From Prison to Prosperity: Gangbanger-Turned-UCLA MSW Grad Romen Lopez on his Road to Redemption

07/21/20 • 50 min

Today, "Find Your Calling" is privileged to trace the pitfalls & ultimate triumph of former gang member & recent UCLA graduate Romen Lopez. Growing up in East L.A., a socioeconomically disadvantaged part of the city, Romen joined a street gang in 7th grade & ended up in detention facilities 5 times by his mid-20s. Then, came his turning point: education & a longing for a high-school equivalency degree. As we discuss the UCLA organization he founded & his community-college partnership with L.A. Mayor Garcetti, we learn about how a blend of perseverance and a few gold-hearted people can allow one to make a leap of faith & emerge victorious. *Note*: Romen is currently seeking to enter the mental-health arena. Armed with two UCLA degrees and a breadth of unbelievable experience, his contributions to the field would undoubtedly enrich it. If you'd like to connect with him, drop me a line on my Twitter, @Terry_Ayzman, or my Facebook. Thanks for listening!

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CA Assemblywoman & Democratic Congressional candidate Christy Smith

This week, "Find Your Calling" dips its feet into the November election with a fellow Bruin, CA Assemblywoman Christy Smith, who's running to snag CA-25's Congressional seat. After Congresswoman Katie Hill, the latest Democrat to control the district, resigned, Ms. Smith & her opponent Republican Mike Garcia duked it out in a special election. Ultimately, Mr. Garcia prevailed, capitalizing on an endorsement from President Trump. This November, Ms. Smith plans to unleash her experience & base to send him packing. In our half-hour interview fashioned for the COVID era, we discuss her passion for education & campaigning in a tumultuous era, as she doles out her advice to students feeling frozen in quarantine.

Next Episode

LA County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Debra Duardo

With Fall quarter now upon us, "Find Your Calling" heads to the boss of LA County's Education team, Superintendent Debra Duardo. She's a three-time Bruin with a twist. Starting at the university as a so-called non-traditional student, she attended classes while caring for 4 children, including one with a severe disability. Nevertheless, she persisted and rose to the highest position at LA County's Department of Education, now leading the largest regional educational agency in America. In this episode, we discuss her fascinating life; CA's student performance metrics; the delicate balancing act of letting kids back into the classroom; and the surprising mental-health benefits that come with living in the ZOOM age. If you'd like to dig deeper into the student outcomes I cited, here are some trustworthy websites: 1) CA Educational Dashboard Info about LAUSD https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/19647330000000/2019 2) The Nation's Report Card https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/