the Norfolk and Suffolk state senate seat...-Universal Hub

West Roxbury state senator could face primary challenge next year

On May 5, the Federal Government started referring student loans currently in default for collections. For the more than 5 million borrowers currently in default, that means wage garnishment, or having money taken out of future tax refunds. Persis Yu, Deputy Executive Director and Managing Counsel of the Student Borrower Protection Center, spoke with PBS NewsHour to break down what that means for those borrowers.

On May 5, the Federal Government started referring student loans for collections

Seattle University School of Law Alumni Profile: As one of the nation’s top advocates for student debt relief, Persis Yu ’09 takes a surprisingly hopeful lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Loan Wolf

“Right now, we need state legislators who are willing to stand up to their own leadership, push back against corporate lobbyists and put families before billionaires,” she said. “This is not a time to wait your turn. This is not a time for quiet deference. This is the time for change. I will not wait my turn. I will meet this moment.”

"In previous years, Rush earned an F and D minus from the group Progressive Massachusetts, based largely on his opposition to criminal justice reform and legislation backing women’s reproductive rights. Since he was appointed majority whip, his votes have aligned with Senate leadership and he has earned a B minus from the group.Yu’s supporters aren’t satisfied."-The Flipside

Hyde Park candidate challenging Sen. Mike Rush

For Immediate Release: October 7, 2025Press contact: <a href="mailto:press@electpersis.com">press@electpersis.com</a>Persis Yu, Hyde Park Attorney, Advocate, Community Leader, and Boston Public School Mom, Launches Campaign for State SenateYu is running to represent Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood; pledges to fight for a bold vision of a Massachusetts where families—not corporations or billionaires—come first.October 7, 2025 | Hyde Park, MA — Today, Hyde Park attorney, advocate, and community leader Persis Yu launched a campaign for the Massachusetts State Senate seat representing Norfolk and Suffolk. As a State Senator, Yu pledges to fight for the families in Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood to build a fair economy where families—not billionaires—come first.&nbsp;“As a working mom raising two Boston public school students, I know the economics of raising a family no longer work. While housing, childcare, and groceries get more expensive, Trump is selling out our families to billionaires and big corporations,” said Massachusetts State Senate Candidate Persis Yu. “As the daughter of an immigrant who escaped fascism, freedom and democracy are not just abstract ideals. I understand the stakes for our neighbors and our community in Trump’s idea of America. But true democracy starts at home. Families in our district deserve a champion who will fight for a future for our children where they will not just survive, but thrive.” Across her decades-long career as a social worker and attorney standing up for the most vulnerable people in Massachusetts and across the country, Persis has sued big banks, tech companies, debt collectors, airlines, and Donald Trump’s Department of Education on behalf of families, workers, and labor unions. Her advocacy on behalf of people with student debt led President Biden to deliver more than $200 billion in debt relief to 5 million people across the country—including nearly $3 billion dollars in debt relief to nearly <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/15/map-where-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-went.html">70,000 people in Massachusetts</a>. “As a veteran, I value leaders who put people first—and Persis Yu has done that her entire career. She has spent years standing up for working families and making sure systems work the way they’re supposed to,” said Patrick Campbell, U.S. Army Veteran &amp; Consumer Advocate. “Persis is a leader who combines deep expertise with a genuine commitment to service, and she’s never afraid to roll up her sleeves to get results. For veterans and all Massachusetts residents, she will be a strong and trusted voice on Beacon Hill.” “I know from personal experience how crippling student debt and abusive collection practices can be. When I felt like my student debt was a hopeless topic to address, Persis Yu stood up for me and fought to hold the systems accountable. Because of her relentless work, my hopes and dreams around education were rekindled and I reclaimed my educational future. My credit was repaired, increasing my score by over 60 points, and I was freed from the emotional burden of predatory lending systems,” said former client, Toneva M. “Working with Persis empowered me, and I gained knowledge and awareness of consumer rights. Persis pursued every avenue of possibility for solution with me and remained persistent to ensure I received the justice I deserve and that our laws promise. She didn’t stop fighting until all my student debt—over $84,000—was cancelled! Persis has always been a fearless and principled champion for families like mine, and I trust her to keep fighting for justice in our State Senate.” Outside the courtroom, the longtime Hyde Park resident and mom to two kids in the Boston Public Schools, is a leader in her church, in her children’s school, and across her community.“Persis is a dedicated and effective community leader who shows up, rolls up her sleeves, and works to build a vibrant and robust community for the Grew’s families and staff,” said Ariana Sicairos-McCarthy, Roslindale resident, Boston Public School teacher, and Grew School Parent Council Co-Chair. “Through her work as an advocate and a lawyer, Persis has directly improved the lives of many of my fellow teachers—giving them the financial security to serve the students they love, while enjoying the economic freedom they deserve. Persis has the vision and the tenacity to protect our families at this moment. I am proud to support her for MA State Senate.”Persis promises to bring her decades of policy advocacy and expertise to fight for working families: meaning affordable housing, universal childcare, strong public schools, environmental justice, reproductive justice, and a fair economy.&nbsp;“Families and seniors in our district are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of groceries and health care, while corporate greed and political inertia has left our town in limbo, stretched thin, and without vital medical care,” said Kate Sibbing-Dunn, Norwood resident and former School Committee Member. “Persis is the bold leader we need to tackle the challenges working families in this district face. She has a fresh perspective and a long history of effective advocacy at the State Senate.”&nbsp; To learn more about Persis Yu and her campaign, go to <a href="http://ElectPersis.com">ElectPersis.com</a>.<ul><li>Instagram: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/ElectPersis/">www.instagram.com/ElectPersis/</a></li><li>Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ElectPersis/">www.facebook.com/ElectPersis/</a></li><li>Bluesky: <a href="http://bsky.app/profile/persisyu.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/persisyu.bsky.social</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/persis-yu">www.linkedin.com/in/persis-yu</a></li></ul>

BATTLES BREWING — Last year’s frustration with the Legislature’s messy end of formal session bled into Beacon Hill’s elections. It’s still early, but some of that sentiment could carry over to next year’s contests, too. ... This year, one challenger has already emerged: Persis Yu, the deputy executive director and managing counsel at Protect Borrowers, a nonprofit focused on protecting borrowers from predatory lending.-Politico

Challenges ahead for Beacon Hill

Persis Yu is running for State Senate because families need a champion who will put people before corporate profits and safeguard our democracy from authoritarian threats.