​Walking down the now peaceful Stanley Street in Schenectady is like night and day for Will Rivas, executive director of C.O.C.O.A. House, who grew up on the once tree lined street that he says was riddled by gun violence in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. 

“There used to be a tree right here,” Will said. “It was a really big tree, I think it was like an oak tree or something, but it was a big tree. And when there was a shootout, I would hide behind the tree.”

As a kid, Will says it was impossible resisting the pull of violence and comradery of gang banging with his friends growing up.

“Gun violence is a symptom of much larger issues,” he said. “There are other things going on in our community. For a young man who doesn’t learn how to become a man from somebody else what does manhood look like to you?”

Little did he know that the house right next door would not only be his saving grace, but would also pave the way for him to help other kids stay off the streets. 

“This is C.O.C.O.A. house, Children of Our Community Open to Achievement, started in 1996 by Rachel Graham and she was a Union College student,” Will said.

WIll and his siblings were some of the first kids to participate. 

“It was a safe space where I could go and talk to people who weren't really from my community,” he said. “And all the lessons, all the leadership that I’ve learned, the greatest thing that I’ve learned from cocoa house specifically was compassion.”

He brings that sense of compassion as C.O.C.O.A. House’s executive director for the past three years, serving alongside his wife Chante and welcoming local kids on weekdays, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

“We provide them the space to share their experience, so we don’t create the voice for them as you’ve experienced over the last couple of days we allow them to be free and be open,” Will said.

And sometimes, how the kids find their voice surprises even Will. Talent, self-confidence and creativity aren’t the only thighs growing at the C.O.C.O.A. House, the non-profit recently purchased a community garden.

“Having the opportunity to grow fresh produce, fresh fruits and vegetables for the kids in the community, it means a lot because part of the work that we do is not just educational, but we also want to take into consideration their health needs as well,” he said.

C.O.C.O.A. House also purchased Will’s childhood home and is turning it into a high-tech teen center thanks to the social enterprise and training center.

“This space over here is going to be our business center, so what we’re going to do with this is that whole wall we’re going to turn into a touch screen virtual board where we’re going to pair our youth with mentors across the globe,” Will explained.

Staring outside his boyhood bedroom window peppered by bullet holes thinking of that little boy who once lived here is still a very emotional experience.

“I never felt that I was going to be anything special, so to see other people believe in me and for me to be able to do something that means so much to people,” he said. “I never thought it would be possible”

And he’ll continue believing in the next generation as a positive male role model in the safe space provided by the C.O.C.O.A. House.