Cindy Rivera is the Director of Strategy & Development and a Project Director with over two decades of experience in early childhood development and mental health across the lifespan. Her career began at the grassroots level, working directly with communities, from Tennessee to American Samoa, on everything from boosting volunteerism to preventing chronic disease. Cindy brings a deep belief that communities hold the wisdom to solve their own challenges; when that wisdom is honored, innovation can flourish.
Today, Cindy supports multiple national initiatives, providing project direction, training, and technical assistance including the 988 Crisis System Response Training and Technical Assistance Center. She holds a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University (Fork ‘EM) and both a master’s and bachelor’s in Mexican American Studies from the University of Arizona (Bear Down). She’s currently pursuing a Doctor of Social Work at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide).
After 12 years crisscrossing the country as an Army spouse, Cindy is now rooted back in her hometown in Southern Arizona with her husband, their five children, and pug.
A fierce advocate for justice, equity, and inclusion, Cindy recently co-authored The Diverse Experiences of Military and Veteran Families of Color, a landmark research study that helped spark national policy change. She is passionate about the power of personal stories as tools for research and change, and is committed to uplifting the voices of those too often left out of the conversation.
