Roberto de la Riva

Roberto de la Riva is driving change within the housing sector. He is a first-generation Latino-American with a passion for social justice and equity, from his early days organizing at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to championing the rights of tenants with the Mexico Solidarity Network in Chicago. In Minneapolis, he co-founded Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia (United Renters For Justice), leading a housing movement that has returned millions of dollars to tenants and prevented evictions. To continue creating large-scale change, Roberto plans to further his work on the Sky Without Limits Cooperative, which is demonstrating the potential for community-owned housing cooperatives. As part of his Fellowship, he will learn more about the formation of institutions, while also undergoing an in-depth study of the work he has already done to see where he can improve and how he can lead in more meaningful ways.

What has informed your approach to leading change in your community? 

My approach is shaped by my personal journey navigating race and identity. My parents were from Venezuela and Spain, so I grew up facing misunderstandings about my own heritage in a predominantly white Minnesota suburb. It showed me why it was so important to confront systemic inequalities and create understanding of diverse communities.  

What is the best piece of advice you have received? 

An elder once said, “Social change happens at the speed of trust, and it is not built overnight.” Transformation takes time, and we must let those relationships build.  

What is your favorite quote or expression? 

From C.L.R. James: “The cruelties of property and privilege are always more ferocious than the revenges of poverty and oppression. For the one aims at perpetuating resented injustice, and the other is merely a momentary passion soon appeased.”