Staff Bio

JuanCarlos Rivera is one of the founding members of the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) and worked with a team of community members and dedicated teens to develop UTEC in 1997. JuanCarlos is guided by the belief that all young people are able to make a difference within themselves and their community when provided with strong support and opportunities, and it is that belief that gave him the inspiration and passion to play a role in opening UTEC’s doors in 1999.

JuanCarlos has dedicated himself to strengthening his community and the youth within it. His community  involvement has led him to serve as an Enterprise Community advisory member, Community Development Block Grant advisory member, Big Brother Big Sister board member, Latinos Unidos youth advisor, and Co-chair of the City of Lowell Youth division to end homelessness. In addition to JuanCarlos’ work in the community, his professional career has included peer advising for Planned Parenthood, youth organizing for Coalition for a Better Acre, program coordination for the YWCA Tobacco Prevention Program, case manager for Lowell’s Concord Family Youth Services program, and gang prevention and intervention as a UTEC Streetworker. Over the past seven years, JuanCarlos has served as the Director of Operations at UTEC.  

“ I started this journey envisioning a place where young people truly have a voice and are given the tools to create change. Today, I help run an organization that has helped a number of young people and continues to adapt and change to fit the needs of our young people. I am more than proud to have been part of the birth and creation of UTEC. I’d like to thank all the teens and community members who have given their time and energy to ensure the success of UTEC. It’s your commitment and guidance that make me love UTEC so much. Thank you!” 

JuanCarlos is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in Psychology and Legal Studies. Of Puerto Rican descent, JuanCarlos is a native speaker of Spanish.

Words JuanCarlos likes to live by:
-The time is always right, to do right - MLK
-There will be no mountains etched with our faces unless we bring the dynamite – Carlos Andres Gomez

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