Hi, I’m Zayda Rivera, known to many as Z. I am a professional writer, seasoned event producer, public speaker, and author with a focus on multicultural, multilingual, and LGBTQI+ communities.

I’m currently available for event production, writing and editing assignments, panels, speaking engagements, and teaching opportunities.

BEING BRUJA:
A Young Mystic’s Guide

Release Date: July 29, 2025

My first book will be released on July 29, 2025, through the Running Press Kids imprint for Hachette Book Group. Pre-order your copy today!

Available in English and Spanish!

Experiences

  • EVENTS

    For the past 10 years, Zayda Rivera has been an executive event producer involved in the planning and execution of a variety of events. From black tie galas, panel discussions, and plenary sessions to daylong conferences, and weeklong conventions, Rivera has led the way.

    Rivera has been the executive event producer of the 100 Hispanic Women Gala, and Mind, Body, and Spirit Conference for the past five years in New Rochelle, NY, which attracted 250-300 attendees annually. In 2022, she produced a weeklong convention for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, attracting over 15,000 participants throughout the week. LULAC hired her to lead the convention production after she successfully produced their annual Legislative Gala for six years. In 2023, she produced the first-ever Reencuentro Taino Conference in Puerto Rico to revitalize indigenous languages.

    Upcoming 2025 events include: 100 Hispanic Women Mind, Body, and Spirit Conference (March - New Rochelle, NY); Governor Kean’s 90th Birthday (April - Newark, NJ); Women @NJPAC Annual Spring Luncheon and Auction (May - Newark, NJ); NAF 45th Anniversary Benefit (May - NYC); Sound Start Babies Benefit (June - Mountain Lakes, NJ); 100 Hispanic Women Gala (Oct - New Rochelle, NY).

  • RETREATS

    In 2023, Rivera hosted a dozen women of color in Luquillo, Puerto Rico for the first Mindful Living with Z Summer Luna-Sol Spiritual Retreat. It was a magical experience where attendees connected with the sacred land and participated in a variety of soul-enriching workshops, classes, excursion, and one-on-one sessions with Rivera, who is a certified Reiki Master-Teacher, yoga instructor, meditation guide, and spiritual counselor.

    Rivera will return to Luquillo, Puerto Rico again in July 2025 with another group of women for her second retreat on the island, which is her ancestral motherland.

    She founded Mindful Living with Z in 2019 with the goal of providing offerings and education to communities of color seeking a deeper connection with Spirit, ancestors, and themselves.

    Rivera currently hosts monthly virtual Reiki Healing Sessions, coinciding with the new and full moons. She is also a resident spiritual advisor for NOSQUEDAMOS, a non-profit in the Bronx.

  • WRITING

    Zayda Rivera has been a journalist for over two decades, writing for a variety of publications in general and multicultural media. She is currently a columnist for PS Juntos (formerly POPSUGAR Juntos), a writer for Parents.com, and the social media specialist for Familia by Parents and Kindred by Parents, focusing on the Latine and Black families.

    Her early experience includes culture editor for The Ave Magazine, a social hip-hop publication, and editor-in-chief for Urban Latino Magazine, both in NYC. Her career took off when she joined the New York Daily News as entertainment reporter and editor for the publication’s Hispanic magazine, VIVA. Rivera has appeared on MSNBC, and was the Gossip Goddess for CT’s #1 morning radio show Chaz & AJ in the Morning. Other publications she’s written for include, DiversityInc., BET News, and Latina Magazine.

    Her first book “BEING BRUJA: A Young Mystic’s Guide” will be released on July 29 for Running Press Kids, a part of Hachette Book Group. The book focuses on indigenous spiritual traditions across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Let's Work Together!

For more than 20 years, I’ve been a professional writer based in the New York City area. Most days, I’m tucked away in a coffee shop with my laptop and cappuccino, writing my latest story, or producing my next great event.

I graduated with a communications degree from the University of Connecticut. Go, Huskies! Over two decades, I’ve racked up thousands of bylines in a variety of print and digital publications, including PS Juntos, Parents.com, New York Daily News, Latina Magazine, BET.com, MSNBC, and more. I’ve covered stories on entertainment, culture, politics, breaking news, lifestyle, wellness, astrology, spirituality, and parenting. I’ve had the honor of interviewing some of the biggest celebrities in the world, including Carlos Santana, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Zoe Saldana, Rosie Perez, and list goes on and on.

My broadcast journalism work includes being a commentator on MSNBC, and the “Gossip Goddess,” delivering entertainment news on CT’s morning radio show, Chaz & AJ in the Morning. I also hosted the Showbiz Report, a daily entertainment news show on the New York Daily News website.

I’ve moderated panel discussions, led workshops, and co-hosted awards ceremonies alongside celebrity Latina journalists like Maria Elena Salinas and Maria Hinojosa.

In 2016, I started producing events and expanded my writing portfolio to include scripts and the run of show for black tie galas, awards ceremonies, conferences, conventions, panel discussions, fireside chats, and more. Additionally, I am the stage manager and the point of contact for all program participants, including sponsors and corporate partners. As an entertainment journalist, I created a vast network of talent agents, managers, publicists, and celebrities, primarily Latino film, television, and music stars, as well as political celebrities like Joaquin Castro. Now, I help organizations elevate their events with a celebrity presence by tapping into my network.

In 2019, I founded Mindful Living with Z, a wellness brand focused on providing offerings to people seeking a deeper connection with self and the Universe. As a certified Reiki Master Teacher, yoga instructor, and meditation guide, I’ve worked with hundreds of individuals on their healing journeys. To date, I’ve certified over 100 women of color as Reiki Practitioners through my class, Reiki & Heal: A 4-Week Certification and Joyful Living Course.

In addition to writing, editing, producing events, and spiritual offerings, I love to sing and was once the lead singer in a girls group called GEMZ, as well as a spoken word artist that toured to various colleges and universities around the country.

I love to travel and connect with my ancestral roots on the island of Boriken, known to many as Puerto Rico, where you will find me multiple times a year writing, creating content, and connecting to the land and myself.

My personal and professional focus has always been on empowering, uplifting, and educating multicultural, multilingual, and LGBTQI+ communities in the United States and internationally.