Our firm is founded on the concept of “deep democracy”: an urban planning, political and social change tool kit that can support the paradigm shift necessary for a just transition. Critically, this guiding tenant—though applicable to electoral politics— also speaks more broadly to the planning and action steps needed at all levels of organizing, engagement, and activism to enact real shifts in the power structures that define America’s social contract.

At Rivera Consulting Inc. we work at the intersection of people, planning, and politics. We build cross-sector infrastructure that centralizes the leadership of women of color. Our mission is driven by founder Wilnelia Rivera’s philosophy that when we work in partnership to address inequity, whether with our organizations, candidates, or within our urban planning projects, the approach must break the traditional frameworks of change.

At Rivera Consulting, we know that to engage the largest Democratic voting block - American Rising Electorate (unmarried women, people of color, and millenials), we need to invest in movement building candidates on all levels of the ballot. Their election leads to more progressive representation in our Congress, our statehouses, and in our municipal government.

While the chipping and eroding of our democratic norms and values continue, we believe that we need Democratic and movement leaders in the halls of government and decision-making authority that are working to restore trust in each other and our democracy.

Without the collaboration and input of activists, business owners, and community leaders who have paved the way for candidates like Councilor Kim Janey or Alejandra St. Guillen, there is no victory.

Jon Hillman joins us as our new Senior Associate Consultant focused on urban planning and social science research projects with a passion to help advance the firm’s mission to boldly and fiercely reimagine the American social contract.

Founder Wilnelia Rivera gives the Commencement Keynote Speech to Tufts University’s Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Class of 2019.

“How often do we create new structures and new policies but stick to the same behavior? Pretty darn often. Just look at the old filing case.” Read this recent blog by our Firm President, Wilnelia Rivera, as she shares highlights from one of our major clients in 2019, United for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE).

We’re launching a national podcast called Deep Democracy, where we will be elevating the women and people of color who are leaders within movement building politics and belong at the center of our democracy. All of these women are thought leaders and activists in putting the American Rising Electorate (millennials, people of color, and unmarried women) at the centerpiece of electoral change.

For the year ahead, the team at Rivera Consulting, Inc., is focused on supporting locally and regionally based reproductive justice organizations like Women with A Vision New Orleans, United for Reproductive Justice & Gender Equity, the National Latina Institute of Reproductive Health, and more.

The 2020 Presidential primary cycle is informally kicking off next February, and it’s important that we take stock of where and how we invested and what was the return on that investment.