Nina Lopez joined the Youth Crisis Center in 2017 and is the Director of Strategic Partnerships.

With a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in global affairs from the University of Denver, Lopez has experience in community development across three continents.

Starting her career in Tampa, Fla., Lopez’s keen interest in serving her community opened the doors for many opportunities with various non-profit foundations in the area. She worked for the Florida Institute of Community Studies, the Community Relations department with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) and the Lightning Foundation with the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL).

In 2012, Lopez moved to South Korea, where she was able to explore the foundations of a community in a different context while teaching. After two years in South Korea, she moved to Morocco where she specialized in community development while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the youth development sector. In Morocco, Lopez lived among the locals in a small town on the descent of the Atlas Mountains, known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert. She worked with her small town to facilitate youth programs and bring resources to the community.

Lopez looks forward to cultivating relationships in Jacksonville that can help serve “at-hope” youth and their families.