Deven Rivera is a National Offices of Violence Prevention Network Coordinator at NICJR. In this role, he provides technical assistance to NOVPN members and supports other innovative initiatives related to reducing gun violence.
Deven is passionate about addressing both the prevention and intervention aspects of community violence. His focus has been on ensuring that organizations and institutions work together to tackle root causes while securing the necessary resources to achieve meaningful impact. Before joining NICJR, Deven served as the Community Safety Fund Program Manager at Everytown for Gun Safety, where he managed a multi-million dollar grant program investing in community-based violence intervention and prevention (CVIP) organizations across the US. In this role, he delivered $5.5 million in grants to CVIP organizations across 36 cities. He also provided virtual and in-person convenings, capacity-building initiatives, and advocacy efforts for grantees. Before Everytown, Deven served as the Director of Career Readiness for the Center of Community Alternatives, where he managed multiple projects, including grant operations, a tiered workforce development program for system-involved youth, peer mentorship, and access to sustainable employment. Deven also supported New York’s Raise the Age legislation that increased the minimum age for youth held on Rikers Island to 18 years old.
Deven holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from St. Francis College and a Master of Public Administration degree from John Jay College.