This keynote was delivered at our Learning by Making event in New York City by Dr Nadia Lopez, founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a New York City Public School.
Nadia Lopez opened Mott Hall Bridges Academy in 2010 in the Brownsville neighbourhood of Brooklyn. Brownsville has consistently held one of the highest poverty and crime rates of any neighbourhood in New York City but yet Nadia is encouraged and inspired to see children overcome the “beautiful challenges” of Brownsville, and ensuring that they are admitted into some of the most competitive high schools.
I have a mantra that says "I opened a school to close a prison" because at the end of the day, it is the 4th and 7th grade scores that determine how many prisons we built. And in New York state, 80% who go to prison come from communities like Brownsville.
This video was recorded at pi-top’s Learning by Making fringe event in New York City.
