Patty López: Difference between revisions

She arrived in the United States at the age of 12 from Michoacán, Mexico, speaking no English.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/the-underdog-mexican-mom-in-office/67656|title=The Underdog Mexican Mom in Office|last=Mayol|first=Taylor|date=2016-04-29|website=OZY}}</ref> Her parents did not enroll her in public school.<ref name="auto"/> Ultimately, she taught herself how to read and write in English and re-enrolled in adult night school at the age of 18 in order to earn her high school diploma.<ref name="auto"/> Having worked since the age of 14, she held various jobs as a housekeeper, children's nanny, fast food worker, factory worker, and educational advocate.<ref name="auto"/> Her experience of having to seek out education as an adult instilled a lifelong interest in public education for her.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vidaenelvalle.com/news/state/california/sacramento/article61211937.html|title=Adult education is top priority for Asm. Patty López|publisher=}}</ref> She helped found the Padres Activos of the San Fernando Valley, an organization dedicated to helping immigrant parents secure their children's academic rights in public school.<ref>{{cite web |last=Aron |first=Hillel |date=15 June 2015 |title=What Happens When a Random Citizen Becomes a California Legislator? |url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/what-happens-when-a-random-citizen-becomes-a-california-legislator-5683157 |titleurl-status=What Happens Whendead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114034644/https://www.laweekly.com/news/what-happens-when-a Random Citizen Becomes -random-citizen-becomes-a-california-legislator-5683157 California Legislator?|firstarchive-date=Hillel2018-11-14 |lastwebsite=Aron|date=15LA JuneWeekly 2015|publisher=}}</ref>