From the Bay Area to the Central Coast, Latinx Writer Advocates for Future Generations
Olga Rosales Salinas: a journalist, podcaster, and poet tells compelling stories grounded in her family’s Mexican immigrant roots
To Olga Rosales Salinas, writing is a full-circle journey that always leads back to where she started, growing up in a large Mexican immigrant family — the fifth of six girls — in Watsonville, on California’s central coast. Olga’s writing is infused with a perfect mix of confidence and vulnerability, making it refreshing to read because it’s so real.
Olga’s the managing editor of San Francisco Bay Area Moms (SFBAM) and podcast host for Hella MomVersations. She’s a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and has bylines in many places — Palabra, Voices of Monterey Bay (VOMB), Jumble & Flow (
), and more. In 2021, her first book was published: La Llorona, a collection of poetry and prose.As a writer, Olga uses her voice to advocate for free college and better mental health awareness and care. Last year, she was interviewed for NPR’s Think program to discuss why it’s sometimes harder to talk about mental health in Latino culture — a follow-up on a piece Olga wrote for Palabra, called “Los Curiosos.”
It’s no surprise Olga ends up in the spotlight a lot: she glows with vibrance and warmth. But what really stands out is how she never forgets where she came from. In 2019, Olga collaborated with her sisters, forming The Rosales Sisters' Scholarship (RSS) — a non-profit that so far has raised more than 50K to help first-generation and immigrant college students from their hometown.
Olga lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two sons. For more, follow Olga on Threads and Instagram, and subscribe to her newsletter here.
Recently, I caught up with Olga to discuss her expanding collection of work, her advocacy, her beautiful family, and yes — fashion. Definitely follow her on “the ‘gram.”
I LOVED your “Everywhere you go, there you are” piece, especially hearing you read it aloud for Así Fue. You write about leaving home for the first time to live in London. Where do you feel most at home now?
Thank you, Daphne; I appreciate the time and opportunity to talk to you about my work.
“Everywhere you go, there you are” is a piece about a confusing, exciting, and adventurous time in my life. I was deep in grief over the loss of my father, which is to say that the highs of the adventure felt clouded a lot of the time. My time in London was cut short when I was deported back to the States. I’ll write about that entire experience sometime in the future. I came home to Watsonville briefly and then moved to the Bay Area, where I’ve lived ever since.
As a mother, wife, and working writer, I’ve never felt more at home than I do now. I’m grateful for every aspect of my life, especially for having the unique opportunity to write about my hometown with love and reverence for my childhood experiences. I’ve found plenty of content right here.
You and your husband are quite the glam couple, full of life and love. I’m really curious how you met.
He will probably cringe at 'glam couple,' but I love it! Thank you for saying that. We met in 2007 through a friend. She was my roommate and his 'work-wife.' We didn't date until 2012 when she reintroduced us via DM. We went on one Monday date night, and we've been together ever since. We've been married for nine years, fully committed to laughing at each other's jokes, even if we're (me) not as funny as we think. The truth is that he's a great father and husband, so much so that it makes me want to be a better mother and wife. In that sense, I'm glad we're both competitive.
So how are you managing summer with the kids out of school? Do you feel more stressed or less during the summer months?
My husband’s been fully engaged in planning and scheduling the boys' summer camps. He’s helping with drop off and pick up, and although I have less time for my projects, everyone I'm accountable to knows my schedule shifts during these summer months. I practice over-communicating with my sisters and RSS board members. I'm unsure if they're annoyed by that, but it helps with my anxiety and stress.
I can't say this enough if you manage generalized anxiety as I do, a daily workout routine helps. I don't do it for weight loss, but for mental health. I also see a therapist. I understand these investments are privileges and I don't take them for granted. If you’re able, I suggest both.
I’ve never felt more at home than I do now. I’m grateful for every aspect of my life, including the opportunity to write about my hometown with love and reverence.
Now I want to ask you about a few of your recent articles. This past spring you wrote several reported pieces on the Pájaro River flooding in Monterey County. What was it like going back where you grew up and seeing the human impacts from flooding problems?
Voices of Monterey Bay (VOMB) asked me to cover the flooding. While I’ve written short stories and prose about my hometown, this was my first work as a reporter. That experience in and of itself was unique because VOMB trusted that I could do the job. Taking myself out of the article for this writing style was challenging because the subject matter closely relates to my creative writing.
I lived in Watsonville the last time the central coast saw significant flooding, specifically the last time the levee breached in 1996. Luckily, I’m still closely connected to several folks who live and work in town, so finding people to interview was about making phone calls and sliding into direct messages on social media. I look forward to more opportunities in this arena. I found the work challenging, engaging, and rewarding.
In “Los Curiosos” you write about how mental health issues have shaped your family’s dynamic. If you were able to magically change anything, what would you change?
