A personal narrative exploring how humble beginnings as the child of migrant workers shaped a journey toward healthcare education and meaningful service, demonstrating that determination and resilience can transform circumstances into purpose.
Her Story
About Maria
Maria Salinas, MSHE, BS, is a Career Advisor with the Flint Healthcare Employment Opportunities Program at the Greater Flint Health Coalition in Flint, Michigan. In her role, she helps individuals pursue entry-level healthcare careers by connecting them with certification opportunities in fields such as certified nursing assistance, emergency medical technician, health unit coordination, phlebotomy, pharmacy technology, and medical assisting. She also serves as an outreach representative, participating in career fairs, school events, and community activities to promote healthcare career pathways and available resources. Maria brings approximately two decades of experience working in nonprofit and grant-funded programs focused on community engagement, healthcare access, education, and workforce development. Before becoming a Career Advisor, she served as a Project Event Coordinator at Michigan State University, where she organized meetings, workshops, family engagement activities, health summits, and professional learning events. Earlier in her career, she worked as an Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator with the Greater Flint Health Coalition, supporting innovative outreach strategies designed to improve healthcare enrollment and benefit utilization throughout the Greater Flint community. Maria's professional foundation is supported by her education in health education at the University of Michigan-Flint, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees. Her career reflects a strong commitment to connecting people with educational and professional opportunities while strengthening community health and workforce development. Outside of her primary career, Maria is also a small-business owner and reseller with Thrifty Chicas of Michigan, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to balance community-focused professional work with independent business pursuits.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maria
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for helping others, treating people with kindness and respect, and being willing to support those in need. I also value continuous learning and professional development, always looking for opportunities to grow and expand my knowledge.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to remember that I am stronger than I think and to keep moving forward. I’ve also learned to ask questions, stay curious, and speak up because my perspective and ideas matter.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be your authentic self, stand tall and confident, and never let obstacles stop you from pursuing your goals. Stay focused, believe in your potential, and keep reaching for the stars.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is limited grant funding, which restricts the number of people we can accept into each four-month cohort. This also creates an opportunity to maximize available resources and expand access whenever additional funding becomes available.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, honesty, and kindness. I strive to communicate openly, listen to others, and treat everyone with respect while making a positive difference every day.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Maria
From Migrant Roots to a Life of Purpose: My Journey
From Migrant Roots to Healthcare Leadership: A Journey of Resilience and Purpose
My mother, Filomena Leon, was a naturalized citizen, born in Tantoyuca, Veracruz, Mexico, and raised in San Benito, Texas, from the age of 8. My father, Ruben Salinas, Sr., was born in San Benito, Texas. Both of my parents were migrant workers and only completed the seventh and eighth grades, respectively, in order to provide for their families. Little did they know that they would eventually earn their high school diplomas later in life.
Their lives and experiences shaped the person I would eventually become. Growing up, I learned early that opportunities are not always handed to you. Sometimes, they are created through determination, perseverance, and the willingness to keep moving forward-even when the road is difficult.
My mother's and father's experiences as migrant workers
taught me the value of hard work and sacrifice. Migrant workers often leave behind the comfort of home to find work and provide for their families. Their contributions can sometimes go unnoticed, but behind every long day of work is a story of sacrifice, resilience, and hope.
Together, my parents gave me something more valuable than material possessions: They gave me a foundation, a strong work ethic, and the belief that where you begin does not have to determine where you end.
As I grew older, I began to understand that my experiences could become more than memories-they could become a source of purpose.
Earning a full-ride scholarship to attend the University of Michigan-Flint
through the Wade H. McCree Scholarship Incentive Program, I earned my bachelor's and master's degrees in Health Education. Healthcare is about much more than medical procedures and careers. It is about people. It is about compassion, communication, service, education, and helping individuals find their place in an important and meaningful field.
Today, I work as a Healthcare Career Advisor, helping people explore opportunities within healthcare, such as Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Health Unit Coordinator, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, and Sterile Processing Technician.
I have discovered that one of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping someone else see possibilities they may not have recognized in themselves.
I am still building my story. There are more goals I want to accomplish, more people I want to help, and more ideas I want to bring to life.
My journey has taught me that success isn't always a straight line. Sometimes you have to take a different path. Sometimes you have to start over. Sometimes you have to believe in yourself before anyone else does.
But every step matters.
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