Victor Rivas Rivers

When Victor Rivas Rivers was 12 years old, he went to the police to report a lifetime of crime inflicted upon a child - himself. Though the officers were horrified at the abuse they saw, they told the boy there was little they could do. It was, they said, a private family matter.

When the violence became unbearable, Rivers took the unprecedented step against his father to free himself from his life of despair. Miraculously, seven families stepped forward, along with teachers and coaches, to raise him, empowering him on his road from gang member to class president. “I am the child the village raised,” Rivers has said.

Rivers went on to be drafted by the Miami Dolphins and to become a successful actor. In his best-selling memoir, A Private Family Matter, Rivers recounts his incredible journey – a story told with unflinching honesty and riveting detail. Rivers has also been featured in the acclaimed PBS documentary Breaking the Silence: Journeys of Hope.

What makes Rivers’ presentation unique is that few men speak out about family violence. As the spokesperson for the National Network to End Domestic Violence, he clearly articulates the damages done to those abused, the impact it has on every aspect of life, and what individuals and communities can do to help combat the problem.

Now a father himself, he has broken the cycle of violence. An extraordinarily compelling speaker graced with an indomitable spirit, he has been called “A big man—in heart and soul.”