Manuel Rivera

Manuel "Manny" Rivera, 52 of New Haven, CT died suddenly on Friday, February 26, 2021. Manny was born in New York City on May 16, 1968, a son of Nilda Cobián of New Haven and John Frank Rivera of the Bronx, NY, and had resided in New Haven for the past forty eight years. He was a self-employed grant writer. Manny received his AS in General Studies from Gateway Community College in 2002, his BS in Spanish/Language and Cultural Studies from Southern Connecticut State University in 2002, and his MS in Political Science/Public Administration from Southern in 2005. He was very active in his community. For the past five years Manny was an Independent Contractor/Consultant, in training, managing counseling, recruiting and developing techniques with teachers, university students, community organizations, community centers and various nonprofit groups. He previously was a Network Navigator/Team Leader for Liberty Community Services of New Haven from 2015-2017, a Resident Services-Housing Property Coordinator for the City of New Britain, CT Housing Authority, and a Bilingual Intervention Specialist for Project Moore of New Haven from 2013-2014. He was the Assistant Director/Administrator for Green Street Arts Center at Wesleyan University, Middletown from 2004 to 2006, Director of Community Cultural Development for The Arts Council of Greater New Haven from 2002 to 2004, and the Executive Director of Latino Youth Development, Inc. of New Haven from 2000 to 2002. His professional memberships included Commissioner, Cultural Affairs-City of New Haven 2018-2019, Co-Chairperson, Educational Leadership Movement (E.L.M.) 2018-2019, Board of Directors, Young Audiences CT 2007-2011, Board of Directors, New Haven Museum 2002-2005, Board of Directors, AIDS Project New Haven 2000-2002, Chairperson, Black History 2004, Chairperson, Latino Heritage 2003 and Chairperson, Cultural Network 2002. Manny had attended numerous professional development conferences over the years including, the National Organizing Workshop (NOW) Conference, Philadelphia, PA in 2017, National Institute Curriculum in Art Education, New Britain in 2005, National Guild of Community Art Schools Conference, Boston, MA, 2004, People of Color, Honolulu, HI, 2003, National Black Theatre Festival, Winston-Salem, NC, 2003, National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), New York, 2002, and the National Fatherhood Initiatives Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2001. He received certifications from the Greater New Haven Leadership Center, New Haven in 2004, Trinity College, Executive Director Training Program in 2002, and Sexual Assault Crisis Services, New Haven in 1999. In addition to his parents, Manny is survived by four sisters, Adelisa (Daniel Guzman) Cobián of Hatillo, Puerto Rico, Carrie (Luís Pagán) Cobián of New Haven, and Monique and Laura Rivera of Florida, one brother, Jonathan Rivera of New York City, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Manny's family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, March 3rd from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. A funeral service will take place at the funeral home on Thursday, March 4th at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven. www.washingtonmemorialfh.com

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