Born in 1974, Tamara Grigsby grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. She attended Howard University, a prestigious black college in Washington, D.C., for her bachelor’s degree and received her master’s in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduation, Grigsby worked as a family social worker in Milwaukee for a number of years. During this time, she also worked as a program manager for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. In 2005, Grigsby was elected as a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the Assembly’s 18th district.
During her time in office, Grigsby served on various standing committees including the Joint Committee on Finance, Children and Families Committee, Joint Committee on Legislative Council, Homeland Security and Tourism. She also participated in Special Committees on High-Risk Juvenile Offenders, Justice Reinvestment Initiative Oversight, and Strengthening Wisconsin Families. Grigsby sponsored bills on housing and employment discrimination, voters’ rights, and penalties for drug violations. In 2013, Grigsby retired from the State Assembly to focus on her health. Then she worked as an ad hoc professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and retained her position with the Wisconsin Council for Children and Families.
Tamara Grigsby died on March 14, 2016.
