In the tapestry of Massachusetts politics, certain threads stand out not just for their color, but for their texture, shaped by fire, resilience, and a deep sense of place. State Senator Adam Gómez is one such example. Representing the Hampden District (Springfield, West Springfield, and Chicopee), Gómez is the first Puerto Rican legislator in the history of the Massachusetts Senate.

For him, entering politics was not just a career move. Growing up in the North End of Springfield, he was immersed in a family legacy of service and sacrifice. His father, Gumersindo Gómez, retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years, having enlisted at just 17. “My father basically moved to Springfield because when he retired, he didn’t really have a place that was home,” Gómez recalls. “He had only really two jobs after the Army: working with veterans and working in the Army.”

That work became a mission, and he started a nonprofit called the Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center (originally the Puerto Rican Veterans Association). He became a community activist in the North End, helping to start the Puerto Rican parade and the annual flag raising. And he ran for elected office but lost. “My dad just wanted to give back,” Gómez says. “It ignited something in me. I always wanted to give back. I didn’t know if it was going to be political office.”

His mother, Eva Gómez, was born and raised in Springfield, the daughter of one of the first Puerto Rican families to move to the city. She would become the director of the Puerto Rican Culture Center and a ward political chair.

But when Gómez was 17 years old, he faced a defining challenge, navigating the legal system during a pivotal moment in his life.
“I went through a hard time,” he admits. “It was my senior year of high school. It really affected me.”

That experience didn’t derail him, it sharpened his sense of purpose. “I got involved with a Latino fraternity, Gamma Phi Sigma, a social justice fraternity,” he tells LATINO. “I joined an organization called Neighbor to Neighbor,” and a good friend got him interested in criminal justice reform.

Gómez’s first major political battle was a fight against the construction of a jail in his own neighborhood. The city called it a “treatment center,” but Gómez notes that the only way to access it was through the court system.
“It was just a lock-up facility,” he says. “The community was really against it. We stopped it. It didn’t happen.”

But Gómez didn’t stop there. In 2015, he was elected to the Springfield City Council, taking office in 2016. He spent five years there, eventually becoming vice president. And in a poetic twist of electoral fate, he won the very seat his father had once sought.

In 2020, Gómez set his sights higher. The establishment told him he was unlikely to defeat a 20-year incumbent, State Senator Jim Welch.
“They told me I was crazy,” Gómez laughs.

Gómez ran anyway—and won decisively. He was sworn in on January 6, 2021, Three Kings Day, a major Puerto Rican holiday.
“Being the first Puerto Rican elected official in the state history,” he says, pausing to let the weight of the sentence settle. “Sometimes in our community, they say I became one of the Three Kings.”

It was a milestone for the Commonwealth’s Latino community. But Gómez understood that the title came with a responsibility: to legislate not just for the abstract good, but for the lived experiences of the communities he represents.

One of the most tangible and human areas of impact Gómez has helped advance is expanded access to communication for incarcerated individuals and their families. In December 2023, Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to ensure that phone calls, video calls, and secure messaging are available without charge in all state prisons and county jails, a milestone Gómez helped champion.

For Gómez, the effort was never just about policy, it was about strengthening relationships that are essential to stability and successful reentry.

“This was a Black and Latino Caucus initiative,” he explains, rooted in the lived realities of families who faced barriers to staying connected with loved ones. “What we wanted to do was make it easier for people to stay in touch consistently and meaningfully.”

The shift reflects a broader investment in connection as a critical component of rehabilitation and long-term public safety. By expanding access to communication, the policy supports stronger family bonds, reduces isolation, and helps individuals maintain a sense of stability during incarceration, factors widely recognized as contributing to better outcomes upon reentry.

“Access to consistent, reliable communication plays a critical role in maintaining family connections and supporting successful reentry,” said a spokesperson for Aventiv, a company that empowers rehabilitative justice. “We are committed to continuing to invest in solutions that improve the experience for individuals and their loved ones, while supporting facilities in delivering safe, modern communication services.”

This approach also reflects an evolving understanding of how communication technologies can enhance the experience for both individuals and their families. By prioritizing accessibility and reliability, Massachusetts is advancing a model that treats communication as an essential service, one that helps individuals remain engaged with their support systems and better prepared for life after incarceration.

Gómez acknowledges that implementing this kind of policy requires thoughtful planning and sustained investment. For him, the focus is on ensuring that systems continue to evolve in ways that serve both individuals and institutions effectively.

“We have to treat communication as a tool,” he says, “something that helps people stay connected, stay grounded, and ultimately succeed when they return home.”

The impact is already being felt in small but meaningful ways: more frequent contact between parents and children, stronger ties between individuals and their support networks, and greater continuity during what is often a disruptive period of life. For Gómez, these moments underscore a simple but powerful belief, that connection is foundational to progress, and that public policy can play a role in strengthening it.

The no-cost communications legislation is just one pillar of Gómez’s broader criminal justice platform. As a former organizer for the Justice Reinvestment Act (passed in 2017), he has consistently advocated for policies that focus on long-term outcomes, particularly in communities that have historically faced systemic barriers. His legislative portfolio includes parole reform, preventing criminal record discrimination, and reducing certain mandatory minimum sentences.

“When individuals end up in incarceration, they usually come from areas that need investment and opportunity,” he says. “That is something that is important to me and my office.”

Gómez is careful to note that this approach is not about being lenient, but thoughtful and effective. A person who maintains strong relationships is more likely to stay hopeful. A person with opportunity is more likely to succeed. It’s about creating pathways that lead to stability, and ultimately, safer communities.

While criminal justice is a cornerstone of his work, Gómez’s advocacy extends into other critical areas. With deep ties to the Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center, he is a strong advocate for veterans and their families.
On education, Gómez helped expand access to community college in Massachusetts, first for those 25 and older, and then for all high school graduates in the state, regardless of immigration status.

“Anybody that graduates from a Massachusetts high school can attend community college debt-free,” he says. “They can get their fresh start.”
At age 42, Gómez is relatively young in politics. When asked about future ambitions, he is thoughtful but open.

“I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t think about it,” he admits. “If the people wanted me to run for higher office, I would answer a calling.”

For now, he remains focused on serving his community and supporting leaders like Rep. Richard Neal, with whom he shares deep neighborhood roots in Springfield’s North End.

Gómez also makes sure to highlight what matters most beyond policy: his family. He speaks about his wife, Miriam, and their three children, Nevaeh, Adam Jr., and Milani.

“Nevaeh is spelled heaven backwards,” he says with a smile.

It’s a small detail, but a telling one. For a leader who has dedicated his life to expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and improving access to essential services, the motivation is deeply personal. Whether it’s a family staying connected across distance, a student pursuing education, or a veteran seeking support, the principle remains the same: that we are all connected.