Arvina Martin

Arvina has deeply rooted appreciation for Madison which ultimately lead her to run for Madison City Council.

Arvina has dedicated her professional career to making a difference in whatever way she can.  She began as a Native American Recruiter for the UW- Madison Office of Undergraduate Admission, to make sure that Native American students were given an opportunity at higher education. Arvina then began working closely with tribal communities and learned how to write effective policy and how to implement policies in a responsible and efficient manner. Currently, Arvina facilitates government-to-government relationships between Wisconsin’s 11 tribes and the state of Wisconsin.

Arvina was actively involved in the 2011 public employee Wisconsin protests and worked with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Since then, she has worked and volunteered for candidates, making calls, knocking on doors and organizing for elections—skills that she was able to utilize during her run for city council.

During the campaign, Arvina recognized Madison’s amazing qualities, but also argued that there was room for improvement. She believed that the growing community needed to prioritize the city’s infrastructure, build the Midtown Police Station and address racial disparity.

Arvina soundly beat her male opponent in April 2017 and is the first Native American to serve on the Madison City Council. She is excited to represent Madison and listen to her community.