From Roots to Impact: Saul Olivas’ lifelong commitment to empowering his community

Saul Olivas was born in Aurora, Illinois, in 1982 to Hispanic immigrants from Durango, Mexico. He was one of five siblings, and although he was born in the United States, his family decided to move back to Mexico when he was a young child. Olivas spent the first eight years of his life growing up in the mountains and rural valleys of Durango before returning to America.

Today, according to the  New York Times, nearly 400,000 children have crossed the southern border since 2021, similar to Olivas's experience as a child.

Olivas completed first and second grade in Mexico, but his journey to school was unlike those of children in America. He walked a total of three miles to school and had to cross a creek. At times, when the valleys flooded from rain, he could not cross the creek to return home. Fortunately, he had family on both sides, so he always had a place to stay.

In 1989, Olivas’s family decided it was time to move back to Illinois. His siblings and father were already there, but it was time for him and his mother to make the journey back. Their return to America was tough and eye-opening. Olivas, his mother, and a cousin crossed the Rio Grande on a raft and reached a safehouse in Texas. From there, they were ushered to an airport to fly back to Chicago. However, just short of the gate, Saul and his family were stopped by immigration. Olivas recalls feeling scared and confused, not understanding what would happen next.

Although Olivas was an American citizen, he was forced to return to Mexico with his mother and cousin. This setback did not deter their mission to come back to the United States; after some time, they decided to make the journey again. Later in 1989, Olivas and his family crossed the Rio Grande once more, traveled to the same safehouse, and made the harrowing trip to the same airport. This time, they were able to board a plane and return to Chicago, where Saul has called home ever since.

In America, Olivas continued his educational journey as an ESL student (English as a Second Language). Throughout high school, he became an active member of his community, and this involvement continued when he graduated and attended community college. Reflecting on the beginning of his community engagement, Olivas said, “Going to school, graduating and going to community college, and being involved in sports and organized clubs, that’s how I started being an advocate and being involved in the community… and being able to meet people from different walks of life.”

After attending Waubonsee Community College, Olivas transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he majored in Spanish with a minor in sociology. After graduating, he spent 17 years working in retail, where he developed a passion for training and working with adults. After leaving retail, he became a paraprofessional at an elementary school in East Aurora. This role, similar to that of a teaching assistant, transformed his passion for training adults into a passion for teaching, motivating him to return to school and earn a master’s degree in elementary education from Grand Canyon University.

Olivas currently works as a dual-language teacher at an elementary school in Oswego and serves as a board member for East Aurora School District 131. However, his community involvement extends far beyond this role. He is an active member of several nonprofit organizations, including the Dominican Literacy Center, Aurora Lions Club, Citizens Police Academy Alumni of Aurora, Aurora East Educational Foundation, and ALMAS of Naperville.

Olivas’s passion for community involvement has made him an outstanding member of the Aurora community and its neighboring suburbs. Beyond his participation in sports and clubs during school, he describes his dedication to helping others as a profound connection to his own experiences.

“Those memories of where I came from and what my family struggled with—some families don’t go through that—made me humbler and willing to help those who might not have the luxury or whose full stories we may not know. How am I going to help my community and advocate for those who can’t or don’t know how?” said Olivas.

Despite being involved in so many organizations, Olivas finds joy in his work. He believes in the saying, “If you find a job you love, you never work a day in your life.” To him, community involvement is not work but a passion.

“Knowing what my family went through, I want to ensure that if someone needs help, I can direct them or find resources in the community. I spend most of my days working, and that’s what I find pleasure in—helping and hoping to create an impact on students and their families,” he added.

ALMAS is one of the most recent nonprofit organizations Olivas has joined. He emphasizes the importance of assessing an organization’s mission and vision before getting involved. ALMAS recently celebrated its one-year anniversary as an established nonprofit, and Olivas views his participation as a meaningful contribution. “Their mission and vision align with my beliefs, validating my efforts to positively impact individuals in the Hispanic community,” he explained.

As a Latino-founded and led organization, ALMAS—which translates to "souls"—focuses on amplifying the voices of the Latino community within the Chicagoland suburbs. Diverse representation is crucial for communities, and nonprofits like ALMAS play a vital role in fostering connections and facilitating meaningful change.

“ALMAS has done a great job of being that voice in the community, not only creating events but also hosting panels and discussions. The only way we can address these issues is by having those difficult conversations,” said Olivas.

ALMAS is currently seeking volunteers for its upcoming events and is always looking for new members. For more information, visit www.ALMAScommunity.org.