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Nadia Lopez: Why open a school? To close a prison
Nadia Lopez: ¿Por qué abrir una escuela? Para cerrar una prisión
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Nuestros niños son el futuro, y es crucial que tengan fe en sí mismos. Por eso Nadia Lopez abrió un oasis académico en Brownsville, Brooklyn, uno de los barrios más desatendidos y violentos en toda Nueva York... porque ella cree en la brillantez y la capacidad de cada niño. en esta corta y energizante charla, la directora y fundadora de la Academia Mott Hall Bridges (y una estrella de los Humanos de Nueva York) comparte como ayuda a sus alumnos a visualizar un mejor futuro para ellos mismos y sus familias.
Nadia Lopez - Educator
Nadia Lopez is the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, where she is showing the world how underprivileged communities can beat the odds and create positive institutions that have a global impact. Full bio
Nadia Lopez is the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, where she is showing the world how underprivileged communities can beat the odds and create positive institutions that have a global impact. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
When I opened Mott Hall
Bridges Academy in 2010,
Bridges Academy in 2010,
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Cuando abrí la Academia
Mott Hall Bridges en 2010,
Mott Hall Bridges en 2010,
00:18
my goal was simple:
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mi objetivo era simple:
00:20
open a school to close a prison.
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abrir una escuela
para cerrar una prisión.
para cerrar una prisión.
00:24
Now to some, this was an audacious goal,
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Para algunos, este era
un objetivo audaz,
un objetivo audaz,
00:27
because our school is located
in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn --
in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn --
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porque nuestra escuela está en
la sección Brownsville de Brooklyn,
la sección Brownsville de Brooklyn,
00:31
one of the most underserved
and violent neighborhoods
and violent neighborhoods
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uno de los vecindarios
más desatendidos y violentos
más desatendidos y violentos
00:34
in all of New York City.
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de toda Nueva York.
00:38
Like many urban schools
with high poverty rates,
with high poverty rates,
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Como muchas escuelas urbanas
con altos niveles de pobreza,
con altos niveles de pobreza,
00:42
we face numerous challenges,
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enfrentamos numerosos desafíos,
00:45
like finding teachers who can empathize
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como encontrar maestros
que pudieran empatizar
que pudieran empatizar
00:47
with the complexities
of a disadvantaged community,
of a disadvantaged community,
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con los complejos de una
comunidad en desventaja,
comunidad en desventaja,
00:52
lack of funding for technology,
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falta de fondos para tecnología,
00:54
low parental involvement
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poca participación de padres
00:57
and neighborhood gangs that recruit
children as early as fourth grade.
children as early as fourth grade.
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y pandillas que reclutaban
niños desde cuarto grado.
niños desde cuarto grado.
01:04
So here I was,
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Entonces aquí estaba,
01:07
the founding principal of a middle school
that was a district public school,
that was a district public school,
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directora y fundadora de una
escuela media pública estatal,
escuela media pública estatal,
01:13
and I only had 45 kids to start.
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y solo tenía 45 chicos para empezar.
01:18
Thirty percent of them had special needs.
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El 30 % tenía necesidades especiales.
01:21
Eighty-six percent of them
were below grade level
were below grade level
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El 86 % tenía bajo nivel
01:24
in English and in math.
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en inglés y matemáticas.
01:27
And 100 percent were living
below the poverty level.
below the poverty level.
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Y el 100 % estaba viviendo
por debajo del nivel de pobreza.
por debajo del nivel de pobreza.
01:33
If our children are not in our classrooms,
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Si los niños no están en las aulas,
01:36
how will they learn?
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¿cómo aprenderán?
01:38
And if they're not learning,
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Y si no están aprendiendo,
01:40
where would they end up?
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¿dónde terminarán?
01:43
It was evident when I would
ask my 13-year-old,
ask my 13-year-old,
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Era evidente que al preguntar
a un chico de 13 años,
a un chico de 13 años,
01:48
"Young man,
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"Joven,
01:49
where do you see yourself in five years?"
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¿dónde te ves en cinco años?"
01:53
And his response:
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Que respondiera:
01:55
"I don't know if I'm gonna
live that long."
live that long."
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"No sé si viviré ese tiempo".
01:58
Or to have a young woman say to me
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O tener a una señorita que me diga
02:03
that she had a lifelong goal
of working in a fast-food restaurant.
of working in a fast-food restaurant.
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que su meta en la vida era trabajar
en un restaurante de comida rápida.
en un restaurante de comida rápida.
02:08
To me, this was unacceptable.
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Para mí, era inaceptable.
02:11
It was also evident that they had no idea
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Era evidente también que no tenían idea
02:15
that there was a landscape of opportunity
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que había un horizonte de oportunidades
02:17
that existed beyond their neighborhood.
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que existía más allá de su vecindario.
02:21
We call our students "scholars,"
because they're lifelong learners.
because they're lifelong learners.