If I had a magic wand, everyone would clearly define and understand mental illness. Medications, seeking professional help, and living with incurable mental illness wouldn't be stigmatized. Immigrants would have a clear path to citizenship, and English language learners would face no barriers regarding legal status and health care in general. College would be free for anyone who seeks education, so it'd be easily accessible. And depending on how strong my magic wand is, how about we go further and eradicate mental illness?
In “Friendship While Pregnant” you write about how you’ve had to “abandon any sense of control” once you became a parent. What’s been the hardest thing to let go of?
I stand by my initial thoughts on pregnancy and motherhood. As a mother, I’ve had to abandon control over most aspects of life. Therapy! Therapy has helped me define these challenges so that they’re manageable. The hardest part I had to let go of was knowing that my deep flaws as a mother pointed toward unresolved childhood trauma.
I learned early in motherhood that I had work to do if I wanted to heal. For example, my response to my kids’ tantrums was often frustration and, well, my adult tantrum. Why did I react that way? Why did I feel crippling shame and guilt for hours, sometimes days, afterward?
Now that your kids are school aged, how have things changed?
I’m less anxious because I’ve gotten used to having less power or control. They have fewer tantrums, but they still demonstrate deep need and attention from a present mother. Putting down my phone and listening is part of everyday work, and it’s not easy. Living in the moment, giving myself grace, and working on healing is a daily practice. A practice that motherhood demands of me.
As managing editor of the San Francisco Bay Area Moms, what’s been your biggest learning curve?
The SFBAM community is big and beautiful. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading columns from other moms whose experiences are much like mine. Check it out and subscribe if you're new to motherhood and seeking an engaged community.
The managing editor role was my first venture into professional editing, so the learning curve has been steep. The experience has made me a better writer and a better working professional. And I’ve learned that I'm not alone in my anxieties. I'm not alone in my mama-bear moments or alone when I run out of patience. SFBAM has been a great window into other mothers' lives, and I'm grateful to have found them.
The most significant part of this editorial role has been creating Hella MomVersations, SFBAM's first podcast. In my 20s and 30s, I worked in terrestrial radio, and my dream was always to be on-air talent. Getting to do this podcast feels like coming full circle into the talent space. We've been doing the podcast for a year and look forward to creating live-in-person shows in 2023.
The first-generation and immigrant experience is truly unique in this country. The battle we describe resonates with every racial, ethnic, and immigrant group we've met, not just Latinx folks. I'm excited to see our organization grow.
Through your work on The Rosales Sisters' Scholarship, can you describe the challenges first-generation and immigrant students are facing? And what’s been most challenging for you and your sisters managing RSS?
My sisters and I started this scholarship in 2019 to give back to the community we grew up in, Watsonville, CA. Starting anything from scratch presents unique challenges. We're awarding scholarships that we fundraise — we don’t have an endowment or major corporate backing. We’re a group of volunteer first-generation Latinx professionals who see a real need we're trying to fill.
We've approached first-generation or immigrant professionals who understand the struggle, and the response has wowed us. Ninety percent of our board of directors is first or second generation or an immigrant who also believes in our mission. One hundred percent of us are deeply committed to helping bridge the financial gap towards college.
The truth is that the first-generation and immigrant experience is truly unique in this country. The battle we describe resonates with every racial, ethnic, and immigrant group we've met, not just Latinx folks. I'm excited to see what will come as our organization grows.
Did the pandemic affect the number of applications you received?
We've been lucky to work closely with Pajaro Valley Unified School District. They receive student submissions on our behalf, so we didn’t see a drop in applications during the pandemic.
The graduating class of 2023 dealt with both COVID and flooding. The student applications this year were devastating in their scope of need. This year we gave to two more high schools than the previous years: Harbor High School and Oakland International High School. Expanding this scholarship has been rewarding for everyone involved.
So when you spend time with your sisters, do you feel like your kid self again or have your relationships fully evolved into mature adult ones?
My sisters are powerhouses, and I listen to their advice and follow their lead when possible. This is to say that sometimes we are fully evolved mature adults who work together as any other functioning adults would, and other times, I'm the fifth of six sisters and the hierarchy is apparent — that's just how it goes.
Our eldest sister is Elizabeth Castillo. She's a professional in the title real estate business whose steady hand and advice has been immeasurable to the needs of our scholarship. I can't imagine doing this work with anyone but her. I'm proud to be part of such a big and beautiful family.
My sisters are powerhouses, and I listen to their advice and follow their lead when possible. I'm proud to be part of such a big and beautiful family.
I only have brothers, but always imagined it’d be helpful having an older sister to be like a preview to my own near-future. Has having four older sisters helped you know what to expect in your different life phases?
