Woman2Woman Magazine Vol.2 Issue 1 | 2022

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The hot temperatures have dropped and we are finally enjoying cooler weather. That means the holiday season is upon us and there’s a sense of excitement in the air. It’s a time to count our blessings as we prepare to celebrate Christmas with our family.

On the cover of this issue are four women who agree that a good education is essential. They share their own thoughts on the importance of preparing for a better tomorrow. You will also read about Dr. Raquel Garcia who is now leading PSJA Memorial Early High School as their new principal. Our amazing contributing writers share interesting articles on starting a business, financial advice, education, women in medicine and much more.

We remain thankful to everyone who continues to support this publication by trusting us with your advertising needs. We are also thankful to our readers who continue to give us great positive feedback.

On this cherished time of the year The Woman2Woman Magazine team would like to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas. We hope you and your loved ones create wonderful memories.

Thank you for picking up this copy of Woman2Woman Magazine. We hope you enjoy it!

Estela Salazar

Editor in Chief

Philippians 4:13

CREDITS

Editor in Chief

Estela Salazar

Co-Editor

Kennedy Castillo Sales & Marketing

Marie S. Garcia

Graphic Artist Hilary Gamboa

Photographers

Kennedy Castillo Marie S. Garcia

Contributing Photographer OG Marketing

Contributing Writers

Saira Cabrera

Kennedy Castillo

Dr. Jennifer Mendoza Culbertson Cristina DeMara Riza Hernandez Marlen Lopez

Woman 2 Woman Magazine is pub lished bimonthly. Reproduction in any man ner in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Publisher.

Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Publisher or its representa tives. Woman 2 Woman Magazine reserves the right to edit all material for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions.

Woman 2 Woman Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or edi torial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibil ity should such advertising or editorial appear.

“I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”

Dr. Raquel Garcia Named New Principal at PSJA Memorial Early High School

BY ESTELA SALAZAR

Dr. Raquel Garcia is a firm believ er that the key to success and a better life is a good education. An educator for 25 years she knows all too well that her education has provided her with better opportu nities. Like many others she came from humble beginnings, but ear ly on she set high goals for herself and worked hard to achieve them. Ever since she was a little girl she envisioned herself as a teacher. However, the road to success isn’t always easy and can prove to be quite challenging.

Born in Mexico to Santiago and Maria Ana Garcia, she attended school there until the age of ten. It was then that her parents felt it would be a good opportunity for her and one of her sisters to cross the border to stay with relatives in San Juan Sunday through Friday so they could attend school and learn English. By no means was this easy for the ten and twelve year old girls. An emotional Dr. Garcia stated that Sunday after noons were “very hard” for her when it was time to say good bye to her mother for the week. Friday couldn’t come soon enough for the girls because that meant they would return back to their fam ily for the short weekend. A few years later the family relocated to San Juan. Her parent’s vision was to see their children receive the proper education that would pre pare them for a better future.

Dr. Garcia attended Pharr-San Juan-Alamo schools and furthered her education at Pan American University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Bilingual/Bicultural Education and Educational

Administration. She later earned her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her love of education and her strong passion to help stu dents succeed in life have been her motivation to do the best job possible.

Recently Dr. Garcia was select ed to serve as Principal for PharrSan Juan-Alamo Memorial Early High School in Alamo. She remem bers feeling excited and extreme ly grateful when she received the phone call from Superintendent Dr. Jorge Luis Arredondo inform ing her that she had been selected to serve as the new principal. She stated, “I assured Mr. Arredondo that I was very appreciative of the

“Dr. Raquel Garcia is a firm believer that the key to success and a better life is a good education.”

promotion and assured him that I would show my appreciation by doing a good job.”

As the school’s assistant principal for the past five years Dr. Garcia is no stranger on campus. However, her first day as principal fell noth ing short of extraordinary. She had no idea when she entered the Wolverine campus that morning of the welcome celebration that awaited her. The campus was full of energy as she was fondly greet ed with much excitement from stu dents, teachers, and administra tors. She was received with hugs and well wishes, music from the school’s mariachi band, and lots of cheers from the student body along with lots of confetti. Her heart was full of gratitude for the warm welcome reception.

