Rafael Leonardo Alamo is the new Prosperar Manager at THRIVE Peninsula. Prosperar means “to thrive” in Spanish. In this role, Rafael focuses on serving the Hispanic community across all of THRIVE's programs, in their native language, through a dedicated team of bilingual volunteers.

Born and raised in Cataño, Puerto Rico, Rafael learned about the gospels and the importance of loving others at an early age through the example of his parents and grandparents. His Dominican father also taught him how to cook, sparking a lifelong passion for it. After working various jobs, Rafael joined the U.S. Navy, became an Engineman, and eventually settled in Virginia. Following his military service, he worked in the shipyards.

After a series of difficult events, and with the prayers and support of his wife, Rafael returned to his roots and reconciled with Christ. Since then, his desire to serve, love others, and share the gospel has only grown. While looking for ways to give back to the community, he discovered THRIVE and began volunteering. From the start, he knew this was where God wanted him to be.

Today, Rafael proudly serves the Hispanic community in his role at THRIVE while also attending college at night, pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts and Applied Nutrition Science. In his free time, he enjoys being in nature, staying active, spending quality time with his family, cooking hearty meals for them, and exploring new food spots across the Seven Cities.