AMARI RIVERA

Amari Rivera - Peer Support Specialist 

I’m a health educator, event coordinator, & artist with experience in medical simulation training in abortion care & social science research. I have a passion for reproductive rights, art, and all things social justice. Proud to have been born & raised in the South Bronx. Last year, I began a community engagement group called A Bronx Project. Its mission is to beautify the borough and celebrate green spaces. I relocated to Oakland to pursue a Master's in Public Policy at Northeastern University after graduating from CUNY with a BA in Psychology. 

The oldest of 3, I was raised by my non-biological grandparents under a guardianship in a separate home from my brothers. I grew up estranged from my biological family and reconnected with my siblings as we’ve grown older. As the eldest sister of two teen brothers, our priority has been overcoming generational traumas of being first-generation students & workers, unlearning disruptive cycles, caring for our inner child, and maintaining communication as a reminder that we aren’t what we came from. I use writing and solo travel as forms of self-care and community building. 5 years ago, I started solo traveling as a way to practice grounding and healing — now I’m on a mission to visit street art cities around the world. I’m the friend who’s down for a fun time & always has a random side quest planned for the sake of adventure. Having coping outlets helped me navigate experiences like mental illness, social anxiety, and abandonment wounds. I believe that art, music, food, and the beauty that exists in distinct cultures can be the cure that brings the world together. 

As a 20-something pansexual Afro-Latina, my interest in social justice piqued in my teens at a time when I felt like the relationships I had with myself, my body, and community didn’t align. Writing became an open template for self-expression in my life. By channeling creativity, I can explore ideas with freedom from judgment. I’ve come across so many kindred spirits through volunteering, working in public health, and joining advocacy orgs that serve their communities like Village is Possible. This role is an opportunity to use what I’ve learned on my journey through girlhood to be the type of person I needed when I was younger. A huge part of who I am & what I believe to be possible is because of educators and community leaders that I’ve encountered. I hope to be an example of what unwavering belief and ambition are catalysts for. All girls have dreams & they deserve to be certain that there’s always a path forward.