Oliva Barrajas. Photo by BB Rivas / El Concilio Family Services.
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories in May profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2012 Latino Leadership awards — “Excellence in Education.” The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click here for information on sponsorships and individual ticket orders $125 each, or call 805-486-9777.
Amigos805 staff reports
Olivia Barajas developed a group of Spanish-speaking parent leaders at Haydock Intermediate School in Oxnard and trained parents on community-building skills including violence prevention efforts, according to one nomination.
“Mrs. Barajas embodies the characteristic of an education advocate and inspires others to challenge themselves to work for what one believes is just,” Priscila Cisneros, community building manager for Cabrillo Economic Development Corp., wrote in her nomination letter.
“Through my interactions with Mrs. Barajas, I have experienced her passion and commitment for preparing parents to be informed and strong advocates for their children’s educational careers,” Cisneros said.
Another nomination letter reported:
“Every once in awhile, there comes along an individual who with little resources, does so much and asks for nothing in return. I have recently come across such an inspirational individual, Olivas Barajas. Her firm belief that parent education and involvement is the key to student academic success led her on a quest to offer a structured parent education program to the Spanish-speaking parents of the Oxnard School District that provides them the tools to better navigate the educational system from pre-school to high school and on to college.
“Olivia is a stay-at-home mom who recognized the importance of being involved in her children’s education. She participated in every parent involvement opportunity available and supported her children in their educational endeavors. Although she does not speak English, she attended numerous parent meetings held in English and noted the lack of participation of Spanish-speaking parents. As she pondered why Spanish-speaking parents were not involved in their children’s education she began to realize that parents were not called upon to be purposefully involved in the daily life of the school.”
Kathryn Benner, community builder for Cabrillo Economic Development Corp., also supported the nomination of Barajas.
“Though I know only two letters of recommendation are required, when I heard about the nomination of Olivia Barajas for El Concilio’s Latino Awards I was compelled to write a letter too. I wish I had thought to nominate her myself, as she so deserves to be recognized for her efforts,” Benner wrote. “I have had the pleasure of getting to know Señora Barajas over the past three years as she has been a part of the Oxnard Community Peace Project. She has used all the tools she has learned through our process and enthusiastically taken the lead to create and sustain the Haydock Community Peace Project at her daughter’s school. Her efforts resulted in parents taking responsibility for making sure their children felt safe getting to and from school, and at Durley Park down the street. She was also central to carrying the idea of a community garden at Haydock Intermediate School all the way through the School District process. Currently she is the driving force for uniting parents and several agencies in an effort to encourage the growth of parent engagement in Oxnard. Without Señora Barajas this effort would not have gotten off the ground, and she continues to be the sustaining leader for this idea.
“On a personal note, I have felt warmly included in Señora Barajas’ efforts, though we are both mono-lingual speakers, she in Spanish, and I in English. She has gone out of her way to make me feel appreciated and a part of our dream to get parents and youth involved in creating thriving communities,” Benner said. “Señora Barajas has demonstrated courage and perseverance to make her world a better place. She is a co-powering leader whom I feel honored to know, and privileged to work with collaboratively. I wholeheartedly recommend Olivia Barajas for the El Concilio Latino Awards. Thank you for your consideration.”