Eric Lopez
@elope2888.bsky.social
Empowering Leader & Strategist for Inclusive Excellence | Seasoned Program Director Driving Public Policy, Stakeholder Engagement, and Expanding Opportunity through Active Participation & Strength-Based Collaboration
Honoring my great grand uncle, Nicolás Silfa Canario, one of the Dominican veterans who served in the U.S. Army during WWII. His story reminds me that service continues beyond the battlefield in the trust we build, the communities we uplift, and the values we choose to carry forward. #VeteransDay
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Honoring my great grand uncle, Nicolás Silfa Canario, one of the Dominican veterans who served in the U.S. Army during WWII. His story reminds me that service continues beyond the battlefield in the trust we build, the communities we uplift, and the values we choose to carry forward. #VeteransDay
The National Education Equity Lab shows how trust and access create opportunity. By linking high school students with college courses and mentors, it’s building pathways through partnership and persistence, quiet work that widens the reach of education and possibility.
After billions in failed big bets, funders and schools are turning to this small education nonprofit
Leslie Cornfeld launched the National Education Opportunity Network, or NEON, to address educational inequality.
apnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The National Education Equity Lab shows how trust and access create opportunity. By linking high school students with college courses and mentors, it’s building pathways through partnership and persistence, quiet work that widens the reach of education and possibility.
Programs like the English Language Educator Exchange show how connection grows through shared learning. When teachers and students engage across borders, they build trust and understanding that strengthen the fabric of global community.
U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Funds English Language Exchange Program at MSU
This summer, more than 20 English educators from around the world came to Michigan State University’s campus to be immersed in the language and culture while also learning new creative approaches to teaching English in their home countries.
msutoday.msu.edu
November 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Programs like the English Language Educator Exchange show how connection grows through shared learning. When teachers and students engage across borders, they build trust and understanding that strengthen the fabric of global community.
Quiet leadership gives teams rhythm & stability.
It lives in those who listen, build trust, & hold the work steady through change. Their presence keeps purpose clear, nurtures connection; & their grounded brand of guidance helps missions move forward with patience, care, & conviction every day.
It lives in those who listen, build trust, & hold the work steady through change. Their presence keeps purpose clear, nurtures connection; & their grounded brand of guidance helps missions move forward with patience, care, & conviction every day.
November 4, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Quiet leadership gives teams rhythm & stability.
It lives in those who listen, build trust, & hold the work steady through change. Their presence keeps purpose clear, nurtures connection; & their grounded brand of guidance helps missions move forward with patience, care, & conviction every day.
It lives in those who listen, build trust, & hold the work steady through change. Their presence keeps purpose clear, nurtures connection; & their grounded brand of guidance helps missions move forward with patience, care, & conviction every day.
As Hispanic Heritage Month ends—and Libra season reminds me to find balance—I’m honored to be featured in Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs Magazine alongside my partner, Jennifer. From the Bronx to Spain, it’s a reminder that purpose, not titles, defines leadership.
October 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
As Hispanic Heritage Month ends—and Libra season reminds me to find balance—I’m honored to be featured in Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs Magazine alongside my partner, Jennifer. From the Bronx to Spain, it’s a reminder that purpose, not titles, defines leadership.
Honored to receive this recognition from the Fulbright Association.
Grateful to our board, chapters & leaders for their support and to Chair Dr. Walter McCollum for his leadership.
Here’s to continuing the work of building understanding across borders.
Grateful to our board, chapters & leaders for their support and to Chair Dr. Walter McCollum for his leadership.
Here’s to continuing the work of building understanding across borders.
October 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Honored to receive this recognition from the Fulbright Association.
Grateful to our board, chapters & leaders for their support and to Chair Dr. Walter McCollum for his leadership.
Here’s to continuing the work of building understanding across borders.
Grateful to our board, chapters & leaders for their support and to Chair Dr. Walter McCollum for his leadership.
Here’s to continuing the work of building understanding across borders.
🌎 The 48th Annual Fulbright Conference kicks off Oct 24–26 in Miami under the theme “United We Stand.”
A moment to reaffirm why global exchange still matters—and how Fulbright continues to build bridges 80 years on.
🔗 fulbright.org
A moment to reaffirm why global exchange still matters—and how Fulbright continues to build bridges 80 years on.
🔗 fulbright.org
October 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
🌎 The 48th Annual Fulbright Conference kicks off Oct 24–26 in Miami under the theme “United We Stand.”
