MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project is thrilled to announce the appointment of State Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner to its statewide Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2025. Amaad will serve as a Director at Large for his first term.
Amaad brings a wealth of experience in public service, policy, and community engagement, along with a deep personal commitment to equity and inclusion.
Amaad currently serves in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Green Bay’s 90th District. His election marked a historic moment as he became 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, where he spearheaded housing initiatives and implemented data-driven strategies to combat economic inequality. His dedication to effective leadership was further honed through his participation in the prestigious Harvard Bloomberg City Leadership Initiative.
Amaad’s distinguished career includes impactful policy and government leadership positions such as State Policy Director for U.S. Senator Ed Markey and Director of Housing Policy at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. He also managed an $11 million AmeriCorps portfolio as a Program Officer for the Massachusetts Service Alliance. Earlier in his career, Amaad served as a City Councilor in Springfield, Massachusetts.
His dedication to civic engagement extends to his time serving in AmeriCorps, during which he founded KidsVote in Holyoke, Massachusetts, fostering greater participation in working-class communities. Locally, Amaad actively contributes to the Greater Green Bay community as co-chair of the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s Diversity Task Force and as the former chair of the United Way of Brown County’s Non-Profit Advocacy Council.
Raised by a teenage mother who experienced homelessness, Amaad’s personal journey fuels his profound commitment to building stronger and more equitable communities for all. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Bentley University and currently resides in Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood with his husband and their two goldendoodles, Appa and Beau.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Amaad to our Board,” said Michail Takach, board chair. “His extensive experience in public service, his unwavering commitment to human equity, and his deep understanding of community needs will be invaluable as we continue our mission to accumulate, amplify, and accelerate the rich history of Wisconsin’s LGBTQ community.”
Amaad shared his enthusiasm for joining the Board, stating, “The History Project is one of Wisconsin’s longest-running community-first organizations, as well as Wisconsin’s newest LGBTQ non-profit. Preserving, protecting, and celebrating our history builds a more inclusive and compassionate future for us all. I’m proud to stand with this all-volunteer team to advance an especially urgent mission.”
About the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project
Relentless. Inspired. Independent. Founded by Don Schwamb, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project seeks to reconnect Wisconsin with its hidden history and heritage. Since 1994, the Project has partnered with the University of Wisconsin Archives to create the state’s largest digital collection of historical LGBTQ media. Our ongoing work honors the memory of Louis Stimac, Wisconsin’s first true LGBTQ historian.
The Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project Inc. is powered entirely through the work of volunteers. We are an independent non-profit organization organized and operated exclusively for the purposes of education, charitable giving, and public good, as defined in section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
