Mario Alvarado's Story
Mario Alvarado is a proud lifelong resident of Santa Ana Ward 5. A devoted father of three children, city commissioner, and owner of a small business in Santa Ana, Mario has been deeply invested in the future of our community.
“Let’s work together to build a stronger, more vibrant city for generations to come.”
-Mario Alvarado
Deep Santa Ana Roots
A son of immigrant parents, Mario was taught that our community is strong and resilient. He is a product of public schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District, attending Lowell Elementary and McFadden Intermediate. Mario was a Saint at Santa Ana High School before graduating with honors with the inaugural class of Middle College High School at Santa Ana College in 2000. He went on to earn an associate’s degree from Santa Ana College and a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Fullerton.
Mario grew up attending the after-school program at El Salvador Center from the age of 4. Since that young age he learned teamwork and sportsmanship through his participation in Santa Ana’s various sports leagues, including AYSO, Pop Warner, NJB and the city’s own youth sports programs. As soon as Mario turned 13, he joined El Salvador Center’s teen club, serving as President in the 90’s and actively helping organize city wide tournaments including yearly soap box derbies, billiards & foosball tournaments, talent shows, and teen dances. Since the age of 16, Mario has routinely volunteer-coached for the same organizations he was a part of as a child, giving back to the community who helped shape him.
Since 2012, Mario has served on multiple City and County commissions, being appointed by several elected officials. He currently serves as the Chairperson to the city’s Environmental & Transportation Advisory Commission (ETAC) and is a member of Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) Citizens Advisory Committee. In the mid 2010’s shortly after Mario was appointed to the city’s Arts & Culture Commission, he led efforts to create cultural equity, access, and inclusion through the arts. Mario was an important patron in the creation of the city’s first Arts & Culture Master Plan established for 10 years and still in use. During the Covid-19 pandemic and using his relationships in the finance sector, he successfully secured hundreds of volunteer hours and sourced thousands of dollars in food donations to assist displaced union workers. Today, in collaboration with the mayor’s office, Mario co-hosts Home-Ownership Seminars at El Salvador Park, where residents and first-time home buyers receive essential guidance in obtaining down payment assistance funds from the city.
Mario's Career
Mario’s journey serving the City of Santa Ana began as an after-school program leader at Lincoln Elementary in Ward 5, working in the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Division. In order to facilitate the creation of a new park in the Casa Bonita neighborhood, he used his role to lead the first community efforts for the clean-up of an open space at end of a cul-de-sac on West Myrtle Street. The space is now known as Friendship Park. Fueled by a passion for technology, he later transitioned to teaching computer classes for both young children and seniors at the Corbin Family Resource Center adjacent the Southwest Senior Center.
As his dedication to the community deepened, Mario’s became a case manager, where he diligently assisted the city’s most vulnerable residents. Collaborating closely with resource organizations such as the county’s Health Care Agency, FaCT, Olive Crest, Children’s Bureau of Southern California, and Community Services Programs, Inc (Waymakers), Mario facilitated essential services including financial assistance, counseling for child abuse and domestic violence, and transportation support. Mario’s impact extended further when he spearheaded Santa Ana’s inaugural Blue-Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Month event, a resource fair uniting numerous non-profits and private companies to aid over 4000 residents in need.
