adam-hinds-135.jpg

STATE SENATOR ADAM HINDS

Massachusetts' Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin District

Service:
United Nations Political Officer

Adam Hinds was raised in Buckland and attended Mohawk Trail Regional High School, where his mother was a librarian and his Vietnam Veteran father was a school teacher. He attended Wesleyan University and then studied international law and negotiation at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Senator Hinds is the founding director of the Pittsfield Community Connection, a program designed to proactively engage at-risk youth before exposure to and engagement in violence and crime. He, along with Pittsfield City officials, was successful in winning a grant that will bring up to $5 million to Pittsfield to move young men engaged in illegal activities towards education, jobs, and counseling. He continues to serve as the Chair of the program’s Steering Committee and is an active Board Member of Downtown Pittsfield Inc., dedicated to fostering local economic development.

Senator Hinds is the former Executive Director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, based in North Adams.

Early in his career Senator Hinds worked as Campaign Manager for former Congressman John Olver and as a regional director for John Kerry for President, where he served under Susan Rice, the former US National Security Advisor.

After the Kerry campaign, Senator Hinds was hired by the United Nations and spent nearly ten years working on issues at the heart of US national interest in the Middle East. He spent three-and-a-half years in Iraq, including as team leader of an UN-led negotiation between the Kurdistan Region and Government of Iraq.  He was based in Jerusalem for two years as chief regional advisor to the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. He worked with Kofi Annan to attempt to broker a ceasefire in Syria and was part of a team that worked to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons program.

Senator Hinds believes the same skills and problem-solving spirit will make him a powerful advocate and voice for western Massachusetts and an effective collaborator on Beacon Hill.

In his free time, Senator Hinds rides his Harley, skis, bikes throughout the district, and takes advantage of the abundance of outdoor recreation and cultural resources the region has to offer.  He is a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has a strong appreciation for a good cup of coffee.

Senator Adam Hinds >