State Representative Adrian Madaro WF’06

If there is one thing that you need to know about Representative Adrian Madaro, it’s that he fights for his community. He has fought for it his entire life, and will stay fighting as long as he lives. Where does this commitment come from?

Adrian Madaro, like many East Boston residents, is a first generation American, and grew up in a family of activists, something which exposed him first hand to the difficulties facing many in his neighborhood. Following in the footsteps of many other great leaders, he attended Boston Latin School, during which time he participated in the Ward fellowship, interning at City Hall. It was this experience that drove him toward government, along with a second internship at the Capitol Building as part of the Miller Fellowship. After graduating from Tufts University four years later, Madaro became a legislative aide to Representative Carlo Basile, who represented East Boston. Through hard work and dedication, he was able to rise through the ranks and eventually become Representative’s Basile Chief of Staff, all while he was still attending classes part time at Tufts to get his Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy. When Basile resigned in 2015, Madaro realized that this was the time to turn his dreams into reality, and he ran for his old seat. After a long hard campaign, he emerged victorious, beating his opponent, and becoming a Representative at the age of twenty seven. During his time in office, Madaro has continued his education, attending Suffolk University, from which he graduated with a law degree in 2019, and currently sits on the Committee of Transportation in the House, where he advocates for making public transportation more accessible for everyone. As a Representative, Adrian Madaro has continued to fight for his constituents, leading the charge against the increasing displacement of East Boston residents amid rising rents, and has worked tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of the large immigrant population in his neighborhood. He was re-elected in 2018, and is currently working to make sure that large housing developments being built do not lead to further displacement. Working with Representative Madaro has inspired me to do more for my community, and I am glad to have this opportunity. 

-Joseph Terrey WF’20

Representative Adrian Madaro is proud of the work he does every day representing the generations of East Boston residents he grew up with. Like many of his neighbors, Madaro comes from a family of immigrants. He grew up to be an active leader within his community, emphasized by him having attended Boston Latin School ‘07 and joining the John William Ward Fellowship. In 2006, Madaro became a Ward Fellow for Environmental Office Head Jim Hunt, a local figurehead for environmental justice and climate change issues. Madaro’s experience in the Ward Fellowship changed his life. He fell in love with public service, finding it to be the perfect union of community and politics. He continued pursuing a career in public service at Tufts University, earning a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. At Tufts, Madaro participated in the Stanley Miller Fellowship, enabling him to work at Capitol Hill with a member of MA Congress. After college, Madaro worked under Representative Carlo Basile for four years until Basile resigned his seat in Madaro campaigned for Basile’s seat in the MA House of Representatives, where he was able to pursue his ambitions of representing his neighborhood of East Boston for half a decade. In office, Madaro has focused on improving the lives of East Boston residents, a neighborhood historically disadvantaged by its proximity to Logan Airport and other heavy industrial projects. He tirelessly works to ensure that his multicultural, multigenerational neighborhood of East Boston isn’t displaced by higher rents and gentrification and that the concerns of health, education, and opportunities of his constituents are heard. He keeps close contact with residents in his neighborhood, personally responding to each individual who contacts him. Before COVID-19 hit, Madaro held regular community meetings that promoted community values, addressed personal concerns, and brought the Eastie neighborhood together. His team is a direct reflection of his devotion to the Eastie community, made up of lifelong East Boston residents and Boston Latin School graduates: Steven Gringas, a former Ward Fellow and Gloribel Rivas, a former Seevak Fellow. Until racial, economic, and academic equality is achieved in Boston, one of the most segregated cities in the country, Adrian will no doubt persist to push for further developments in community equity and diversity. 

-Shannen Espinosa WF’20