Barstow Community College has announced the appointment of Juan Rivera as the new executive director for Vibrant Villages, a community-driven health improvement initiative.
Rivera will oversee Vibrant Villages’ three-year, $600,000 program and lead efforts to improve health and wellness by working alongside residents to identify and act on critical health priorities for students and all community members, college officials stated.
The Vibrant Villages initiative was created by the Inland Empire Health Plan Foundation, which invested in the college to address significant health challenges in Barstow. Recent data shows that 22.5% of Barstow residents live below the poverty line, 39.8% of adults are obese, 34.8% have high blood pressure, and 14.4% have diabetes.
The program will focus on creating solutions rooted in community voices to improve health outcomes and ensure better access to resources that support overall wellness.
Rivera brings over 30 years of leadership experience across government, education, and nonprofit sectors. He serves as vice president of the U.S. Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard Association and has been a trustee of the Board of the Barstow College Foundation since 2021.
I am honored to join Vibrant Villages and work with the Barstow community to build programs that reflect local strengths, address real needs, and create healthier futures for all residents,” Rivera said. “This work is personal to me, and I look forward to partnering with residents, leaders, and organizations to make a real difference
Juan Rivera
