Tag Archives: VIDA

Living a Better VIDA

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Anna Martinez is a patient care technician at Weslaco Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. She will soon graduate from South Texas College in July with an associate’s degree in nursing, thanks in part to financial aid and support services from VIDA. (photo Ruben Garcia)

Anna Martinez may not have imagined what coming home would mean for her and her 8-year-old daughter.   Born and raised in Weslaco, Martinez and her family moved to Houston when she was in fourth grade. The years that followed were difficult. When Martinez became a teen parent, depression and anger sent her on a downward spiral.  Then Martinez’s parents separated, adding to her pain. Three years ago, Martinez decided to…

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Uniting the Valley for a Better VIDA

News Non-Profit Comments
Oct. 1 at the South Texas College Library Rainbow Room in McAllen, VIDA career counselor Leslly Blancas discusses with VIDA students the importance of managing stress. .

In Spanish, the word vida means “life.” In the Rio Grande Valley, VIDA means a much better life for individuals and families and a stronger economy for communities across Deep South Texas. The Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1995 by Valley Interfaith and a group of local business leaders. They realized providing people with education, training and support to obtain higher-paying jobs would…

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