Amaad Rivera-Wagner: soaring above the social barriers

Forged in resilience

Amaad’s story began in Springfield, Massachusetts, an industrial city that was the birthplace of basketball and the home of Dr. Seuss. He was born to a 16-year-old mother who had dropped out of school to raise him. 

For much of his early childhood, "home" was a fluid concept. Amaad and his mother experienced homelessness, moving from shelter to shelter and, at times, living out of their car.

Despite the instability, his mother provided consistent support for Amaad’s learning and development. No matter where they were sleeping, she read to him every night. This early immersion in language made Amaad a precocious student, fostering a lifelong love of reading that would eventually carry him through graduate school and into the halls of government.

The family achieved stability through hard work, sacrifice, and devotion. His mother secured work as a home health care aide and, through Habitat for Humanity, helped build the house she still lives in today.

“Seeing perfect strangers come together to build a future for my family made a lasting impression on me,” said Amaad. “I developed my first understanding of community and the power of collective action.”

Igniting the political spirit

Amaad considers himself a joiner from an early age. At the High School of Science and Technology, he participated in the Science Olympiad and drama club, but he was also the captain of the wrestling team and a football player. He even reached the Junior Olympic trials for wrestling during his senior year.

“I defied all the high school stereotypes,” said Amaad. “I wasn’t just a nerd, just a jock, just one thing or another. I didn’t want to be, nor did I feel the need to be. I didn’t let anyone’s barriers block me.”

His political awakening began in middle school. Representing the local Urban League, he traveled to the state capitol to testify on school funding. This was his first taste of advocacy. He also began writing for a local newspaper, offering a youth perspective on everything from music to the drug crisis.

In college at Bentley University, Amaad continued to defy all expectations for a young Black man. While studying marketing and psychology, he became a student senator and vice president of his class. 

When he took up competitive cheerleading, he surprised a lot of people -- including himself.  

"They called me crazy,” he said. 

Soon, he was traveling the country to compete at the highest levels while still managing his coursework, his social life, and his simmering passion for social justice.

“I wanted to work on getting businesses to invest in communities like mine. I wanted to show that there were both lives to be changed and profits to be made even in communities that weren't rich."

Coming out

When Amaad came out in 2000 at the age of 18, the world was a significantly more hostile place for LGBTQ individuals. He entered adulthood in a country where "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was the law, marriage equality was a distant dream, and a state where national protections against being fired or denied housing for one's identity just did not exist.

And the shadow of the Matthew Shepard murder loomed large over his generation.

“If someone thought you looked, sounded, or even seemed gay, it was an invitation for discrimination or violence," Amaad said. Rather than retreating, he leaned into the struggle. He joined the grassroots movement for marriage equality in Massachusetts, knocking on doors and collecting signatures for petitions.

“You do have to fight for what you believe in, even though it feels far-fetched,” he said. “That’s one of the best lessons I learned in Massachusetts.”

Becoming a historic first

After earning a master’s degree from UMass Amherst, Amaad dedicated himself to AmeriCorps and systemic advocacy. He founded the first "Kids Vote" program in Holyoke, Massachusetts, allowing young people to participate in civic life alongside adults. He later oversaw AmeriCorps for the entire state before transitioning into high-level advocacy work.

As the author of the "State of the Dream" reports, Amaad began appearing on C-SPAN to discuss racial and economic inequality. He realized that while volunteering was vital, the problems of poverty and housing instability required structural solutions.

In 2009, Springfield’s exclusive at-large voting system was overturned in a landmark legal battle.  In response, Amaad ran for a ward-based seat. He was elected as the first openly gay city councilor in Springfield’s history. His historic term of service focused on:

• Establishing the city's first Pride celebrations.
• Creating language access for city services.
• Holding big banks accountable during the foreclosure crisis.

Love, loss, and a new life in Wisconsin

Amaad’s life was suddenly shifted into fifth gear. He met his husband, the son of Wisconsin dairy farmers and a devoted Green Bay Packers fan, in his hometown. Although Amaad initially cancelled their first date, persistence – and their shared love for the Packers -- led to romance, commitment, and a marriage proposal in Barcelona three years later.

However, his move to Wisconsin was also forged in grief. Amaad’s close friend -- whom he considered family -- was killed in a mass shooting. Despite the rising tide of violence, the State Senator for Amaad’s district held an "A" rating from the NRA. Outraged, Amaad ran for State Senate. Although he was not elected to the position, the experience reinforced his resolve to fight for safer communities.

In January 2025, Amaad was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly to  represent Green Bay’s 90th District. His term marked a historic moment:  he was the first openly gay man of color to serve in the state Legislature. 

Prior to his role in the Assembly, Amaad served as Chief of Staff to Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich

Today, as a State Representative in Wisconsin, Amaad is focused on making government more reflective of the people it serves. He rejects the idea that one must be born with a silver spoon to hold power. Instead, he brings the perspective of someone who has lived the everyday person’s experiences.