Sam’s Bio

Sam Hammar is a public sector innovator, community builder, and advocate dedicated to strengthening government, entrepreneurship, and local communities. Her career spans education, technology, economic development, and civic engagement, with a consistent focus on creating systems that better support working families and empower communities.

Raised along the East Coast in a hardworking family, Sam saw firsthand the resilience required to balance work, health, and family responsibilities. Those early experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to public service, equity, and opportunity.

Sam began her career teaching journalism and civic activism at the Boston Community Leadership Academy in the Boston Public Schools, where she guided graduating seniors in projects focused on social advocacy and technology-driven solutions for their schools and communities. She later joined the City of Boston’s Economic Development team, contributing to the transformation of the South Boston Waterfront into the Innovation District—an ambitious initiative to position Boston as a global hub for entrepreneurship, technology, and the creative economy. During her time in city government, she also worked on early civic technology initiatives, including projects that contributed to the development of Boston’s now widely used 311 constituent service line.

Sam went on to serve as Executive Director of The Capital Network, where she expanded the organization’s reach in Boston’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by building partnerships with leading innovation organizations including MassChallenge, M2D2, Cambridge Innovation Center, Workbar, WeWork, and InnoLoft. She later joined the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology as Director of Strategic Partnerships, working to strengthen collaboration between government and the region’s growing technology and innovation sectors.

Alongside her professional career, Sam has remained deeply engaged in community leadership and advocacy. After the birth of her twins, she experienced firsthand the challenges many families face navigating the high cost and limited availability of childcare. Motivated by that experience, she became a vocal advocate for policies that support working parents. As a member of the Melrose Women’s Commission, she authored a study on the State of Childcare in Melrose, recommending local economic development strategies to expand childcare availability.

Sam has also been an active volunteer and community organizer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded Melrose Together, a grassroots volunteer network that connected neighbors with those in need and organized community-wide efforts to support local businesses and strengthen civic connection during an isolating time.

She continues to champion arts, culture, and community engagement as a member of the Melrose Creative Alliance, working to position the city as a vibrant destination for arts, culture, and creative collaboration.

Across every chapter of her work—from classrooms to city halls to community initiatives—Sam’s mission has remained the same: to build stronger communities, modernize public service, and expand opportunity for families and future generations.