Saul Flores

Saul Flores walked 5,328 miles through ten countries to document how grueling and dangerous the journey of immigrants to the United States can be and to raise money for an elementary school in Atencingo, Mexico. The story of his journey, accompanied by a series of photographs, capture the essence of the people, communities, and cultures he encountered along the way.

Topics

▪Diversity ▪First Generation College Students
▪Latina/o Issues ▪Leadership ▪Personal Growth
▪Philanthropy ▪Service Learning ▪Social Justice

Keynotes

▪Think Big
▪The Walk of the Immigrants
▪Grit is Greatness
▪From Where I Stand

Think Big

In this program, Saul shares his story of helping others in need to emphasize the value of servant leadership, and how to give back to different communities through service-learning initiatives and humanitarian projects.

On a service-learning spring break trip to his mother’s hometown, Saul discovered a withering cinderblock elementary school, flowered by beautiful fields of sugarcane. Struck by the charm and contrastingly severe poverty of the six-classroom building, Saul decided to act.

He found the students living in aluminum shanties and sleeping on the floor, lacking motivation for school. Determined to help make a difference in the lives of the children, and armed with the knowledge that education provides youth a solid foundation, Saul made it his mission to raise funds to reconstruct their school.

After an arduous three-year labor of love, and with the help of a community of scholars wanting to make a difference, the 134 elementary students graduated in a newly reconstructed school.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will learn:

• how finding purpose beyond just themselves allows them to accomplish much more,
• how serving others is leadership,
• the value of service-learning trips and giving back to communities, and
• how to use their skills and talents in service of others.

From Where I Stand:

From helping his mother scrub penthouse suites in Manhattan to learning broken English with his sister, Saul’s humble beginnings started in Brooklyn, New York. Now, he wants to share his story to inspire college students to persevere no matter the circumstance.

Growing up with little-to-no resources, Flores persisted through the economic barriers that prevented him and his family from attaining the American Dream. As a high school senior, Flores spent his afternoons applying to universities and scholarships, knowing that it was going to take more than grades for him to attend college.

As the first person in his family to graduate high school, Flores received more than 20 scholarships from organizations like McDonald’s, Mercedes Benz, Walmart, BI-LO, The Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and was offered a seat in the Caldwell Fellows Program at NC State.

Whether you’re a first-generation college student or a freshman in a new leadership role, Saul will inspire students to overcome their personal barriers to live up to their fullest potential.

Learning Outcomes
As a result of attending the program, students will learn:

• That perseverance can help students overcome any obstacle
• How to empathize with individuals from underserved communities
• That adversity can fuel personal growth
• How first-generation students can change the world

The Walk of the Immigrants

Saul spent three months walking, hitchhiking, and sleeping on the ground and in hiding places. His journey began in Ecuador and ended in Charlotte, North Carolina. In three months, he walked 5,328 miles through ten countries and nine border crossings to document how grueling and dangerous the journey of immigrants to the United States can be and to raise money for an elementary school in Atencingo, Mexico.

In this keynote, Saul speaks about how as a North Carolina State University senior, he took the “Walk” in the summer of 2010. Student audiences get the opportunity to relive The Walk of the Immigrants along with Saul and create a deeper understanding of the struggles, hardships, joy, and hope that immigrants experience on their journey.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will learn:

• how to connect their passion with purpose,
• the value of learning about different cultures and communities, and
• how immigrant communities try to overcome adversity in the United States.

Grit is Greatness

From getting accepted to college to landing your dream job, grit is what makes us truly great. Regardless of our background, status, or intelligence, grit is the great equalizer. In this program, Saul explains how students can harness the power of grit to work toward purpose-driven goals. Using storytelling, discussion, and practical exercises, students will feel empowered to develop gritty habits and use grit as a tool for navigating the college journey.

As a first-generation college student born into a family of sugarcane workers, Saul learned the power of grit at an early age. Upon arriving in America, his mother would juggle multiple jobs, and his grandmother would trade aluminum cans for coins to provide for Saul and his family. From experiencing personal hardship to navigating how to get into college, grit became key in Saul’s journey to achieving his goals.

This program is great for leadership conferences, first-year experience programming, orientations, or anyone who is ready to get gritty.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will:

• Be able to identify and understand the key aspects of grit,
• Walk away with an understanding of their own journey of grit,
• Learn how to develop gritty habits in their personal, academic, and professional lives, and
• Explore how developing a culture of grit in their respective communities can help with long-term success.