Elisa Olivo of West Springfield wants to go further by helping families

MassLive recently asked readers to nominate who they see as Latino and Hispanic leaders in Massachusetts working to bring about change across the state.

Profiles of these leaders will be published during Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. These are individuals who readers have found inspiring, who can do good deeds for their communities. They are recognized for their achievements, leadership and commitment to inspiring change.

Elisa Oliva

Age: 41

Community: West Springfield

Her story: Elisa Olivo, who was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and now lives in West Springfield, told MassLive that she has always enjoyed being involved in her community.

Before coming to Massachusetts, she studied business administration, management and operations at Columbia Central University in Puerto Rico. She found a job at the Justice Department, but after Hurricane Maria hit the island territory, she decided to move to the U.S., according to her biography.

Olivo knew her new life in the United States with her son, who has autism, “would start from scratch,” she said.

“As a single mother of an autistic child, I understand the challenges of finding reliable care while adjusting to unusual work schedules,” Olivo said.

Olivo works as a learning specialist in the Parent-Child Program at New North Citizens’ Council, a role in which she visits families to support preschool education, “providing tools and resources to help parents support their children’s development from a young age,” she said.

She added that she decided to take on this position because of her dream of opening a childcare center specializing in supporting children with disabilities. In this position, she has met other families from all over Latin America, including Guatemala and Ecuador, and believes she is doing what is right for them.

“My passion is creating a supportive environment for families struggling with similar issues, which comes from my own personal experiences,” Olivo said.

Olivo’s son had difficulty with public school, she said, adding, “They called three times a week.” She noted that people in good standing with school officials, including local officials, had better access to school.

“Oh my God, I have to do something,” Olivo said to herself.

She ran for West Springfield council in 2023, which gave her a chance to meet face-to-face with other parents who also felt they were struggling. Those who reached out to Olivo during the campaign “thanked me for giving them a different perspective.”

Although she did not win, she plans to run again in the future, but is also considering running for a position on the school committee, Olivo told MassLive.

“I hope that in this position I will be able to improve the situation for parents and students,” she said.

In her words: “Always go for what you want, no matter what.”

We are always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you would like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, Please fill out this form.