Multimedia Editor / Pop Culture Blogger
Los Angeles, CA
Jorge Rivas is multimedia editor and pop culture blogger for Colorlines.com. A firm believer in the power of visual communications to inform and move people into action, Jorge uses multimedia presentations to help readers build stronger connections to stories. Jorge has covered the public housing crisis in a post-Katrina New Orleans, the effects of deportation on families, and brought live images of the President Obama's inauguration to Colorlines.com readers.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jorge started in broadcast as an intern at the age of 16 and since worked in the entertainment industry and on international advertising campaigns. Jorge received his B.A. in Raza Studies from San Francisco State University where he studied immigration, healthcare perspectives and the interrelationship of culture, community, and the internet. Prior to joining Applied Research Center (ARC) and Colorlines.com in 2005, Rivas worked on a living wage campaign in Brooklyn, NY through the Minority Activist Apprenticeship Program (MAAP).
Jorge uses his media and ethnic studies background to deconstruct representation of people of color in pop culture, illustrating how pop culture can shape opinions, perceptions and even public policy. Jorge's work has appeared on Elle.com, Essence.com, Racialicious, The Root, Alternet, and Feministing.
Check out Jorge's media appearances here.
Follow Jorge on Twitter at @thisisjorge.
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Canadian and Alaskan Indians Show Shell Execs Why Tar Sands Are So Bad
by Jorge Rivas on May 24 2012, 5:21PM
On Tuesday an indigenous delegation from Canada and Alaska presented Shell’s Chairman and Board with a report detailing the human and ecological rights violations they say the company’s operations have brought to their communities.
Topics: /NOW Blog, Environment
Four George Zimmerman Witnesses Change Their Stories
by Jorge Rivas on May 24 2012, 4:55PM
Three witnesses changed their stories in ways that may damage Zimmerman. The fourth witness abandoned her initial story.
Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog
Black Churches Welcome New Latino Communities
by Jorge Rivas on May 24 2012, 4:10PM
There are 80,000 fewer blacks in South LA than there were in 1990.
There’s a Story Behind the Little Boy Who Had a Special Oval Office Moment
by Jorge Rivas on May 24 2012, 3:35PM
In May 2009, 5-year-old Jacob Philadelphia was visiting the White House with his father, a former Marine who was leaving his 2-year stint working for the National Security Council as part of the White House staff.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Mitt Romney: Educating Kids of Color is the ‘Civil Rights Issue of Our Era’
by Jorge Rivas on May 24 2012, 11:38AM
On Wednesday, the presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney talked explicitly about schools failing students of color. But there’s a lot more to that story.
Colin Powell Expresses Support for Gay Marriage
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 5:58PM
The Former Secretary of State said he has “no problem” with gay marriage in an interview with Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday.
Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog
Fewer Blacks and Latinos Entering CUNY, Nation’s Largest Urban Colleges
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 4:50PM
A new report has found that as more New Yorkers are returning to school, black and Latino students are having a tough time competing against students with higher SAT scores and grade point averages.
Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth
![Brooklyn Boxing Coach Kicks Wall Street Where it Hurts [Video]](http://colorlines.com/assets_c/2012/05/boxers-schools-wall-street-thumb-120x120-6088.jpg)
Brooklyn Boxing Coach Kicks Wall Street Where it Hurts [Video]
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 4:02PM
Meet Eric Kelly, a four-time National Amateur Boxing champion and two-time NYC Golden Glove tournament winner, who isn’t afraid of anyone, even Wall Street dudes.
Pixar is Jumping on Boat to Capture Latino Audience with New Día de los Muertos Movie
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 2:36PM
Last month Pixar announced the filmmaking team behind the Academy Award-winning “Toy Story 3” is working on a film that delves into the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Seven-Year-Old Aspiring Rapper Mir Money Breaks Down on ‘America’s Got Talent’
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 1:47PM
Leave it to Howard Stern to make a 7-year old cry.
Topics: Media, /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth
EBONY Magazine Commissions Street Artist Shepard Fairey to Illustrate Trayvon Martin
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 1:20PM
Graphic designer and illustrator Shepard Fairey, who created Barack Obama’s 2009 “Hope” poster, has illustrated a new figure: Trayvon Martin. via Fairey’s blog: I have followed Trayvon’s case closely and I think any compassionate human being can relate to Trayvon…
Topics: Arts & Culture, Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog
Obama Holds 34-Point Lead Over Romney Among Registered Latino Voters
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 12:30PM
Despite broken immigration promises and a record number of deportations Latinos continue to support the President.
Poll: People of Color More Likely to Support Gay Marriage Than Whites
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 12:04PM
The majority of those surveyed said Obama’s stance on gay marriage will not play a big role in their vote for president.
Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog
Kanye West, Beyonce Lead BET Awards Nominations
by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 10:28AM
The nominees for the 2012 BET Awards were announced Tuesday and leading the way with seven nominations is Kanye West.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Proposed Book Project ‘My White Friends’ Explores Photography’s Description of Race
by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 5:08PM
Photographer Myra Greene has been exploring photography’s description of race and the challenges of describing whiteness by photographing her white friends for the past 10-years.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Meet the Nguyen Seniors Whose Yearbook Quotes Went Viral
by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 4:30PM
Meet Presentation High School seniors Alexandra, Angela, Angelica, Elizabeth, Emily, Isabella, Madeline, and Vi Nguyen who submitted senior quotes for the yearbook that once combined read “We know what you’re thinking, and no, we’re not related!”
Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth
Donald Glover Seen Canoodling With Lena Dunham on Set of ‘Girls’
by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 2:42PM
Now everyone is dying to know if Glover is a new love interest on the show.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Louisiana School Psychologist: ‘Young Black Thugs Who Won’t Follow the Law Need to Be Put Down’
by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 1:51PM
“Young Black Thugs who won’t follow the law need to be put down not incarcerated. Put down like the Dogs they are!” read one tweet made by Mark Traina, the Jefferson Parish school psychologist, who has worked with alternative schools and in central administration.
Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth
50 Percent of Those Exonerated in National Registry are Black
by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 11:15AM
The University of the Michigan Law School and the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law have partnered to launch a National Registry of Exonerations that keeps an up to date list of all known exonerations in the United States since 1989.
Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog
Listen to the Last Song Whitney Houston Recorded for ‘Sparkle’ Soundtrack
by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 5:46PM
The Song features Jordin Sparks and is written by R.Kelly.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Take Action to Drop the I-Word!
Send a letter to the editors of the Charlotte Observer and ask that they drop the i-word today.
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