{"id":46912,"date":"2026-05-07T10:24:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/?p=46912"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:24:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:24:32","slug":"voces-del-cano-leading-through-commitment-the-community-voice-of-maria-del-carmen-martinez-oliveras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/voces-del-cano-leading-through-commitment-the-community-voice-of-maria-del-carmen-martinez-oliveras\/","title":{"rendered":"Voces del Ca\u00f1o | Leading through commitment: the community voice of Mar\u00eda del Carmen Mart\u00ednez Oliveras"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Gonzalo A. Garc\u00eda Torres<\/strong>
Journalism Student<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mar\u00eda del Carmen Mart\u00ednez Oliveras is a woman committed to community service, whose work in Barrio Obrero reflects leadership, dedication, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Her integration into the community began after moving to the area during her second marriage, when she attended a meeting at the community center, initially motivated by a desire to learn about the neighborhood\u2019s situation. However, that first encounter marked the beginning of an active involvement that would transform her role within the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During that same meeting, she was unexpectedly nominated to be part of the Barrio Obrero Oeste Community Board. Although she did not live directly in that specific area, her connection to the community through the church was enough for her to be accepted. As she recalls, \u201cI came for what I first told you, but I stayed,\u201d a decision that would change the course of her relationship with the neighborhood. From then on, she took on responsibilities as secretary, standing out for her commitment to administrative work and her participation in various community activities. Over time, her leadership continued to grow as she was nominated vice president, even taking on multiple roles within the board simultaneously due to the lack of participation from other members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her experience on the board has allowed her to closely observe both the strengths and the needs of the community. Mar\u00eda del Carmen describes Barrio Obrero as a place composed mostly of low-income residents, but with strong values and a deep-rooted faith. According to her, \u201cthis community is mostly made up of people with limited resources\u2026 they are good people,\u201d also highlighting the cultural diversity present, including residents from the Dominican Republic. This mix of social and cultural realities creates a complex environment, yet one full of human potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite that potential, she acknowledges that there are significant challenges affecting the community\u2019s quality of life. Among them, she mentions the lack of education in everyday matters such as waste management and abandoned vehicles. In her words, \u201cthis needs to be worked on much more,\u201d emphasizing the need to raise awareness and promote collective responsibility. Indirectly, her perspective reveals an ongoing concern for education as a tool for social transformation, suggesting that many of these issues could be addressed with greater guidance and civic participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From her role on the board, she has actively worked to identify these problems and seek solutions through partnerships with other institutions. She explains that one of her main approaches has been to \u201cfind people\u2026 who are interested in the issues, in cooperating, helping the community,\u201d including collaborations with universities and external organizations. This effort demonstrates her ability to connect resources and create opportunities that benefit residents in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, one of the greatest challenges she faces, as she acknowledges, is the lack of community participation. Although some people get involved and collaborate, it is not at the level the board would like. As she notes, people \u201cdo get involved, but not in the numbers we would want,\u201d reflecting a disconnect between the community and spaces for collective organization. Even so, she highlights that there are committed individuals who contribute and motivate others to get involved, creating small support networks that strengthen community work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the most meaningful moments of her experience, Mar\u00eda del Carmen highlights community activities, especially the festivals organized in the neighborhood plaza. These events, which bring together families, children, and young people, represent a sign of hope for her. \u201cPeople are active\u2026 there is hope,\u201d she says, showing how these initiatives manage to spark interest and participation within the community, even if only temporarily. These experiences allow her to envision the potential of Barrio Obrero as a more united and dynamic space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Mar\u00eda del Carmen, change in the community begins at the individual level. She insists that education and the desire for personal growth are essential to achieving collective transformation. She emphasizes, \u201cwe have to educate ourselves\u2026 seek help, participate,\u201d underlining the importance of taking responsibility both personally and as a community. Her vision goes beyond solving immediate problems; she seeks to foster a mindset of growth and social awareness among residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a personal level, her experience in the community has also been a learning process. She acknowledges that she is still in the process of fully integrating and building closer relationships with residents. \u201cI would like to have that relationship\u2026 so that if someone has a situation, they feel confident approaching me,\u201d she says, reflecting her desire to become an accessible and supportive figure within the community. This openness also shows self-awareness, as she recognizes that part of that process depends on her own willingness to become more involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, the story of Mar\u00eda del Carmen Mart\u00ednez Oliveras is an example of how community leadership does not necessarily arise from careful planning, but from the willingness to act when the opportunity presents itself. Her journey demonstrates that commitment, empathy, and perseverance can create a meaningful impact, even in contexts where resources are limited and participation is scarce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her voice represents those who believe in the power of community as a driver of change. Through her work in Barrio Obrero, Mar\u00eda del Carmen not only contributes to collective well-being but also builds a legacy grounded in service, education, and the hope for a better future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor\u2019s Note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This journalistic profile is the result of in-service learning experiences carried out as part of the course <\/em>PER 223: Narrative Journalism<\/em><\/strong>, taught by Professor Mariliana Torres Pag\u00e1n in collaboration with Sagrado\u2019s <\/em>Community Engagement Program<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, the <\/em>Barrio Obrero Oeste se Reinventa<\/em><\/strong> Foundation, and the <\/em>Ca\u00f1o Mart\u00edn Pe\u00f1a Enlace Project<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Gonzalo A. Garc\u00eda TorresJournalism Student Mar\u00eda del Carmen Mart\u00ednez Oliveras is a woman committed to community service, whose work in Barrio Obrero reflects leadership, dedication, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Her integration […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":46913,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3672,5435,3696,3695],"tags":[5005,5434,5433,5311,5432,3731,5110],"class_list":["post-46912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communications","category-community-outreach","category-english-en","category-featured","tag-cano-martin-pena-2","tag-community-journalism","tag-community-service","tag-ferre-rangel-school-of-communication","tag-martin-pena-channel","tag-sagrado-en","tag-universidad-del-sagrado-corazon-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46912"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46915,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46912\/revisions\/46915"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}