A moment to reaffirm why global exchange still matters—and how Fulbright continues to build bridges 80 years on.
🔗 fulbright.org
A moment to reaffirm why global exchange still matters—and how Fulbright continues to build bridges 80 years on.
🔗 fulbright.org
Cultural diplomacy lives beyond policy. It’s built through people. I see it in educators, artists, and community leaders who build trust across borders. Their work reminds us that empathy and shared stories are the real architecture of diplomacy.
Cultural Diplomacy 2.0: Citizen Diplomacy
A new form of citizen diplomacy is reshaping transatlantic relations. As national governments adapt their international diplomatic efforts to meet the new challenges of the Age of Trump, the future of transatlantic relations increasingl A new form of citizen diplomacy is reshaping transatlantic relations. As national governments adapt their international diplomatic efforts to meet the new challe
www.gmfus.org
October 16, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Cultural diplomacy lives beyond policy. It’s built through people. I see it in educators, artists, and community leaders who build trust across borders. Their work reminds us that empathy and shared stories are the real architecture of diplomacy.
Some of the most influential leaders I’ve met never had a title. They’re the mentors, organizers, and elders whose quiet work sustains communities. Listening to them isn’t outreach. It’s infrastructure. Their wisdom is strategy worth honoring.
October 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Some of the most influential leaders I’ve met never had a title. They’re the mentors, organizers, and elders whose quiet work sustains communities. Listening to them isn’t outreach. It’s infrastructure. Their wisdom is strategy worth honoring.
I’ve learned that trust is infrastructure. It carries coalitions through transitions, gives advocacy resilience when resources shift, and makes partnerships stronger than paperwork. Real capacity begins with the trust we choose to build and sustain over time.
October 14, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I’ve learned that trust is infrastructure. It carries coalitions through transitions, gives advocacy resilience when resources shift, and makes partnerships stronger than paperwork. Real capacity begins with the trust we choose to build and sustain over time.
Behind every policy adjustment is a ripple effect on nonprofits & the people they serve. Leaders who track these shifts before they arrive build resilience into our public service infrastructure & give organizations room to adapt with care. Small policy changes have big consequences for nonprofits.
Tracking Federal Actions Impacting the Nonprofit Sector
Latest Updates (As of September 23, 2025, 11:00 AM ET) This article tracks ongoing developments of the federal actions impacting the nonprofit sector. We will
grantstation.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Behind every policy adjustment is a ripple effect on nonprofits & the people they serve. Leaders who track these shifts before they arrive build resilience into our public service infrastructure & give organizations room to adapt with care. Small policy changes have big consequences for nonprofits.
Fulbright has built bridges across 160+ countries for 80 years.
If the U.S. steps back, others will step in.
I recently spoke with El Observador USA about why international exchange still matters.
Full interview (Spanish) ⬇
If the U.S. steps back, others will step in.
I recently spoke with El Observador USA about why international exchange still matters.
Full interview (Spanish) ⬇
La beca Fulbright de EEUU enfrenta posibles recortes: “Si se cae, China llenará el vacío con su soft power”, dice el vocero del programa
La Florida International University será sede de la 48ª Conferencia Anual de la Fulbright Association. En un contexto de posibles recortes al programa, diplomáticos, académicos y exalumnos se reunirán en Miami para reforzar la importancia del programa. En diálogo con El Observador USA, un directiva de Fulbright advirtió que el cierre beneficiará a China.
www.elobservador.com.uy
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Fulbright has built bridges across 160+ countries for 80 years.
If the U.S. steps back, others will step in.
I recently spoke with El Observador USA about why international exchange still matters.
Full interview (Spanish) ⬇
If the U.S. steps back, others will step in.
I recently spoke with El Observador USA about why international exchange still matters.
Full interview (Spanish) ⬇
Always inspiring to meet the next generation of Hofstra students in D.C.! Curious, thoughtful, and ready to lead.
And a bonus: reconnected with my old program friend Jeff Stirling at the Olana State Historic Site. Full circle in the best way.
And a bonus: reconnected with my old program friend Jeff Stirling at the Olana State Historic Site. Full circle in the best way.
October 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Always inspiring to meet the next generation of Hofstra students in D.C.! Curious, thoughtful, and ready to lead.
