Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Rivero.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I usually just introduce myself as Mike, but I’m proud to say I’m the Chair and Co-Founder of Cubanos Palante, a grassroots organization made up of progressive Cuban Americans working to change the narrative about our community.
For a long time, the Cuban American community has been seen as monolithic and right-wing, but there’s a growing number of us who believe in policies that lift people up. We champion immigration reform, healthcare, economic opportunity, and social equity. Our motto has always been simple: we’re moving our gente pa’lante until we are all free.
My journey into organizing really started from a personal place. In 2019, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and that experience changed everything. I went from being a supporter of universal healthcare to someone living through the gaps of our broken system. While fighting cancer, I saw firsthand how many people didn’t have the same resources or access that I did. I watched people struggle to stay alive, not because of their illness, but because of the cost of care. I am blessed to have had the love of family and community, as well as access to insurance to win this battle and I am proudly cancer free today! Part of what motivates me is the want to give back to my community and hopefully be able to help more future survivors get through the battle with the same resources and no crushing debt.
The cancer battle really lit a fire in me. It wasn’t enough to just talk about what’s wrong with our healthcare system, I needed to do something. That’s when I got involved in advocacy around healthcare reform and started connecting with other local leaders who felt the same. Over time, that network became Cubanos Palante, and we’ve been organizing ever since to empower progressive Cuban Americans, change hearts and minds, and mobilize our community to vote for policies that truly help people thrive.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road but I don’t think it’s supposed to be.
One of the biggest challenges has been doing this work in a red community. There’s a lot of weaponized disinformation that preys on fear, especially within the Latino community. It takes real courage to challenge those narratives, especially when they’re tied to the trauma many Cuban Americans carry from fleeing the Castro regime. Having those conversations requires empathy, patience, and a willingness to sit in discomfort.
Another big challenge is the reality of grassroots work: it’s not funded, and it’s not glamorous. Everyone on our leadership team is unpaid, which means we’re balancing full-time jobs, families, and our organizing work. That can lead to burnout, and it’s something I’m honest about. But every time someone in our community tells me they finally feel seen – that keeps me and the group going.
There’s a quote I live by from James Baldwin:
“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
That quote reminds me that even if we don’t win every battle, we’re moving the needle. Showing up matters.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At my core, I’m a community organizer and storyteller. I help people see that they are part of something bigger and that their voice matters. As Chair and Co-Founder of Cubanos Palante, my work centers around shifting narratives, building bridges, and empowering Cuban Americans (and all Latinos) who don’t fit the mold of what people expect politically.
We specialize in education, civic engagement, and empowerment. We create spaces where people can safely talk about progressive policies like healthcare reform, economic opportunity, and immigration; topics that are often met with resistance in our community. What sets us apart is that we approach this work from a place of understanding rather than confrontation. We know the history, the pain, and the fears that shape our community’s politics, and we meet people where they are.
I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve built something out of pure passion and perseverance. There’s no corporate funding or political machine behind us.. we are just a group of everyday people who believe in a better future.
One of my proudest moments was during the 2022 election, when we went door-to-door in Little Havana and spoke with elderly voters who didn’t even know how to register or where to go. I remember helping one woman in her late 70s, a widow who lived alone, understand how to register and why her voice mattered. She teared up and thanked me for taking the time. In that moment, I realized that this is the work. It’s not about headlines or policy papers. It’s about connection. It’s about reminding people they belong.
What sets me apart, I think, is that I don’t see activism as a role.. I see it as a responsibility. I’ve lived through the brokenness of our healthcare system while battling cancer, and I know how deeply policy affects real lives. That experience fuels everything I do.
At the end of the day, my mission, and our mission at Cubanos Palante, is to make sure no one feels invisible. Whether it’s through voter education, advocacy, or just showing up at someone’s door, we want to build a movement that says: you matter, your story matters, and your voice has power. Ultimately, we aim to give people the confidence and the resources to not only have those tough conversations with family members about political change, but mobilize and actively engage in the community.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best way to support our work is by getting connected and showing up! Whether that’s online, in person, or through donations that help us keep going.
You can find Cubanos Palante on social media, especially on Instagram @cubanospalante where we share updates, resources, and calls to action. We also have a Facebook page and a private group where members and supporters can have real conversations about current issues, share articles, and learn from one another.
If you want to take it a step further, visit cubanospalante.com to sign up for our newsletter, make a donation, or get involved in upcoming events. Every dollar we raise goes directly toward community education, voter outreach, and fighting misinformation in South Florida.
For anyone who’s ever felt like their voice doesn’t matter – this is your space! You don’t have to be Cuban to join us, and you don’t have to be an expert to make an impact. All you need is the heart to move our gente pa’lante.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cubanospalante.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cubanospalante/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cubanospalante
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cubanospalante
- Twitter: https://x.com/cubanospalante
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cubanospalante
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cubanospalante.com
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cubanospalante
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3492623837532917/
Image Credits
Official Cubanos Palante pictures are by photographer David Cowan. I can point out which ones they are. The others are from my personal phone and taken at events. Happy to give you a blurb on each picture if needed.
https://www.instagram.com/dizcartel?igsh=dXlqa3hyc2psZzgw
