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Date: 1/18/2022
CHICOPEE – After trailblazing history as Chicopee’s first City Councilor of color, Ward 3 Councilor Delmarina Lopez discussed her background as a part of Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC) “We the Women” spotlight series.
Moderated by STCC Director of Community Engagement Lidya Rivera-Early and Internship Coordinator Gloryvee Diaz, the “We the Women” series spotlights emerging female voices in local communities. López utilized the platform to discuss her career in law, her Afro-Latina background and her role as a leader in the community.
At 25 years old, López started her pathway toward law, with her journey as an attorney inspired by a desire create new avenues, her family and the community. “I’ve always tried to be very intentional about my community and ensuring that I give back to the community that has given back so much to me…I also knew [becoming an attorney] was breaking a lot of barriers and paving a path for people like my niece,” said López.
The Ward 3 Councilor expressed her desire to learn law in her local community, ultimately receiving an undergraduate degree from Bay Path University and a law degree from Western New England University. As a first-generation college graduate, López articulated pride in her ability to open new doors for her family.
López detailed her journey as an attorney, starting off at a firm before deciding to opt for public sector work. She explained that a role in the public sector feels more fulfilling to her as she aspires to give back to the community. “It’s really important to think about the kind of impact that you want to have,” said López.
In regard to her Afro-Latina heritage, López expressed tremendous pride in her culture and her ability to incorporate her identity in everyday work. “The work that I do is completely embedded with being Afro-Latina. A lot of the work that I do has to do with diversity, equity and inclusion…My identity as a whole influences the work that I do,” said López. She credits her family, multiple mentors and close-knit friendships for being a central motivator throughout her coming-of-age experiences.
Politics has also played an essential role in López’s life, as the councilor served as an intern under former Gov. Deval Patrick at age 16. With her new role as a City Councilor, López highlighted the importance of leading with empathy, a hard-working mindset and staying grounded in one’s decisions. “As a leader, sometimes you have to make tough decisions, and as long as you are leading with empathy and willing to do [the work], you stick by your decisions,” said López.
Looking ahead to the future, López ensured that any role she serves will provide a positive impact. “I want to make sure that I am authentic and stay true to myself,” said López.
Readers can watch López’s full interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SUFKjkOM1o&t=1879s.