Yes, having sisters has always been helpful in every transition of life. Having sisters who are also raising boys has been downright comical sometimes. There are six of us, and we have nine boys between us. When my eldest son started little league, my sisters and I discussed 'cups,' scheduling, and everything else sports related that we didn't experience as girls growing up. I am very fortunate to have them to look up to and reference.
Having just one brother would have helped with dating and platonic male friendships. Now that I'm raising boys, I must often refer to my husband for male nuance. You're fortunate to have had brothers!
I did get my own bedroom so that was a plus! And growing up with three brothers allowed me to see past their outward bravado and realize they had sensitive feelings too, they were just less allowed to show theirs. Now I have three sons and it’s frustrating to see them get a lot of the same mixed messages about what’s OK. Do you notice that too? What do you think parents can do to help?
I totally agree! They get mixed messages daily. I worry about the Andrew Tates of the world and what those voices will sound like in five years or ten years. As their parent, I have a huge responsibility and influence over how they view relationships. My husband and I have had great conversations about what dialogue should look like around our boys.
We're currently reading Boys Will Be Human by Justin Baldoni. We're also big fans of his podcast: We Are Man Enough. Again, it must have been so helpful to have brothers now that you’re raising boys. I wonder, often, what goes on in my husband's mind? I have no idea what grown men talk about when women aren't around; that's why podcasts' like We Are Man Enough are so helpful.
I mentally dumped my athletic wear and stopped 'saving outfits.' I wear big skirts and fun matching jumpers for everyday errands. Wearing something I love is a small way to elevate my mood and my day.
I love your style! What are your go-to clothing essentials that always make you feel good?
I love looking at trends and watching runway shows. Finding a great sewist who specializes in conversion — like Circular Fashion by Xela — has made all the difference. I can bring her a piece I loved five years ago, and she can turn it into my new favorite fashion. I also love consignment. A vintage Burberry skirt from the 1940s in mint condition? Yes, please.
We got the opportunity to travel to Paris last year for my best friend's wedding. As we people-watched over lunch, I mentally dumped my athletic wear and stopped 'saving outfits.' Now, I get dressed for everyday errands. I wear big skirts at Target. I wear fun matching jumpers at Costco. I do it for me. Well, I do it for me, and the 'gram, of course. Wearing something I love is a small way to elevate my mood and my day.
I’m curious about your writing process and habits. Are they totally random depending on what’s going on in your life? Are you trying anything new that’s working for you?
I'm working through a few creative writing projects at the moment. I've found it helpful to take notes of the random ideas that come to me. I take them down on my phone, and when I get a minute, I open a Google document. I have a lot of unfinished google docs.
There is a balance between what drives me as a writer — my creative writing — and what fuels my professional work. I sometimes have to do product reviews, and I have to edit. I have to work, and there is a balance in doing both in one sitting. Also, doing both knowing that the editing and the product review will fuel the creative work.
Everything I write down helps. One of the mental tricks that has worked for me is to do ten minutes of creative writing or editing creative work and then start the work I do for SFBAM or RSS. Doing those ten minutes of creative writing reminds me of the overarching dream (born in grade school): working writer.
You’ve done so many different types of writing. Do you have a favorite form? You’ve mentioned writing fiction before, is that something you’re still interested in pursuing?
I'm a poet. I could always be better at it, but yes, a poet. Every other style of writing feels like practice for poetry. I have yet to return to the form since writing my debut collection of poetry, La Llorona, published in 2021. Partly because both the scope of work at SFBAM and the scholarship have expanded, but also because I want new content.
As my kids move into a new school-age phase, my husband and I are also moving into a new stage of both marriage and adulthood. A lot of personal development is happening in my life now, and I want to respect this time without having to fit in a poem, which is a nasty habit.
I've found it helpful to take a break from poetry to come back with something worthwhile to say. Poetry is one of those art forms that is hard to fake. You can't wing poetry — you can — but I don't want to.
A style that came to me recently was the lyrical essay. I wrote four pages of prose, poem sentences, and storytelling. I'm curious to see what will come of it.
And yes, fiction storytelling is also a favorite of mine. I have no problem making up a story of any length or format. The short story form allows for quick edits, and a word count restriction keeps you from following too many rabbit holes. Also, it’s fun!
What type of opportunities are you most interested in pursuing right now?
This year I've enjoyed covering the news. It has been time-consuming but rewarding. Once my kids return to school, I plan on investing more time in covering the central coast, the Bay Area and focusing on freelance work. Creatively, I plan to compile a series of short stories and then send queries for publication. In 2015 I started a full-length novel that still needs editing. So yeah, I have a lot of work left to do.
Follow Olga on Threads and Instagram, and subscribe to her newsletter here. To donate to The Rosales Sisters’ Scholarship fund, click here.