“I was sent to Puerto Rico as a teenager because I was getting into trouble. What felt like punishment at the time became the beginning of a calling that would shape the rest of my life.” - Edward Rivera

Our Origin Story

My connection to Puerto Rico began long before Mano Extendida was ever imagined.

My parents moved from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States in the 1950s, searching for opportunity and a better future for their family. I was born and raised in Chicago, growing up far from the island that shaped my parents’ lives and identity.

As a teenager, however, my life took a difficult turn. When I was about 14, after getting into trouble, my parents sent me to Puerto Rico. What felt like a punishment at the time became one of the most defining experiences of my life.

I spent the next three years living on the island, and during that time, Puerto Rico began to shape my heart and perspective. I experienced life in a completely different way. I learned Spanish. I saw firsthand the strength of family relationships and the deep sense of community that exists in Puerto Rican culture.

Some of my most vivid memories come from my grandparents’ land. I remember picking coffee beans directly from the trees and drinking fresh coffee that came from our own land. That experience taught me something powerful about connection to the land, to family, and to the simple rhythms of life that sustain a community.

Those years stayed with me long after I returned to the United States.

Years later, my wife and I returned to Puerto Rico with the intention of purchasing land and eventually building a home where we could retire and reconnect with the island that had played such an important role in my life.

But during that visit, something unexpected happened. As we spoke with people across different communities, we began to see a deeper reality. Many young Puerto Ricans leave the island every year in search of opportunity in the mainland United States. Wages are low, housing has become increasingly unaffordable for local families, and economic opportunities are limited.

When young adults leave the island to support their families, they often leave their parents and grandparents behind. Many seniors remain on the island alone, struggling to meet basic needs.

We also saw the daily challenges caused by fragile infrastructure. The power grid frequently fails, leaving communities without reliable electricity. Yet we also saw small glimpses of hope where some residents were thinking creatively about community-based energy solutions, such as solar energy.

Another reality became clear. Even though the island has fertile land and a rich agricultural history, Puerto Rico imports most of its food. Communities that once grew much of their own food now depend heavily on imported products.

Beyond these economic challenges, we also sensed a deeper need. Many communities are longing for hope, leadership, and opportunities that strengthen both families and faith.

During that trip, our perspective shifted. What began as a personal visit to buy land slowly became a calling to do something more.

We felt God placing a burden on our hearts to return not simply to enjoy the island, but to help strengthen it.

That conviction led to the creation of Mano Extendida, which means “Extended Hand.”

Mano Extendida exists to extend a hand of opportunity, support, and hope to communities across Puerto Rico. Through entrepreneurship development, renewable energy education, agricultural initiatives, and community collaboration, we seek to help families build stable and sustainable lives without having to leave the island they love.

Puerto Rico continues to lose thousands of residents every year as people leave in search of opportunity. We believe the answer is not simply to watch that trend continue, but to help create the conditions that allow families to stay, grow, and flourish.

Mano Extendida was born out of that vision.