Featured at the 2018 Human Excellence Awards,
June 19, 2018
Harvard University
Reverend Rivera has served as a pastor, preacher, denominational executive, organization founder, and community builder in the Bronx, New York. For decades, he has helped build hope and futures in neighborhoods ravaged by economic blight and despair.
In 1992, Dr. Rivera founded the Latino Pastoral Action Center to deal with social justice issues in the broad community from a holistic perspective. He worked within the Manhattan-based New York City Mission Society, the city’s oldest and largest social service agency, to get the work done, and to deliver vital support to thousands of disengaged citizens.
His work sits on the divide between the secular and the sacred. His vision is to create a bridge between the two--where the energy of faith and the energy of life create a powerful fount for transformation and new horizons.
As an example of his reach, Reverend Rivera has provided leadership development and technical assistance to hundreds of churches and faith-based organizations around the country. He has established spiritual care, after-school, youth development, and adult education programs over decades of community engagement and national conversations.
In 2000, Dr. Rivera founded the Family Life Academy Charter School, an award-winning group of charter schools that has brought top-quality education to children from under-resourced families.
Demand for admission to the schools is intense, and students and families who gain admission find life transformed as they enter buildings filled with hope, talented teachers, and a culture that brings meaning, connection, and purpose to young lives around the city.
The academic curriculum includes a focus on character, family, and social justice. Students at the charter schools are scholars who graduate with ambitions and the academic foundation to excel. The school is committed to creating opportunity for all students, no matter their primary language, ethnicity or socio-economic status. The vast majority of students at Family Life Academy Charter School go on to higher education and better lives and futures.
Dr. Rivera has worked with communities across the country with a holistic approach to the most complex problems.
His vision--and his ability to build teams who implement despite extraordinary odds—has been an inspiration for social impact leaders around the country.
Dr. Rivera speaks about the transformative results people can have, and then delivers on that promise with new forms of social justice, equity, and support for poor families to actualize on their potential.
For his work in schools, community-based organizations, and churches nationally, we are excited to honor Dr. Ray Rivera with the 2018 Human Excellence Award.