And a bonus: reconnected with my old program friend Jeff Stirling at the Olana State Historic Site. Full circle in the best way.
And a bonus: reconnected with my old program friend Jeff Stirling at the Olana State Historic Site. Full circle in the best way.
I keep coming back to this: trust is infrastructure.
I’ve watched it carry coalitions through change and give programs resilience when systems alone weren’t enough. The capacity that lasts is built on relationships we choose to care for, year after year.
I’ve watched it carry coalitions through change and give programs resilience when systems alone weren’t enough. The capacity that lasts is built on relationships we choose to care for, year after year.
October 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I keep coming back to this: trust is infrastructure.
I’ve watched it carry coalitions through change and give programs resilience when systems alone weren’t enough. The capacity that lasts is built on relationships we choose to care for, year after year.
I’ve watched it carry coalitions through change and give programs resilience when systems alone weren’t enough. The capacity that lasts is built on relationships we choose to care for, year after year.
Salsa carries memory & identity for me: family gatherings, long nights filled with rhythm, & a sense of belonging. So I’m excited for the Smithsonian’s upcoming ¡Puro Ritmo!, honoring communities whose music shaped our world.
Catch the preview pop-up Sept 15–Oct 3: https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions
Catch the preview pop-up Sept 15–Oct 3: https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions
September 30, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Salsa carries memory & identity for me: family gatherings, long nights filled with rhythm, & a sense of belonging. So I’m excited for the Smithsonian’s upcoming ¡Puro Ritmo!, honoring communities whose music shaped our world.
Catch the preview pop-up Sept 15–Oct 3: https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions
Catch the preview pop-up Sept 15–Oct 3: https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions
One of my favorite traditions: WKCR’s 24-hour Coltrane birthday broadcast. His music is a reminder that culture connects us across borders—discipline, spirit, and improvisation all in one. Worth a listen: https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/story/john-coltrane-birthday-broadcast-6
September 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
One of my favorite traditions: WKCR’s 24-hour Coltrane birthday broadcast. His music is a reminder that culture connects us across borders—discipline, spirit, and improvisation all in one. Worth a listen: https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/story/john-coltrane-birthday-broadcast-6
Policy work isn’t always visible, but it’s always personal.
I show up for Fulbright because I believe in what it makes possible. Not just programs, but people. That’s what advocacy means to me: persistence, connection, and public service that lasts.
I show up for Fulbright because I believe in what it makes possible. Not just programs, but people. That’s what advocacy means to me: persistence, connection, and public service that lasts.
September 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Policy work isn’t always visible, but it’s always personal.
I show up for Fulbright because I believe in what it makes possible. Not just programs, but people. That’s what advocacy means to me: persistence, connection, and public service that lasts.
I show up for Fulbright because I believe in what it makes possible. Not just programs, but people. That’s what advocacy means to me: persistence, connection, and public service that lasts.
Immersive experiences like thus remind me what's possible when story meets presence. Roomscale VR offers a unique kind of access, opening windows into unfamiliar worlds, building empathy where words alone fall short.
#ImmersiveStorytelling #VR #CulturalUnderstanding
#ImmersiveStorytelling #VR #CulturalUnderstanding
Possibly my favourite experience at Venice Immersive, The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up feels like walking directly into a movie. Enjoyed this roomscale narrative experience www.uploadvr.com/the-clouds-a...
The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up Feels Like Walking Into A Movie
The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up adapts the Taiwanese short story into a free-roaming VR experience.
www.uploadvr.com
September 19, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Immersive experiences like thus remind me what's possible when story meets presence. Roomscale VR offers a unique kind of access, opening windows into unfamiliar worlds, building empathy where words alone fall short.
#ImmersiveStorytelling #VR #CulturalUnderstanding
#ImmersiveStorytelling #VR #CulturalUnderstanding
Clear, compassionate leadership from UK Quakers on trans-inclusive policy that's grounded in values, not fear. We need more of this. Every org that leads with values should take notes.
#TransRights #InclusiveLeadership
#TransRights #InclusiveLeadership
An absolute masterclass from UK Quakers on how organisations of all kinds can stand up for the rights and safety of trans people, even post Supreme Court ruling and with all of the EHRC's cruelties:
www.quaker.org.uk/documents/re...
www.quaker.org.uk/documents/re...
www.quaker.org.uk
September 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Clear, compassionate leadership from UK Quakers on trans-inclusive policy that's grounded in values, not fear. We need more of this. Every org that leads with values should take notes.
