Enrique Rivera serves as the LPSCC Public Safety Coordinator, overseeing the planning and launch of the Justice Fellowship, generously funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Born in Salem, Oregon, Enrique's childhood was characterized by frequent relocations, struggles with alcohol abuse, and involvement in youth gang violence, leading to a 70-month sentence during his young adulthood. However, during his incarceration, he dedicated himself to transformation, earning his high school diploma and college credits through distance education with Chemeketa Community College. Upon release, he successfully obtained a degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Portland State University.
In 2011 Enrique embarked upon12 and a half-year career with the Multnomah County Library. In 2018, he seamlessly blended his life experiences with his profound passion for libraries. Sharing his personal journey, he provided library services to adults in custody at Columbia River Correctional Institution and later at Multnomah County Inverness Jail. In 2022, his dedication to serving Adults in Custody earned him an invitation to address the ALA Leadership Reading and Panel Session: "Defending the Fifth Freedom: Protecting the Right to Read for Incarcerated Individuals."
His notable achievements include playing a key role in the expansion of Multnomah County Library's reference by mail program, catering to all Adults in Custody in Oregon. Furthermore, he collaborated in organizing a legal clinic at the Hollywood branch library, working in partnership with the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office Access Attorney Program (MAAP), the Metropolitan Public Defender, and the Oregon Law Center. This collaborative effort assisted 130 individuals with diverse legal needs and successfully resolved fines totaling $61,590.16.
Rivera is unwavering in his commitment to restorative justice, dismantling the stigma of previously incarcerated individuals, and advocating for those who have confronted similar challenges.
Contact Enrique: enriquer@multco.us