About Elvis
Elvis Rivera is a first-generation Guatemalan immigrant, speaker, community advocate, finance professional, and public servant whose life’s work centers on resilience, identity, and whole-life leadership. After surviving a dangerous migration to the United States, periods of homelessness, and the challenges of cultural assimilation, Elvis spent his adulthood transforming those experiences into purpose-driven leadership.
Professionally, he has served in roles across finance, community engagement, nonprofit governance, and statewide policy work. He has contributed his perspective in spaces where organizations, foundations, and leaders come together to discuss equity, entrepreneurship, and efforts to close the racial wealth gap. His work spans boardrooms, community spaces, and public institutions — all guided by the same core belief: service is a responsibility, not a title.
Elvis is also a storyteller. His writing blends lived experience with practical wisdom, offering a framework for healing, purpose, and forward movement. Pa’lante: The Long Way Forward serves as the philosophical foundation for his forthcoming memoir.
He lives in Minnesota, where he continues to champion immigrant voices, BIPOC communities, small business development, youth empowerment, and ethical leadership. Through his speaking, writing, and service, Elvis remains committed to one mission: helping others grow, heal, and move forward.
What does "pa'lante, siempre" mean?
Pa’lante means forward. Siempre means always. Together, they mean choosing to keep going.
“Pa’lante, siempre” is not about ignoring the hard parts. It is about choosing forward when life does not go as planned. This phrase has carried Elvis through seasons of doubt, growth, and becoming whole.
(Pa’lante comes from the Spanish “para adelante,” meaning “forward” or “keep going.”)
Lift as you climb.
Success is not about how high you go. It is about who you bring with you.
In this video Elvis shares why lifting as you climb is not charity, it is responsibility. None of us get where we are alone, and the real measure of growth is how intentionally we create room for others to rise with us.
