America Lopez, community advocate, health worker, Volunteers in Medicine
On the John Krol Podcast: With such a name, it may have seemed a self-fulfilling prophecy that America Lopez would ultimately find her way to the US from her native Mexico. Today, she is utilizing her experience as an immigrant to help others who are facing many of the same challenges she faced, as a community health worker for Volunteers in Medicine and as parent liaison for the Berkshire Hills Regional School District. And she’s making a measurable impact. Inspired by the Moth Radio Hour-style of storytelling, America started a Spanish-speaking podcast and radio program Nomadas Radio that has evolved with several of her close friends and colleagues, contributing on relevant conversations on personal growth and demystifying mental health. We also discuss: missing her family in Mexico and carrying on family traditions with her new family of friends in the Berkshires, advocating for herself and co-workers in her early days before mastering English, one of the English first words she learned was “fair,” working to change systems in schools to be more friendly for non-English speaking parents to help them be involved in their children’s education, how her daughter helped her come out of her shell and making new connections in the community, Olivia’s Outlook and enjoying trails and the outdoors in the Berkshires and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with America Lopez. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support
