Freddy Lopez is a third year Ethnic Studies student with a minor in Creative Writing, who was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Donald A. Strauss Foundation . The Foundation annually awards $10,000 scholarships to no fewer than 14 California college juniors who demonstrate commitment to public service. Freddy's proposal, Art of the P.O.O.R (People Orchestrating Optimistic Renditions), seeks to provide underprivileged/at risk local middle, high school and college students interested in arts a place where they can congregate to share, build, empower and expand their artistic skills, their self-esteem and their imagination. The goal of the program is to guide students to become leaders by building their self-confidence and creative thinking through mentorship in the arts. Students involved in the program will meet three times a week with the goal of connecting their artistic interests with their academics. The program will explore challenges in the students' communities and utilize various artistic methods to develop performances that address the challenges faced by the students.

Freddy is a transfer student from San Diego City College. His motivation to start the Art of the P.O.O.R. stems from a program he was involved in while in high school, City Team Ministries, which he credits with saving him from the streets of East Palo Alto. By channeling his artistic interests, Freddy found an interest in his schooling and began to excel academically. The positive impact of this program has led Freddy to pursue the opportunity to establish the Art of the P.O.O.R. Freddy's goal is that this program will make a positive impact on at risk youth in Riverside.