“I Have a Dream” is, of course, the iconic 1963 speech of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. For San Juan resident Carlos Pena, this phrase also expressed why he enrolled at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Pena, whose major is mechanical engineering, has a dream of working at Tesla as part of its design team. Tesla knows how to capture potential employees’ attention, even on its website: “Using a first-principles approach, we solve some of the world’s biggest problems. If you’ve done exceptional work, join us in tackling the next generation of engineering, manufacturing, and operational challenges.” Pena plans to be one of Tesla’s tacklers.
However, unemployed and receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits, Pena soon learned that a lack of financial resources, professional guidance and emotional support can waylay a dream that once seemed so clear. Then, one day while at UTRGV, he heard about the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement.
Valley Interfaith and business leaders in the Rio Grande Valley established VIDA in 1995, recognizing the need to empower underserved, unemployed and underemployed residents through education and training, in addition to support from case managers who also serve as career counselors. VIDA founders also knew that by building a skilled workforce, the nonprofit organization would play a key role in recruiting new business to the RGV while fueling the economy of our region with residents no longer dependent on government support for their daily needs.
Nearly 30 years later, VIDA continues to work closely with its workforce, training and community partners to provide financial support, as well as individual and group counseling, to individuals like Pena.
When Pena learned about VIDA, he saw his dream becoming clear again. He applied to the program and gained acceptance.
“It is a great opportunity,” Pena said. “VIDA is helping me with school and with gas expenses.”
VIDA also provides financial assistance to participants for books and the tools required for a number of training programs. Counseling sessions focus on topics such as stress, time management, mental health and budgeting. Outside of class time, participants can often be seen across the RGV performing community service as their way of thanking the municipalities, businesses, foundations and individuals who make all of this possible.
Because of VIDA, Pena explains, he plans to graduate in the spring of 2024 as a professional, a mechanical engineer. “I have a chance to pursue my dream career.”