The Arc of Leadership - Part 5
Written by Tim Buckley, April 2025
Maria Cisneros, chair of the Washington Neighborhood Family Council, with her son Aaron
Leadership is not always built into our DNA. For Maria Cisneros, a shy, young, single mom, becoming a leader came packaged with her circumstances. She awoke to the possibility that, without her strong involvement in her son’s life, he might drift towards leadership of a different sort, then end up on the street making mischief and poor decisions.
Instead, Aaron learned about the importance of a mother’s love, along with academic achievement and civic engagement.
Maria’s focus on Aaron’s wellbeing primed her to be a natural choice of leader when CBEL launched the Washington Neighborhood Family Council last year. When the group faltered in the early months, Maria stepped into the role of Chair, with her son, age 11, at her side.
“I was 19 when I became a mom,” Maria said. “I had no idea what it would take to be a good mother. Thank goodness, my mom was with me through the struggles. I worked to provide for me and Aaron after my divorce, but at the same time, I was also intent on being involved in his daycare experience at Head Start,” Maria said.
She came to the US from Durango, Mexico, at age four with her parents and one younger brother, Salvador. The family moved from Florida to Stayton, Oregon when she was in the sixth grade. Being immersed in English only schooling made her transition difficult, but her grit and determination paid off.
Leadership 2.0
“As a mom with a child in Washington Elementary, I was sometimes unhappy that they didn’t have a Parent Club. I tried to get one started, but it never went anywhere,” Maria said. “So, when Eduardo (CBEL’s Neighborhood Family Council Director) proposed it last August, I was really happy.”
Maria’s son Aaron (front) and Maria attending recent Hallman NFC Welcoming Spring event
Eduardo’s staff organized two outdoor BBQ events to meet and recruit neighborhood residents to form a Washington Neighborhood Family Council. “The first one attracted 15 people but only three of us agreed to join,” she continued. “Eduardo told us that CBEL requires up to nine people make up a council, collectively representing the diversity of the neighborhood.”
“Before the second BBQ, I told myself ‘I can’t let this opportunity go’. Besides, at the first event, I met Darian Owens again, one of Eduardo’s staff. She and I had been friends since elementary school, and I hadn’t seen her since high school. Now, she’s married, a mom, and working for Eduardo, so I figured, if Darian is working on this project, it must be good!” she said.
The second event attracted more than 30 parents and from that group, the Family Council was launched in the fall of 2024.
“I still don’t think of myself as a leader,” Maria continued, “but my council members motivate me and support me as their chairperson.”
CBEL allocates $1,100 per month for each council to organize events, build awareness, and create a particular neighborhood strategy for nurturing Salem and Keizer’s resiliency.
Local Washington Neighborhood families and residents enjoy the Washington NFC’s first event, a Winter Wonderland celebration, on February 7th, 2025
“When the Council started, there was skepticism from the school administration,” Maria added. "But after our first event, where we had 25 volunteers from other neighborhood family councils show up to help feed and entertain over 100 families, the school began to see the potential. Now they love us,” she said, “and keep asking us when we can do another event.”
When the principal announced to Maria that a grant proposal they’d written for students’ needs was denied, the Neighborhood Family Council voted to partner with the school to make those things happen. “With our funding, and Darian’s help, we bought and distributed hats, scarfs and gloves for the children.”
Since then, the Council has also helped with funds for snacks and certain other supplies for children with special need and the school’s “stress room”.
Strengthening Families
While the Washington neighborhood has become closer because of the Council’s efforts, and the relationship with the school’s administration has grown rock solid, it is particularly joyful to hear Maria talk about how her relationship with Eduardo’s team and with other neighborhood family council members has matured. “They’ve become like family to me,” Maria said, “and Eduardo has become like a loving uncle or grandpa. His mentorship and support has been a huge gift.”
Aaron, according to Maria, has almost become part of the Washington family council. “After the Welcoming Spring event, I was ready to leave but Aaron said, ‘Wait, we still have to help clean up! So, we stayed another hour to help Eduardo, Darian, Destiny, and the other volunteers return the room to its proper order. In addition to having a keen sense of personal responsibility, Aaron loves to be around these people, to belong to this group effort,” she said.
Business Leadership
Maria and her brother Salvador at a recent R & J project site
Maria’s brother started R & J Construction some years back and the business has grown so much that Salvador asked Maria to join the company. “I was working for Salem Health but helped him part time with office and payroll administration for a couple of years.”
“But in January of this year, he promoted me to company Vice President and I’m now full time, working in all aspects of administration,” she said.
RJ Construction’s specialty is applying siding on commercial buildings. “We do waterproofing and application of all kinds of material, like metal and wood siding,” she said.
“These days, I’m travelling to job sites in other Oregon cities where we have jobs, meeting with the General Contractors and coordinating our work. I’m becoming the public face of the company,” she added, “and I’m the one the customer talks to about all aspects of the job.”
Maria and her brother Salvador volunteering with Friends of Trees in the Northgate neighborhood in Salem