About Me
Haile Rivera grew up in a poor and humble home without ever knowing his father. Despite his modest beginnings, growing up Mr. Rivera saw his mother always helping others less fortunate by providing them with food, clothing, and shelter. It was this upbringing that encouraged Mr. Rivera to consistently help others around him.In the summer of 2002, Mr. Rivera co-founded Hands On New York, Inc., a non-profit organization created to help low-income individuals and families in Bronx, New York. Hands On New York provides a multitude of services to the community such as job placement assistance, helping students apply for college and financial aid, as well as organize annual drives to give out coats, toys, and turkeys to needy families. In October 2003, Mr. Rivera was a member of the initial staff of CUNY Preparatory Transitional High School (CUNY Prep), an alternative program designed for out-of-school youths to obtain a high school equivalency diploma (GED) and pursue a college degree. During his tenure at CUNY Prep, Mr. Rivera assisted in securing funds for the sustainability of the school.He was recognized by the New York City Council and New York State Assembly for his work in the community. In 2007, Mr. Rivera was recognized as a “Rising Star†in City Hall News’ The Next Generation of Political Leaders in New York - Rising Stars: 40 Under 40.Besides the importance of serving the community, Mr. Rivera’s mother also instilled in him the significance of being politically active. Mr. Rivera remembers what she constantly tells him: electing the right people is the best way to guarantee that the neediest are helped. Consequently, since moving to New York in 1996, he has volunteered in many local and state-wide political campaigns.In the summer of 2007, Mr. Rivera was selected by Barack Obama’s campaign as one of his guests for an intimate dinner where he discussed urban issues, in particular, poverty, education and teen pregnancy. Most recently, he worked on President-elect Barack Obama's presidential campaign including in his home state of New York, Virginia, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Puerto Rico. In the general election, Mr. Rivera was the Field Organizer in Hialeah, Florida where he was able to increase voter turnout, particularly among the youth, in the city with the largest number of registered Republican in the State of Florida. As a result of Mr. Rivera’s early campaign efforts in the Bronx, President-elect Obama received 88% of the votes in Bronx County, ranking #1 in New York City and #4 in the Nation.Mr. Rivera was born in San Jose de Ocoa, Dominican Republic. He graduated from Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College of the City University of New York (Bronx, NY) where he received a degree in Public Administration in 2003. While in college, Mr. Rivera was involved with various student organizations and was elected President of the Student Government Association as well as President of the Dominican Students Association. Mr. Rivera is the eldest of four brothers and currently resides in Bronx, NY.
