Samuel Wences Aguilar

Born in Mexico and raised in the South, I tell stories that bridge cultures and spark connection. As founder of A|R Strategies and author of The White Rose, my work is rooted in honesty and identity.

Samuel Aguilar (Sam in English) was born in Mexico and raised in the South, two worlds that taught him early on how to build bridges where others saw barriers. Whether navigating language gaps, political divides, or cultural misunderstandings, Sam’s work has always come down to one thing: earning trust and helping people feel seen. Over the past decade, Sam has supported some of Georgia’s most meaningful campaigns and community efforts. He is the author of The White Rose, a novel that wrestles with identity, masculinity, and mental health, reflecting his belief that stories can move people when they are honest, vulnerable, and real. As State Director at FWD.us, he united business leaders, advocacy groups, and elected officials from both sides of the aisle to move the needle on immigration. He has worked with offices as different as Rep. John Lewis and (then) Rep. Ron DeSantis to protect Dreamers and improve the visa system. At Corners Outreach, Sam helped launch the Corners Workforce Academy to expand career pathways for Latino workers and their families. He has trained nonprofit leaders, coached candidates, and created space for honest dialogue, even when the pressure was high and the stakes were political. Sam has been recognized as one of Georgia’s “50 Most Influential Latinos” (2019, 2020), served with the American Jewish Committee’s ACCESS program, and helped young Latino professionals connect with state policymaking through the HYPE Public Policy Committee. His perspective has been shaped by graduate work in South Korea and a Master of Public Administration at UGA, but what grounds him most is storytelling.