STRIVE - J. Angelo Rivera

Angelo Rivera grew up in NYC, joined the Air Force to get away from NYC (“forever”), and in 1995 returned after a 15 year stint in Europe. He began his workforce development career as a “dislocated vet” with the New York State Department of Labor in 1996 where he was tasked with providing job related support to “dislocated professionals.” He followed up his DOL experience as a Senior Job Developer for Williamsburg Works, a Brooklyn based - “STRIVE modeled” - workforce development organization. From 1997 to 2003 he worked in career services capacities for both Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and NYU’s Graduate School of Public Service (Wagner). As a Program Coordinator for SIPA and an Assistant Director for NYU, he honed graduate level career counseling skills and career operations management skills.

From 2003 to 2007, a strong desire to work within organizations committed to serving communities of color led him to return to the nonprofit sector. He directed new workforce development programs in Hempstead, Long Island – Circulo Career Services (for Circulo de la Hispanidad), and in Bushwick, Brooklyn – RBSCC Career Services (for RBSCC, Inc.). His goal in each case was to “synthesize” graduate level professional development and career services methodology (and standards) with community based job readiness practices. His interest has been the development of “hybrid” – or “Community Career Services” approaches to workforce development organizations serving populations with multiple barriers to employment. In January 2008 he became the Chief Operating Officer for STRIVE NY. Angelo holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in International Relations from Boston University.