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Story & Lesson Highlights with Alexandro Rivera of South Los Angeles

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We’re looking forward to introducing you to Alexandro Rivera. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Alexandro, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
That’s a powerful question. I think many people carry silent burdens, and while they may appear fine on the outside, they could be struggling on the inside. You’d be surprised how many people, even those who seem confident and accomplished, wrestle with imposter syndrome, doubting their accomplishments and having self-doubt. I think some people struggle with loneliness, living in this new tech world, it can be ironic how disconnected people can feel in the real world. Many feel emotionally isolated but don’t know how to express it or they fear being judged if they do express themselves.
I also think financial stress is one of those things people don’t like to talk about openly. It can affect everything from your mental health, relationship, even your job performance, but it’s something we keep hidden. Another secret struggle that people hide behind smiles and productivity is mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress or even burnout. It’s more common than we think but because of stigma or fear of being seen as weak, people often mask it with a smile or humor. Another secret struggle people may avoid is taking risks or pursuing their dreams because they’re terrified of failing and of what others might think, I say believe in yourself and go for it, don’t let no one or nothing stop you.
Finally, I would say something we secretly struggle with, that’s including myself is a search for purpose. Many of us are going through the motions, but deep down we’re wondering if what we’re doing really matters. That kind of self-questioning is hard to voice, especially when we’re expecting to have it all figured out. But I say, we all have a purpose in this world and it’s up to us to find that purpose and stop wondering about the what if’s, just stay focused.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! I’m Alexandro Rivera, born in California’s Central Valley and raised in South Los Angeles from the age of two until my teens, when my parents made the difficult decision to move our family back to the Central Valley due to the rising violence and high crime rates in South LA at the time. I’m the son of immigrant farm workers and grew up in a low-income household where hard work wasn’t just a value but a necessity. One memory that’s always stayed with me is picking grapes alongside my mom during the summer. I was just a kid, but I remember the heat, the dust, and the quiet determination in my moms’ eyes. She never complained—just kept going. That experience taught me the value of perseverance and dignity in labor, and it’s a lesson I carry into everything I do till this day.
Today, I serve as the Supervisor in Social and Community Services for MLK Community Healthcare, right in the heart of South LA. My work focuses on addressing social needs and developing programs that uplift underserved communities and create lasting, meaningful impact for our patients and community members.
What makes my work unique is that it’s rooted in my lived experience. I’ve been on the receiving end of the very services I now help lead. I know what it feels like to need support, to feel unseen, and to wonder if anyone is listening. Those lived experiences drove me to ensure our social need services at MLK Community Healthcare are not only effective but also deeply compassionate; especially for communities that have historically been left behind like my beloved South LA.

I feel that my story is one of resilience, purpose, and people. I believe in the power of a community, advocacy and determination in helping those less fortunate and my belief that every person no matter their background deserves a chance to thrive.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, observant kid with big dreams and a heart full of hope. I was the boy riding my bike through the dusty fields in the Central Valley, watching my parents work tirelessly under the sun and rain, not fully understanding the weight they carried—but somehow feeling it. I was the kid who saw life’s struggles, abuse, home violence up close, but also saw the resilience and hope for a better life.
As a kid, I didn’t have the language to describe what I wanted to become, but I knew I wanted to help others. I dreamed of being a fireman, a police officer, anyone who could show up in someone’s hardest moments and make things better. I knew the feeling I wanted to give others and to be someone who made people feel seen, someone who could turn pain into purpose.
Even then, teaching my three sisters about perseverance, dedication, and staying focused on their goals—lessons I had to learn at an early age. And to this day, I still try to pass those same values on to my nieces and nephews.
That part of me never left. It just got buried for a while, under expectations, under survival mode, under the pressure to “make it.” Now, I’ve come full circle, found my purpose in giving back to those in need. I still lead with that same heart, that same curiosity, and that same drive to serve. I’ve reclaimed the young version of myself that believed anything was possible and I carry him with me in everything I do now.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Wow! If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this:

“You are not a burden; you are a blessing. Your heart, your struggles, your questions, your dreams—they all matter. Keep going, don’t give up and stay focused. The world you’re trying to survive in right now as a boy will one day be the world you help change.”

I would remind that younger version of me that it’s okay to feel sad, it’s okay to cry and it’s okay to not have all the answers, and to take your time finding yourself. That the pain he’s carrying will one day become his power. And that he’s already enough, just as he is.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Without a doubt, I admire my mother, not because she’s my mother, but for her unwavering character. She is one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. At a very young age, she had to help raise her own siblings, and she became a mother herself far earlier than she should have-not by choice, but by circumstance.
As an immigrant and a farm worker, my mother faced hardships every single day. The work was grueling, the conditions harsh, and the recognition nonexistent. But her strength went far beyond the fields.

She is a survivor of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, enduring chemotherapy, surgery after surgery, and the emotional toll that comes with fighting for your life. On top of that, she endured domestic violence and abuse, carrying pain that most people will never see or understand.

And yet, through it all, she carried herself with grace, humility, and a quiet strength that spoke louder than words. She didn’t have much, but she gave everything she had-her time, her energy, her love. Her resilience wasn’t just about surviving, it was about showing up, day after day, with dignity and heart.

What I admire the most is that she never let her circumstances define her spirit. She taught me, not through words but through example, what resilience, sacrifice, and unconditional love truly looks like. Her strength is the foundation of mine. Her example shaped the way I lead today. I try to lead with compassion, with purpose, and with the same quiet strength she modeled for me. She is the definition of courage. And everything I am today is rooted in the example she set.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
You’re hitting me with deep questions! haha. The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone isn’t about titles or accomplishments—it’s about the impact I made in their lives and the community.

I hope they say I was someone who showed up with heart. Someone who would give the clothes off his back or the shoes off his feet to someone in need. Someone who turned his pain into purpose and used his voice to lift others when they couldn’t find their own.

I hope they remember that I didn’t just talk about change—I worked for it, lived it, and tried to embody it every single day. That I led with compassion, stayed grounded in my roots, and never forgot the people and places that shaped me.

I want to be remembered as someone who made people feel seen, valued, and capable of more than they believed. Someone who never forgot where he came from, and who used every opportunity to open doors for others.
If people say, “Because of him, I believed in myself a little more,” or “He made me feel like I mattered”—that would be enough. That would be everything.

If my story inspires someone to believe in their own worth, to keep going, or to give back—then I’ll know I did something right.

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