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Iris Lopez has been recognized by the Community Action Partnership and was honored during the Partnership’s Annual Convention today, August 30, 2007 in San Diego, California for her personal achievement.  The week long convention paid tribute to Community Action program participants—like Lopez—who has changed her life and escaped poverty, and program volunteers who have dedicated themselves to helping program participants.

Lopez is the winner of the 2007 Sargent Shriver Achievement Award for her outstanding efforts working with the Community Action Partnership of Kern in Bakersfield, California, and for  achieving economic independence as a result of those efforts.

Now a Head Start teacher at Kern’s Fairview Head Start Child Development Center, Lopez is a former program participant and Head Start parent who utilized the Community Action Partnership of Kern’s programs to learn English, receive her GED, and enroll in college.  She volunteered in her children’s classrooms—including translating and recruiting students— as a way of contributing to the community.  A Head Start supervisor took note of her helpful attitude and outstanding work ethic, and encouraged Lopez to enroll in school.  She went on to receive her GED and was promoted to the Teacher 1 position at the Head Start center after completing the required college-level courses. 

Lopez’ has also involved her family:  her husband participates in the Partnership’s Fatherhood Program and her children volunteer, her oldest son playing Santa during the holidays, and her children play their instruments for the children at the Head Start center where she teaches. Earlier this year, she received the 2007 California Head Start Association Teacher of the Year award.

“People like Iris immediately come to mind when you talk about helping people and changing lives—which is what Community Action is all about,” said Don Mathis, President/CEO of the national Community Action Agency.  “She has a strong commitment and dedication to helping and serving others despite personal obstacles.  She has an unwavering desire to fight poverty and ensure that all Americans achieve economic prosperity.”

Lopez, a native of El Salvador inspires other Head Start parents to return to school and attend English as a second language classes in order to become self-sufficient.  She empowers the parents to improve their quality of life and they look up to her as a role model. Debra Welch, Director of the Kern Partnership’s Child and Education Development Services division said “Iris is truly a beacon of light to the families we serve at Head Start, influencing far and beyond the children in her class, and their parents. She is continually encouraging them to follow their dreams, to further their education, and to achieve self sufficiency.”

Kern’s Head Start serves over 4,000 children and their families, allowing them to work, to school,  or obtain occupational training so that they can in turn provide themselves and their families thus becoming self sufficient and creating a better life for themselves and a better community for everyone around them.

Based in Washington, DC, the Community Action Partnership is the national association representing the interests of the 1,000 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across the country that are helping low-income people change their lives and embody the spirit of hope.  CAAs care about the entire community and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. For more information about the Partnership and CAAs, visit the association's website at www.communityactionpartnership.com. Community Action Partnership of Kern is the local agency designated to fight poverty in the county of Kern, helping low-income individuals and families to change their lives and embody the spirit of hope. CAPK serves approximately 140,000 participants each year. For more infomation about the Partnership please see the agency's website at www.capk.org, email info@capk.org, or call 661-336-5236.