Prettystar Lopez

Hometown: Bronx, New York
School: Fordham University
Major: English, Latin American Studies
Placement: The Office of Rep. Ritchie Torres

Prettystar Lopez was born in Washington Heights and raised in The Cross Bronx by her parents who immigrated from the Dominican Republic to New York City in the early 1990s. 

Prettystar is now a rising senior transfer at Fordham University on a HEOP scholarship, double majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, Latin American Studies, and a minor in Music. She is an After-School Tutor at the Grand Concourse library where she assists elementary and junior high school scholars with their assignments, encouraging creativity, literacy, and more. Prettystar’s interest in social work developed when she transferred schools during the pandemic and decided to pursue an internship in Constituent Services at District 15 Council Member Oswald Feliz’s office—her home district. She dealt with cases, ranging in issues from immigration, housing, public assistance, mental health, and domestic violence. Prettystar’s experience at her Council’s office informs her interest in housing law and led to her internship at District 72 Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos’ office—where she continued constituent services and assisted with community-building events. Prettystar hopes to gain more experience in event organizing to host future job and internship fairs, tenant rights information sessions, and arts and culture fairs for Bronx residents. Prettystar is currently looking at master’s programs specializing in Urban and Social policy.

As a CHCI Intern, Prettystar hopes to gather more insight on how to conduct legislative research that aims to protect immigrant, working-class tenants of color from housing insecurity.