#TransRights #InclusiveLeadership
#TransRights #InclusiveLeadership
Democracy lives in the everyday work of people who teach, organize, advocate, and build community.
Today’s about honoring that effort... and the many hands it takes to shape a system rooted in dignity, equity, and shared power.
#InternationalDayOfDemocracy #CivicPower
Today’s about honoring that effort... and the many hands it takes to shape a system rooted in dignity, equity, and shared power.
#InternationalDayOfDemocracy #CivicPower
September 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Democracy lives in the everyday work of people who teach, organize, advocate, and build community.
Today’s about honoring that effort... and the many hands it takes to shape a system rooted in dignity, equity, and shared power.
#InternationalDayOfDemocracy #CivicPower
Today’s about honoring that effort... and the many hands it takes to shape a system rooted in dignity, equity, and shared power.
#InternationalDayOfDemocracy #CivicPower
Illinois just became the first state to mandate mental health screenings in schools. It’s a big step, but policy alone isn’t enough. Support systems must reflect care, consistency, and dignity if we’re serious about student well-being. Very interested in seeing how this progresses.
#MentalHealth
#MentalHealth
Illinois becomes 1st state to require student mental health screenings
Students in Illinois will soon have to get mental health screenings alongside annual vision and hearing exams.
abcnews.go.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Illinois just became the first state to mandate mental health screenings in schools. It’s a big step, but policy alone isn’t enough. Support systems must reflect care, consistency, and dignity if we’re serious about student well-being. Very interested in seeing how this progresses.
#MentalHealth
#MentalHealth
When systems fail, strong relationships don’t. You don’t build trust in the moment. You lean on what you’ve built over time. That’s the real resilience. The work of leadership is in those everyday investments in people, long before the crisis hits.
#Leadership #Trust #Community
#Leadership #Trust #Community
September 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
When systems fail, strong relationships don’t. You don’t build trust in the moment. You lean on what you’ve built over time. That’s the real resilience. The work of leadership is in those everyday investments in people, long before the crisis hits.
#Leadership #Trust #Community
#Leadership #Trust #Community
I joined the Uncaged Show to talk about lessons that shaped my #Leadership across orgs & consulting work. Thanks for the great conversation!
🎧Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/uncaged-show/episodes/Empowering-Leader--Strategist-for-Inclusive-Excellence-With-Eric-Lopez-e36inig
🎧Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/uncaged-show/episodes/Empowering-Leader--Strategist-for-Inclusive-Excellence-With-Eric-Lopez-e36inig
September 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I joined the Uncaged Show to talk about lessons that shaped my #Leadership across orgs & consulting work. Thanks for the great conversation!
🎧Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/uncaged-show/episodes/Empowering-Leader--Strategist-for-Inclusive-Excellence-With-Eric-Lopez-e36inig
🎧Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/uncaged-show/episodes/Empowering-Leader--Strategist-for-Inclusive-Excellence-With-Eric-Lopez-e36inig
Question: When you're facing crisis, what's the one resource you'll always need?
Answer: Community
When you’re out of time or out of options, it’s the relationships you’ve built that matter most. In crisis, we lean on #Community for support & solutions. That’s the real rainy day fund.
Answer: Community
When you’re out of time or out of options, it’s the relationships you’ve built that matter most. In crisis, we lean on #Community for support & solutions. That’s the real rainy day fund.
September 2, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Question: When you're facing crisis, what's the one resource you'll always need?
Answer: Community
When you’re out of time or out of options, it’s the relationships you’ve built that matter most. In crisis, we lean on #Community for support & solutions. That’s the real rainy day fund.
Answer: Community
When you’re out of time or out of options, it’s the relationships you’ve built that matter most. In crisis, we lean on #Community for support & solutions. That’s the real rainy day fund.
Leadership thrives in community. These salons bring nonprofit leaders together—to reflect, collaborate, and lead with intention. A simple, powerful model for sustained equity work.
#LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitStrategy
#LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitStrategy
How Nonprofit Leaders Can Create Cultures of Trust and Belonging - Brooklyn Org
brooklyn.org
August 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Leadership thrives in community. These salons bring nonprofit leaders together—to reflect, collaborate, and lead with intention. A simple, powerful model for sustained equity work.
#LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitStrategy
#LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitStrategy