Anthony Alvarado designs high-impact experiences that help people lead, perform, and connect under pressure. Blending published research, lived experience, and visual storytelling, his work moves audiences beyond inspiration toward real, measurable change.
With more than 15 years of experience across mental health, leadership development, and community resilience, Anthony has reached tens of thousands of people annually — often without agency representation — speaking everywhere from prisons and treatment centers to national conferences, universities, healthcare systems, and executive audiences. His ability to connect across extremes is what sets him apart: Anthony meets people where they are, without softening the truth or losing the room.
As Founder & Board Chair of RISE TOGETHER, Anthony has helped build a nationally recognized, peer-led prevention and storytelling movement whose programs have been studied in collaboration with the Penn State College of Medicine. As a published researcher, he brings rare credibility to the stage — grounding emotional storytelling in evidence-based insight and long-term outcomes.
Anthony’s work has been recognized by Forbes and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and his sessions are known for their depth, honesty, and immediacy. He doesn’t rely on stock slides or surface-level motivation; instead, he integrates original photography and visual storytelling as facilitation tools, helping audiences see patterns, name pressure, and respond with clarity instead of burnout.
Anthony works primarily with long-term partners and takes a limited number of external speaking engagements each year. Organizations book him when they want more than a keynote — they want an experience that stays with people long after the room empties.
Core Areas of Focus
- Human Performance Under Pressure
- Leadership, Culture & Psychological Safety
- Burnout, Resilience & Sustainable Systems
- Storytelling as a Tool for Connection & Change
Why Organizations Book Anthony
Anthony Alvarado helps organizations navigate pressure, burnout, and cultural fracture by blending research-backed insight, lived experience, and visual storytelling. His work doesn’t just motivate — it equips people with language, awareness, and tools they can use immediately.
"We were fortunate to bring Rise Together to our intermediate school to wrap-up our all school book read. Rise Together is a professional organization that connects with adolescents, uses relevant stories to promote acceptance and provides support beyond the presentation. The number one reason our students responded to this organization was due to how authentic each speaker was. Each speaker shared their story in a way that was meaningful and made a connection with students. The stories were detailed enough for students to understand the situation but tailored for the age of the audience. Not only did speakers share their challenges, but they also shared how they learned to forgive themselves and accept who they are. This is important message for students and adults hoping to move past mistakes or missteps. Sometimes, we just need permission to let those things go. When presenting to adolescents, one must be engaging and willing to connect to the audience. Rise Together was very effective in establishing a purpose behind their message and what they hoped students would walk away with. We were able to see this was not your ordinary “Say No to Drugs” presentation. These were real people, who have gone and continue to go through real challenges and are hoping to share a little of what they have learned along the way. The students were hooked and you could have heard a pin drop in the room. This presentation provided a safe place for students to share their own challenges and really discuss how these challenges impact their daily lives. Lastly, we are appreciative of the support our students and staff received for the Rise Together organization. The speakers connected with students over lunch which allowed students to talk one-on-one with the speakers and be heard. Yet the speakers recognized that they are not mental health professionals and referred students to counselors as needed. The speakers met with our staff at the end of the day to share the stories they heard and to give insights as to the common challenges our students face. We learned a lot! About a week after the presentation, Rise Together sent us a survey for the students to take. This data is helping our school determine what our next steps should be to support our students. Overall, we were very impressed with the Rise Together organization’s presentation and message. This experience provided a safe environment for many students to come forward and express themselves. The experience was transformative for all involved. We look forward to working with Rise Together again."
"We were fortunate to bring Rise Together to our intermediate school to wrap-up our all school book read. Rise Together is a professional organization that connects with adolescents, uses relevant stories to promote acceptance and provides support beyond the presentation. The number one reason our students responded to this organization was due to how authentic each speaker was. Each speaker shared their story in a way that was meaningful and made a connection with students. The stories were detailed enough for students to understand the situation but tailored for the age of the audience. Not only did speakers share their challenges, but they also shared how they learned to forgive themselves and accept who they are. This is important message for students and adults hoping to move past mistakes or missteps. Sometimes, we just need permission to let those things go. When presenting to adolescents, one must be engaging and willing to connect to the audience. Rise Together was very effective in establishing a purpose behind their message and what they hoped students would walk away with. We were able to see this was not your ordinary “Say No to Drugs” presentation. These were real people, who have gone and continue to go through real challenges and are hoping to share a little of what they have learned along the way. The students were hooked and you could have heard a pin drop in the room. This presentation provided a safe place for students to share their own challenges and really discuss how these challenges impact their daily lives. Lastly, we are appreciative of the support our students and staff received for the Rise Together organization. The speakers connected with students over lunch which allowed students to talk one-on-one with the speakers and be heard. Yet the speakers recognized that they are not mental health professionals and referred students to counselors as needed. The speakers met with our staff at the end of the day to share the stories they heard and to give insights as to the common challenges our students face. We learned a lot! About a week after the presentation, Rise Together sent us a survey for the students to take. This data is helping our school determine what our next steps should be to support our students. Overall, we were very impressed with the Rise Together organization’s presentation and message. This experience provided a safe environment for many students to come forward and express themselves. The experience was transformative for all involved. We look forward to working with Rise Together again."