My Dad Was a DREAMer, and I'm Living That Dream Now

Mar 27, 2018 12:00:00 AM

by

My father came to the United States when he was 5 years old to work as a migrant worker in the fields. That makes him a Dreamer—in more ways than one. From what he tells me, [pullquote position="right"]he spent his time in the fields dreaming.[/pullquote] He would dream about the new life he could have in America. Finding a wife, buying a home and raising kids in the land of opportunity. So when he was able to find a good job in a local factory he knew that with hard work anything was possible. And that hard work paid off when he married, bought a home and had three kids. But he also instinctively knew that the only way his children could succeed in life was through a great education. You see, he had no connections, no famous last name or trust funds to pass on to us. A quality education would be the only inheritance my siblings and I would receive from our parents.

A good education is what they gave us

My parents put us through private schools and helped us get through college with their savings. They were able to place me in the best position they could to succeed. I was lucky that my parents' work ethic passed to me. Combined with the quality education my folks paid for, I was able to experience some successes in life. My path led me to serve as the National Hispanic Communications Director for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and then later in Washington, D.C., where I worked for Obama's administration. I remember one weekend my parents came out to visit me in D.C. and I was fortunate enough to schedule a private tour at the White House for them. After we were done, we walked out of the White House as the sun began to set. My father stopped, looked at me and said, "Mijo [son], me and your mom are so proud of you." But at that moment I remember thinking, "[pullquote]No, dad, I'm proud of you because I wouldn't be here to arrange this special moment if it wasn't for you and your hard work and understanding that a quality education would be your legacy to me.[/pullquote]" Now that I'm also a father, I deeply understand my father's pursuit of the American dream for us and I can appreciate the value of hard work and sacrifice for a better life. You see, my story is special but not limited to my family. There are parents with similar journeys who are working hard to make sure their kids have the same opportunities I had. There are also parents who have their kids in schools and they too instinctively know that this will be their best chance out of poverty and struggle. So if you ask me, did a quality education change my life? No doubt. Just ask my dad.
Photo courtesy of Vince Casillas.

Vince Casillas

Vince Casillas is a second-generation Mexican-American. He founded and became President of Casillas Strategies in 2011. Casillas Strategies is a full-service Public Relations firm which specializes in Strategic Communications & Outreach, Messaging & Branding, Latino Marketing, Government Relations/Lobbying and Parent Engagement Development in Education. Recent clients have included Exelon, Blue Northern Energy, New Schools for Chicago, Citizen Consulting Group, PACO Collective, One Chance Illinois, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, Independent Maps and the Spanish Community Center—Joliet. Prior to this Casillas was a Partner at Balsera Communications out of Miami, Florida, where he was brought in to oversee operations and business development at the agency's Washington, D.C., office. Under the leadership of Casillas the firm provided services to the Obama administration, including the Department of Interior, the Federal Communications Commission and the White House. Balsera Communications was responsible for Spanish paid media services during the 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign. In 2008 Casillas was the National Hispanic Communications Director for the Obama for America presidential campaign. In this capacity he served as a campaign spokesperson and worked with national Spanish language press outlets to coordinate interviews with the presidential and vice presidential candidates. This included providing policy briefings for the candidates. He also coordinated all Spanish-speaking surrogate interviews on behalf of the Obama campaign. Before working on the Obama for America campaign, Casillas was the lead organizer and lobbyist to the Illinois Latino Caucus for A+ Illinois, a coalition that was created to mobilize communities and lobby state legislators to change the way Illinois funds public education. Casillas got involved in politics after being inspired by the 2007 immigration marches and subsequently worked on his first political campaign as a Coordinator for the Richard M. Daley for Mayor 2007 campaign and then the Iris Martinez for State Senator Campaign as a Strategist. Casillas has also worked for organizations like Greater West Town Academy, Erie Neighborhood House, Lifelink, Illinois Latino Coalition for Prevention, Dominican University and Harold Washington College. Casillas resides in Joliet, Illinois, and has two children, Diego and Isabella, of whom he is very proud.

The Feed

Explainers

  • What's an IEP and How to Ensure Your Child's Needs Are Met?

    Ed Post Staff

    If you have a child with disabilities, you’re not alone: According to the latest data, over 7 million American schoolchildren — 14% of all students ages 3-21 — are classified as eligible for special...

  • Seeking Justice for Black and Brown Children? Focus on the Social Determinants of Health

    Laura Waters

    The fight for educational equity has never been just about schools. The real North Star for this work is providing opportunities for each child to thrive into adulthood. This means that our advocacy...

  • Why Math Identity Matters

    Lane Wright

    The story you tell yourself about your own math ability tends to become true. This isn’t some Oprah aphorism about attracting what you want from the universe. Well, I guess it kind of is, but...