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Planting Seeds of Change, A Journey from Hobby Farm to Mayor: Meet Amáda Márquez Simula
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, GlobalMindED is honored to feature Amáda Márquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, Community Outreach Coordinator for Metro Transit’s Blue Line Extension, and co-founder of the sustainability nonprofit HeightsNEXT. A proud Chicana leader and Bush Fellow, Amáda has redefined public service through nontraditional paths, weaving together resilience, creativity, and cultural celebration. Known for founding inclusive community traditions like the Columbia Heights Pride Festival and the Bilingual Monarch Festival, she has dedicated her career to representation, sustainability, and building communities where everyone feels they belong.
Tell us about your personal journey. (This encompasses both personal and professional aspects)
I grew up on a small hobby farm in Wisconsin, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant father and a Midwestern mother. My path didn’t follow the traditional route of higher education, but I built my career through resilience, creativity, and a commitment to community. From small business and nonprofit leadership to being elected Mayor of Columbia Heights and serving as Community Outreach Coordinator for Metro Transit, my journey has been about celebrating culture, creating belonging, and amplifying voices. Representation matters deeply to me — as a Latina and as someone who came to leadership through nontraditional paths, I want others to see that their voices and stories belong at the table too.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
Organizing the first Columbia Heights Pride Festival and the Bilingual Monarch Festival showed me how cultural celebration and inclusivity can transform communities. Founding HeightsNEXT taught me the power of grassroots sustainability and collaboration. Running for public office — and winning — was another pivotal moment that taught me courage, persistence, and the importance of representation.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned through your work?
I’ve learned that listening deeply is the most powerful tool of leadership. Real change comes from lifting up community voices, especially those often excluded. I’ve also learned that joy and creativity — through art, music, and cultural celebration — are not side notes, but essential to building equity and resilience.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
I am driven by love for my community and by lived experience with exclusion and inequity. I want others to be seen, valued, and celebrated for who they are. I believe that when people feel a sense of belonging, they not only thrive themselves, but also strengthen democracy and community for everyone.
What are your highest hopes for democracy to unite and uplift and inspire?
My hope is for a democracy that is truly representative, inclusive, and creative — one that honors the many cultures, languages, and stories that make up our communities. Democracy at its best heals divisions, uplifts voices long silenced, and inspires us to imagine a future where everyone has the opportunity to belong and contribute.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
GlobalMindED plays a vital role by amplifying diverse voices and showing that there is no single path to leadership. By connecting leaders to mentors, networks, and training, GlobalMindED helps us strengthen our skills and expand our reach. Most importantly, it reminds young people — especially those from underrepresented backgrounds — that their voices and dreams matter. Representation is powerful, and by lifting up stories like mine, GlobalMindED helps the next generation see themselves as leaders too.
Contact Amáda Márquez Simula:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amadamarquezsimula/
Bush Fellowship link: https://www.bushfoundation.org/fellows/amada-marquez-simula/
Bilingual Monarch Festival link: https://heightsnext.org/events/columbia-heights-monarch-festival/
Mayor & Council
https://www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/government/mayor_and_city_council/index.php
Campaign website: https://www.voteamada.com/
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