Karen Esparza Lopez was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and raised in a small rural town in Florida called Ruskin. Karen was placed in the foster care system at the age of 15. Unfortunately, she was separated from her two younger siblings while in foster care. Karen changed schools five times and went through 2 placements, a foster home and a group home. She was eventually reunited with her family at the age of 16, but 6 years after reunification she no longer has contact with her biological family.

Karen currently resides in Riverside, California and attends Riverside City College as a political science major. She is excited to announce that she will be transferring to UC Berkeley in Spring 2022.  One of Karen's great passions is to work with and advocate for foster youth and college students.  Her career goal is to become a lawyer to practice family law and to continue to be involved in child welfare advocacy through policy and legislation.

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Council Member - Past
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