Person

Ricarda Velez

Office Manager – NY

Ricarda Velez, best known as Ricky, serves as the Office Manager at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ New York office. Ricky attended Katherine Gibbs Business School in Manhattan. She studied Business Administration, Stenography and Speed Writing to develop key office operations skills. She then served as Travel Coordinator for seven years for the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. A major focus of her position was working with all Regional Settlement Offices around the United States regarding the arrival of new refugees.

Ricky advanced in this sector by assuming the role of Senior Administrative Assistant to the director of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations’ office. When not working, Ricky’s priority is her family, spending as much time as possible with her daughter Kaysaree, grand-daughter, Zoe, grand-son, Kasen, and pet Yorkshire, Maxwell.

New year, new us. Same mission.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is rebranding to honor the legacy of our founder and hero, Mrs. Ethel Skakel Kennedy. From now on, we will proudly be known as the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center

While our name is changing, our mission and work remain the same. We will continue to fight injustice, advance human rights, and hold governments accountable around the world in 2026 and beyond.