A Path Shaped by Education and Community 

Ivanley’s journey to Capitol Hill began in his hometown of Philadelphia, where he witnessed firsthand how educational inequality replicated broader systemic failures. “Your zip code can sort of dictate your career path, your education level, income level, and your health outcomes,” he explains. “But it should not be that way, and I refuse to accept that it will always remain so.” After college, Ivanley worked in youth workforce development, creating summer programs that gave high school students opportunities for growth, income, and exposure to professional life—an experience that strengthened his commitment to community empowerment. Later on in his career and academic journey, Ivanley volunteered for civil society organizations around the world, including in Haiti and Rwanda, and studied International Human Rights Law through the Mitchell Scholarship program. His time abroad offered a crash course in diplomacy, international institutions, and transnational movement-building, and helped him connect across borders with communities of hope and promise.  

Ivanley’s human rights work has always been grounded in community, the importance of access to a good education, and a fierce devotion to empowering working and middle-income families. He sees investment and civic engagement as essential to breaking the link between zip code and destiny. Ivanley returned to Philadelphia as a Dean of Culture at a local charter school, focusing on the country’s education systems, which facilitate staggering inequality. “I’ve always seen education as a human right—and one of the most powerful tools we have to transform society,” he explains. That belief led him to co-found Anseye Pou Ayiti (Teach for Haiti), a nonprofit working to transform Haiti’s education system and equip communities with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to achieve their full potential. “It’s not just about improving classroom instruction,” he explains. “It’s about civic leadership, community empowerment, and strengthening local institutions.” 

Ivanley came to Georgetown Law with a growing sense that legal tools could help him amplify the work he was already doing. “Georgetown helped me understand the big picture,” he says, crediting the school’s location in D.C. and the accessibility of professors with real-world experience. While earning his J.D., he interned with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, where he later served as a George N. Lindsay Legal Fellow. Courses like Advanced Legal Research and Federal Budget provided direct preparation for legislative work, while the broader law school community gave him a network of peers working across government and advocacy spaces. 

Ivanley sees a clear throughline between his work in education and his current role in government. “Whether I’m working with high school students, grassroots organizers, or global NGOs, my goal is the same—amplifying voices that need to be heard and making sure they have a seat at the table,” he says. 

Empowering Voices in Congress 

For Ivanley, one of the most rewarding parts of his work is serving as a conduit—connecting grassroots movements and community voices with the halls of power. “Well-financed interests know how to make themselves heard,” he notes. “But my role is to ensure those without deep pockets can also access the policymaking process.” He sees his position not just as a legislative director, but as a translator and connector—helping constituents, advocates, and movements understand how to navigate Congress, while helping members of Congress understand the urgency of human rights on the ground. 

Ivanley’s work is especially concentrated on African and Caribbean countries, where he seeks to advance legislative strategies that address global conflicts, promote equitable trade, and elevate the voices of communities often left out of policymaking. Whether seeking to renew a trade preference program that provides jobs for thousands, advocating for labor rights and measures to improve the lives of working people, or briefing colleagues on legislative measures aimed at conflict resolution, Ivanley understands the power—and the responsibility—of U.S. legislative leadership. “Sometimes your job is to do your best to push something up the priority list. One sentence in a bill can impact millions of people,” he says. He sees his role as a bridge between constituents, civil society, and policymakers: “It’s about listening, building bridges, and making sure those with proximity to injustice are heard by those with the institutional power to affect millions.”  

Ivanley is candid about the challenges of human rights work in a political system where progress can take decades. “There are bills that have been introduced every Congress for many years but never go anywhere despite the merits of the proposals” he says. “You need clear strategy, persistence, and alignment between advocates, legislators, and the executive branch.” Still, he finds encouragement in the small wins—like seeing a former student thrive, seeing an amendment move forward, or helping a lesser-known issue gain congressional attention. “Sometimes it’s about moving something up the priority list,” he says. “That’s the work—day in, day out.” 

Advice for Aspiring Advocates 

The thread running through Ivanley’s career is clear: empowering people to advocate for themselves. Whether working with students in Philadelphia or grassroots leaders at home and abroad, his aim is to open doors and offer actionable tools. Ivanley credits Georgetown with sharpening the strategic thinking he has needed to fill this role. “You need to be rigorously analytical without missing the forest for the trees. You need to know how to ‘steel-man’ the arguments of people who disagree with you. And you have to listen—not to agree, but to understand and sharpen your own thinking.” As he puts it, “There’s too much at stake to be satisfied with platitudes, outdated ideas, or unchallenged conventional wisdom.” He points to Georgetown’s courses, as well as the broader D.C. experience, for preparing him to hit the ground running on the Hill.  

Ivanley urges current students to get outside their bubble and embrace the full range of opportunities Georgetown and D.C. have to offer. “Be strategic about your summers—split them if you can,” he says. “Go to the lectures, meet people from different walks of life, talk to your professors. And when you get advice, don’t just take it from one person—gather perspectives to help inform your career goals.” 

Staying Inspired 

Outside of work, Ivanley stays grounded through faith, family, mentorship, and building community. “Mentoring lets you see the impact you’re making in a straightforward and more tangible way—and you learn just as much as you teach,” he says. He finds inspiration in traveling, deepening his faith, and experiencing how art can bring issues to life in new, accessible ways. “Constant inspiration is essential in this work. Whether through films, podcasts, and books, conversations with neighbors, or family time with loved ones, he finds ways to stay grounded and inspired. 

“This work is hard,” Ivanley says. “But there’s hope—in the people you meet, the movements you support, and the change you get to be part of, even if it takes time. You just have to keep trying, day by day, drawing strength from life’s lessons. That’s the work.” 

 

Written by Cameron Mulrooney 

Edited by Michelle Liu