Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Olivas.
Hi Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a lifelong Angelino, born in Panorama City, I have spent 5 decades living in the east end of the San Fernando valley. Born and raised in the “818,” I have lived in within a 5-mile radius- morning from Van Nuys to Sherman Oaks to Arleta. My work has taken me to both ends of the valley. It’s my home and always has been. I attended LAUSD public schools my whole (Go, Van Nuys Wolves!!!!) and raised my own children in Van Nuys exactly 13 homes from the home I grew up in. My childhood was probably not unlike a lot of other kids in the 70’s except my parents got divorced when I was just 5. Out of necessity, my mom entered the workforce, and to save on childcare, she took us to work most days. She worked at the Valley Free Clinic in North Hollywood. My sister and I were cared for by a lively bunch of people looking after us and keeping us entertained while our mom was busy working. As a child, I didn’t know that my mom worked in the Public Health sector in an underserved area with vulnerable populations. Looking back, I now realize with the simple act of her having my sister and I “tag along”, it would spark my forever love of service.
I attended UCLA and earned my BA in English Literature. My original plan was to be a high school English teacher, but like most people at 21, I strayed from that plan because I felt inexperienced and more confident working one-on-one with children. And life had other plans I wasn’t yet privy to. With life, the only constant is change, which in my younger years was a daunting and scary thought. As I have lived, it’s now a concept which brings joy and excitement. After getting my master’s degree in counseling psychology from Ryokan College, I welcomed the birth of my daughter Bailey Rose, and then shortly after my son, Miles. This led to a very pivotal moment for me. I enrolled my children in a co-op. The best image I can give you to describe this school is children with huge smiles plastered across their little faces, clothes with a layer of dirt from playtime, and adults who love without abandon. Volunteering in my children’s classroom led me to an understanding of what I already have known deep down since I was young; my passion and true path was working with young children and families.
Initially, I dipped my toe in the pond and started working as a classroom Aid, then a Lead Teacher with LAUSD Early Education, and finally to Lead Teacher with Volunteers of America as a Head Start teacher. I loved being in the classroom and finding ways to engage children in meaningful and rich learning experiences. A fire was igniting in me, and I wanted to learn as much as I could. I read every book on child development and took every class I could, which resulted in me going back to school again in my late 40’s. By going back to school, I was able to expand my knowledge immensely, but I was now at a crossroads. I now knew my passion with such clarity, but I needed help with the next steps. After days of building up courage, I was able to approach the professor and ask if she would consider mentoring me. She was a Director at the Child Development Institute (CDI) and told me the class had been a 15-week job interview, and she encouraged me to apply as a Program Coordinator at the Early Learning Center (ELC). I applied and fell in love with the model. The role would allow me to oversee all programs, provide support to caregivers with young children, work with volunteers of all ages and abilities, and create and foster sustainable relationships with valued community partners.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Initially, like so many other agencies, Covid threw us for a loop. But I am so proud to say that we stayed true to our mission. We successfully transitioned all our programs into a virtual capacity and began distributing essential items, like diapers and hygiene, weekly to families. We knew post-COVID that children would be experiencing enormous developmental delays and continued to screen children and offer referrals and resources, as needed. Since we were so physically distant, we felt a greater sense of motivation to serve our families. We were lifelines for each other. We were manning different-sized vessels but weathering the storm together.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a servant leader, I work from the heart to create a culture and environment of mutual respect, care, and inclusivity. I want the people I work with to feel seen, valued, and loved. Although a large part of my role is to mentor students, I feel privileged to say that I learn as much, if not more, from their unique experiences, perspectives, and wisdom. I have an open-door policy and welcome an exchange of ideas and viewpoints. I want their experience at CDI ELC to challenge them to go outside of their typical comfort zones, with the security of knowing that they are in a safe space. Mistakes can be made, growth can be uncomfortable, but ultimately allows them to stretch their imagination and abilities to build skill sets that are transferable in the professional world. I love to witness expansion, self-confidence, clarity and ultimately, greater purpose.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always a curious child and maybe a little bit mischievous, too. I was often reprimanded for talking in class. I asked a lot of questions and was genuinely interested in learning about other people. I was always an active child and developed a love for dancing, rescue animals, and being free in nature. I was raised in a home that encouraged me to think critically and outside the box. I’ve always been eager to learn and share the knowledge I have. As I age, I have become more outspoken and less tolerant of closed-mindedness. I’ve always been content with a glass “half-full” mentality, but I am growing more concerned with the direction our country is moving and actively taking steps every day to educate myself. In many ways, it motivates me to stay on course and my work in community-building has taken on greater significance and purpose. My definition of success is not monetary but with the amount of value I add to the lives of others. It has been a road of twists, turns, quick lefts, and sudden halts. At points, I was unable to see the road ahead of me, but I had amazing people and mentors there shining a light every step of the way. And now I get to be the one holding the flashlight.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cdikids.org
- Instagram: child.development.institute
- Facebook: CDI Early Learning Center
