As part of the Emerging Leaders series, John Jay College’s Office of External Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Career and Professional Development hosted Carlina Rivera, the Council Member representing New York City’s District 2. The Emerging Leaders series engages the John Jay community with rising public policy leaders through the exploration of current issues, networking, and discussions about the professional and personal experiences of the keynote speakers. John Jay student Julio Chavez ’21, a student in the ¡Adelante! Latinx Leadership Program introduced Rivera. “Carlina Rivera has a history of bringing people together to improve the lives, resources, and well-being of the residents of Manhattan’s lower east side,” said Chavez. Listing a few examples, Chavez highlighted Rivera’s role in coordinating a 4,000-person volunteer effort to help more than 10,000 homebound residents following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, as well as her role in creating and organizing initiatives for seniors and homeless New Yorkers as Director of Programs and Services at Good Old Lower East Side.

Rivera’s upbringing on the Lower East Side has helped shape her desire to advocate for affordable housing, criminal justice reform, small business survival, education initiatives, immigrant rights, and equality for all New Yorkers. She spoke with students about the importance of engaging with and helping their communities, and why next year’s Census is so important. “Before I was a council member, I used to work as a housing organizer at Good Old Lower East Side, a very small non-profit. And although it was small, it was mighty. It tackled some of the greatest injustices we see landlords commit against tenants—deprivation of services, intimidating residents, and increasing rents to unaffordable rates,” said Rivera. “My community of the lower east side has extreme pockets of poverty, there’s still an immigrant community there, and we have many cases of people living below the poverty line. I want to make sure that the legislation we’re passing is keeping people safe in their homes and in their communities.”

Keeping her constituents in their homes isn’t the only goal on Rivera’s agenda. Ensuring all members of her community, and every community in the City, are counted is high on her list of priorities. Earlier this year she was named co-chair of the 2020 Census Task Force. The newly created group’s mission is to ensure every New Yorker—especially those in undercounted immigrant and minority communities—is counted in the upcoming 2020 census. “There’s a lot at stake here,” said Rivera. “For those that don’t know, the Census is when you go out and try to count every single person living in your city. Every household gets a census form. The big question is whether the citizenship question will be on the form.” The last time the citizenship question was on the Census form was in 1950. “The results of the census determines our economic and political future for the next 10 years,” said Rivera. “The Census will also affect everything from the federal dollars that go to New York City projects and initiatives—infrastructure investment, food, schools, housing, healthcare and other vital services New Yorkers depend on—to our representation in Washington, D.C.” According to Rivera, the Task Force hopes to identify hyperlocal groups, community-based organizations, and local religious, business and union leaders, to help ensure a complete count. “The only way we’re going to succeed as a city is when we truly unite and support one another,” said Rivera.

Following her keynote, Rivera participated in a Q&A discussion moderated by Jovanny Suriel, Associate Director at the Center for Career and Professional Development, and then students were able to enjoy one-on-one time with Rivera. They discussed community issues, asked for book suggestions, learned some key life tips, and took photos. We spoke with some of the students in attendance to learn why it was important for them to attend the event.

Anthony Sambula ’20
Major: MPA Inspection & Oversight

It’s essential to attend this type of event because it lets us get involved and meet with our local leaders. For change to happen you can’t sit on the sidelines, you must get involved. This series makes it so that we can have real valuable interaction with local leaders where they can hear our concerns, listen to our input, and answer some of our more pressing questions.

Serena Astudillo ’22
Major: Political Science

I’m majoring in Political Science, so it is very important for me to hear what current leaders have to say and learn their stance on some of the major issues facing many communities. It was gratifying to hear how real Carlina Rivera is. She looks and talks just like us. Hearing her speak lets me know that there really are politicians who are looking out for us and want to protect the people.

Julio Chavez ’21
Major: Political Science

Events like this allow us to get to know more about who our local officials are and what they stand for. Change begins on the local level. So, politicians like Carlina Rivera, who advocate for affordable housing and make sure that all New Yorkers are counted in the next census, are necessary for this City, and this country, to succeed.

To support informed participation in our democracy, the College provides access to public officials in their official capacity and candidates without regard to political party affiliation or policy views. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the College. See http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/sites/default/files/legal_counsel/pol_activities_memo.pdf