Jessica Rivera?

Wake Harvest Director, Jessica Rivera, was born on April 30th in Goshen, New York. Along with her older brother, Jeremy, and her younger sister, Natalie, Jessica was raised by her loving parents, Jerry and Idalia.   

In 1998, Jessica's family relocated to Kissimmee, Florida. During her Senior year at East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida, Jessica took a service learning elective class that would influence the direction of her life. This was where she discovered her love of customer service and making a positive difference in the lives of others.   Jessica's first job was at Walt Disney World. She continued to excel working in hospitality management, multiple Timeshare Resorts and as a pre-school teacher.   

In 2004, Jessica met her husband. They married on February 11, 2006. Together they have a 13 year old son, Jeriel, and a 4 year old daughter, Juliana.   

In 2013, after suffering multiple miscarriages, Jessica became a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. It was during her research of grief and loss she discovered the tie between grief and suicide is depression. Depression is one of the stages of grief and one of the leading causes of suicide. That was when Jessica decided to dedicate her career to suicide prevention.   

In 2010, Jessica and her family relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina where she lived for 3 years before moving back to Florida for 2 years. In 2015, after the birth of daughter Juliana, Jessica's family returned to Raleigh, North Carolina for good.   

In April 2017, Jessica created JRV Consulting. Specializing in grief recovery and hosting special events, Jessica decided to shift her focus to youth suicide prevention and youth development. This is how Wake Harvest was born.   

In January 2019, Jessica rolled out the Wake Harvest Youth Mentorship Program. Wake Harvest is an outreach program that specializes in youth mentorship and development. Her purpose is to prevent youth suicide by giving our next generation a hope for the future. During the summer of 2019, Wake Harvest hosted its first summer camp to ensure no child was left home alone. By December 2019 over 65 children were enrolled in the Wake Harvest Youth Mentorship Program. And it continues to grow.   

Through Wake Harvest Jessica has created a one of a kind youth development program designed to instill positive self-esteem and healthy confidence in her students. The guidance she promotes encourages emotional regulation, problem solving, and social interaction, among many other vital life skills.  

Jessica partners with parents to cultivate an environment where children feel heard, understood and empowered. Her unique approach helps to strengthen family relationships, build trust and implement healthy communication.   

In 2020, Jessica is partnering with local WCPSS schools and local youth organizations to provide services to as many children as possible. Her ultimate goal is to secure a location she can call home for Wake Harvest students. She wants to offer an afterschool program to continue her #nochildhomealone campaign. Jessica believes #ItTakesAVillage. We are so glad she is a part of our village.