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Llamamos a los estudiantes "escolares"
porque son aprendices de la vida.
porque son aprendices de la vida.
02:26
And the skills that they learn today
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Y las habilidades que aprenden hoy
02:28
will prepare them for college
and career readiness.
and career readiness.
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los prepararan para la universidad
y carrera profesional.
y carrera profesional.
02:32
I chose the royal colors
of purple and black,
of purple and black,
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Elegí colores reales, púrpura y negro,
02:37
because I want them to be reminded
that they are descendants of greatness,
that they are descendants of greatness,
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porque quiero que recuerden que
son descendientes de grandeza,
son descendientes de grandeza,
02:42
and that through education,
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y que a través de la educación,
02:44
they are future engineers,
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son futuros ingenieros,
02:46
scientists,
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científicos,
02:47
entrepreneurs
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emprendedores,
02:49
and even leaders who can and will
take over this world.
take over this world.
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e incluso líderes que pueden
y van a tomar las riendas del mundo.
y van a tomar las riendas del mundo.
02:54
To date,
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A la fecha,
02:55
we have had three graduating classes,
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tenemos tres clases graduadas,
02:59
at a 98 --
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al 98...
03:01
(Applause)
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(Aplausos)
03:10
At a 98-percent graduation rate.
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Un 98 % en relación de graduados.
03:14
This is nearly 200 children,
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Son casi 200 niños,
03:16
who are now going to some of the most
competitive high schools
competitive high schools
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que ahora van a algunas
de las escuelas más competitivas
de las escuelas más competitivas
03:20
in New York City.
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en Nueva York.
03:21
(Applause)
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(Aplausos)
03:29
It was a cold day in January
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Era un frío día de enero
03:32
when my scholar, Vidal Chastanet,
met Brandon Stanton,
met Brandon Stanton,
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cuando mi escolar, Vidal Chastanet,
conoció a Brandon Stanton,
conoció a Brandon Stanton,
03:37
the founder of the popular blog
"Humans of New York."
"Humans of New York."
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fundador del popular blog
"Humanos de Nueva York".
"Humanos de Nueva York".
03:42
Brandon shared the story
of a young man from Brownsville
of a young man from Brownsville
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Brandon compartió la historia
de un joven de Brownsville
de un joven de Brownsville
03:46
who had witnessed violence firsthand,
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que había presenciado violencia
de primera mano,
de primera mano,
03:49
by witnessing a man
being thrown off of a roof.
being thrown off of a roof.
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vio lanzar a un hombre desde un techo.
03:54
Yet he can still
be influenced by a principal
be influenced by a principal
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Sin embargo, todavía puede ser
influenciado por una directora
influenciado por una directora
03:57
who had opened up a school
that believes in all children.
that believes in all children.
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que ha abierto una escuela
que cree en los niños.
que cree en los niños.
04:02
Vidal embodies the story of so many
of our underprivileged children
of our underprivileged children
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Vidal encarna la historia
de muchos niños sin privilegios
de muchos niños sin privilegios
04:08
who are struggling to survive,
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que luchan por sobrevivir,
04:10
which is why we must
make education a priority.
make education a priority.
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por eso debemos hacer de
la educación una prioridad.
la educación una prioridad.
04:15
Brandon's post created a global sensation
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La publicación de Brandon
creó una sensación mundial
creó una sensación mundial
04:19
that touched the lives of millions.
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que tocó las vidas de millones.
04:22
This resulted in 1.4 million
dollars being raised
dollars being raised
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Como resultado se recaudaron
USD 1,4 millones
USD 1,4 millones
04:27
for our scholars to attend field trips
to colleges and universities,
to colleges and universities,
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para que los escolares asistan a
campamentos de escuelas y universidades,
campamentos de escuelas y universidades,
programas STEAM de verano,
04:34
Summer STEAM programs,
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04:36
as well as college scholarships.
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como también becas universitarias.
04:39
You need to understand
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Necesitan entender
04:40
that when 200 young people
from Brownsville visited Harvard,
from Brownsville visited Harvard,
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que cuando 200 jóvenes de
Brownsville visitaron Harvard,
Brownsville visitaron Harvard,
04:47
they now understood
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entendieron
04:49
that a college of their choice
was a real possibility.
was a real possibility.
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que una universidad a su elección
era una posibilidad real.
era una posibilidad real.
04:54
And the impossibilities
that had been imposed upon them
that had been imposed upon them
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Y que los obstáculos que
se les habían impuesto
se les habían impuesto
04:58
by a disadvantaged community
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por ser una comunidad en desventaja
05:00
were replaced by hope and purpose.
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fueron reemplazados
por propósito y esperanza.
por propósito y esperanza.
05:05
The revolution in education
is happening in our schools,
is happening in our schools,
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La revolución en la educación
está ocurriendo en nuestras escuelas,
está ocurriendo en nuestras escuelas,
05:11
with adults who provide love,
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con adultos que dan amor,
05:14
structure,
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estructura,
05:15
support
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soporte
05:17
and knowledge.
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y conocimiento.
05:18
These are the things
that inspire children.
that inspire children.
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Estas son las cosas
que inspiran a los niños.
que inspiran a los niños.
05:22
But it is not an easy task.
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Pero no es una tarea fácil.
05:25
And there are high demands
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Y hay altas demandas
05:28
within an education system
that is not perfect.
that is not perfect.
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dentro un sistema educativo
que no es perfecto.
que no es perfecto.
05:32
But I have a dynamic group of educators
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Pero tengo un grupo dinámico
de educadores
de educadores
05:36
who collaborate as a team to determine
what is the best curriculum.
what is the best curriculum.
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que colaboran en equipo para
formar el mejor plan de estudios.
formar el mejor plan de estudios.
05:41
They take time beyond their school day,
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Toman tiempo aparte de la escuela,
05:44
and come in on weekends
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y vienen los fin de semana
05:45
and even use their own money
to often provide resources
to often provide resources
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e incluso usan su propio dinero
para dar recursos
para dar recursos
05:50
when we do not have it.
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cuando no los tenemos.
05:53
And as the principal,
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Y como directora,
05:55
I have to inspect what I expect.
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debo inspeccionar lo que espero.
05:59
So I show up in classes
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Me presento en las clases
06:01
and I conduct observations
to give feedback,
to give feedback,
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y hago observaciones para
generar una retroalimentación,
generar una retroalimentación,
06:04
because I want my teachers
to be just as successful
to be just as successful
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porque quiero que mis profesores
sean tan exitosos
sean tan exitosos
06:08
as the name Mott Hall Bridges Academy.
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como el nombre
Academia Mott Hall Bridges.
Academia Mott Hall Bridges.
06:11
And I give them access to me
every single day,
every single day,
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Y los atiendo todos los días,
06:15
which is why they all have
my personal cell number,
my personal cell number,
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tienen mi número de teléfono,
06:18
including my scholars
and those who graduated --
and those who graduated --
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incluso mis escolares
y los graduados...
y los graduados...
06:21
which is probably why I get
phone calls and text messages
phone calls and text messages
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por lo cual recibo
llamadas y mensajes de texto
llamadas y mensajes de texto
06:24
at three o'clock in the morning.
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a las 3 de la mañana.
06:26
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
06:28
But we are all connected to succeed,
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Pero estamos todos
conectados para el éxito,
conectados para el éxito,
06:30
and good leaders do this.
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y los líderes buenos hacen esto.
06:34
Tomorrow's future is sitting
in our classrooms.
in our classrooms.
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El futuro del mañana
se sienta en nuestras aulas.
se sienta en nuestras aulas.
06:38
And they are our responsibility.
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Y son nuestra responsabilidad.
06:41
That means everyone in here,
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Eso significa que todos aquí,
06:43
and those who are watching the screen.
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y los que miran por la pantalla.
06:46
We must believe in their brilliance,
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debemos creer en su brillantez,
06:50
and remind them by teaching them
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y recordarles al educarlos
06:52
that there indeed is power in education.
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que hay de hecho
poder en la educación.
poder en la educación.
06:58
Thank you.
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Gracias.
06:59
(Applause)
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(Aplausos)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Nadia Lopez - EducatorNadia Lopez is the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, where she is showing the world how underprivileged communities can beat the odds and create positive institutions that have a global impact.
Why you should listen
Dr. Nadia Lopez is pioneering a path of inspired leadership. The founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a New York City Public School, Lopez became a viral sensation after one of her students was featured on the popular blog, Humans of New York. Millions of people around the world discovered the positive learning environment, high expectations and growing success rate at her school, which is located right in the middle of one of the most under-served communities in America. In 2015 a Humans of New York fundraiser raised $1.4 million to take Lopez's students on college trips that include Harvard University, Summer STEAM programs and college scholarships.
Lopez's story was shared across numerous media outlets and resulted in her guest appearing on the Ellen Show, visiting President Barack Obama at the White House and receiving the Medal of Distinction from Barnard College. In addition, Lopez was honored alongside First Lady Michelle Obama with the Change Agent Award at the Black Girls Rock show hosted on BET Networks.
Lopez's passion, belief in children and strong conviction has been unwavering in her belief that her community needs strong leadership. Despite the adversities she faced in opening Mott Hall Bridges Academy in 2010, Lopez is encouraged and inspired to see children overcome the "beautiful challenges" of Brownsville and ensuring that they are admitted into some of the most competitive high schools in New York City. Understanding the power of programming, Lopez continues to impact the lives of children through her "She Is Me" and "I Matter" initiatives, which have served thousands of youth throughout Central Brooklyn by providing workshops, forums and mentoring. Lopez continues to influence and inspire the world through her company The Lopez Effect, which offers a blueprint for personal and organizational success.
Nadia Lopez | Speaker | TED.com