She is thankful to her parents and siblings for the many sacri fices made to help her get to this point. When her parents learned of her new position, Dr. Garcia over heard her father tell her moth er, “Mujer, todos los sacrificios que hicimos valieron la pena.”

Translation “Woman, all the sac rifices we made were all worth while.” She also credits her hus band, Mario Alberto, for being so supportive of everything she does and for encouraging her to chase after her dreams and make them a reality. The couple have three chil dren Mario Alberto, Mariana, and

Marquel who are also pursuing their education.

Dr. Garcia added, “Getting an edu cation is the foundation to inde pendence and equality as it pro vides opportunities for better career options and financial sta bility. It affords us with the pre paredness to achieve goals we set for ourselves as the knowledge acquired empowers us to com pete, breakdown barriers, and cre ate multigenerational prosperi ty.” Educating students not only secures a better life for them, it also contributes to the develop ment of a better community.

For anyone interested in a career in education Dr. Garcia’s advice is to pursue it and never allow any one or anything to keep them from their goal because there is no oth er profession that allows one to feel the direct daily impact that education does. She added, “The strong sense of fulfillment one gets in this career is second to none.”

A school’s success can be deter mined by the principal’s strong leadership. Dr. Garcia takes her new role seriously and welcomes the challenge. With her vision, drive and determination she is destined to make a positive out come at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Memorial Early High School.

“Getting an education is the foundation to independence and equality as it provides opportunities for better career options and financial stability.”

Education

BY DR. JENNIFER MENDOZA CULBERTSON

nize the various types of learning that enrich our world.

Many Forms

Education begins at birth and it is a very unique experience to each and every individual. Even the very word itself can mean differ ent things to different individu als. When the word “education” is brought up in casual conversa tions, some people may associate the word with a formal education that has a path towards a creden tial after completing a series of courses. To others, the word may represent the informal education that comes with life experienc es, relationships, trials and errors. Some people take on a holistic approach and believe that educa tion is any type of learning and can happen anywhere.

Regardless of your own person al definition, the fact that humans have the ability to learn at the rate that no other living thing can is quite astounding. What is even more incredible is the capability we have to choose where to apply that learned knowledge. Everyone has a different life experience and we need to celebrate and recog

Take for example my grandfather, Gonzalo. My grandfather had no formal education and he could not read or write, but he applied his learned knowledge of phys ics and geology to local and out of state farmers as a migrant work er. He was constantly inundated with requests from farmers seek ing his help to grow successful crop products every season. He was one of the best farm irriga tion managers in the Rio Grande Valley and he loved his work. He was a very smart man, but always told me as a young girl, “The big gest disservice anyone can do to their intelligence is not doing any thing with the knowledge they have learned.” He also instilled and modeled the old adage: if you love what you do, you will nev er work a day in your life. He did

so much mentor work with others who wanted to learn when he was alive and some of his irrigation techniques are still used today. My mother’s education journey was very different than my grand father. She graduated from high school and always dreamed of a college education, but life hap pened with traditional gender roles very prominent in her life. I can recall when she graduated from college; it was the same year I graduated from high school. The sense of pride and perseverance was bursting in our small family that included my mother, broth er, sister and I that month of May in 1994. She continued her edu cation with a Master’s degree and we were even classmates at one point. My mother chose to apply her learned knowledge in the edu cation field assisting college and special education students with love and compassion.

“The biggest disservice anyone can do to their intelligence is not doing anything with the knowledge they have learned.”

and Its

My own education story is also filled with plot twists and turns. With the support and encourage ment of my mother, friends and educators, I obtained my bache lor’s degree with my three-year old son by my side. My second child came into my life the year I started my master’s degree pro gram. A week before I received my acceptance letter to a doc torate program, I found out I was expecting my third child. In addi tion to motherhood and collegiate studies, I was always employed (in some instances two or three jobs) to support my family. Regardless of life situations or circumstances, I learned how to become resource ful and found a way to study what I loved. I chose to apply that knowl edge towards work I was passion ate about in the education sector. Today, with my doctorate degree, my career has lead me to the local

government sector sharing and collaborating to serve my commu nity, while volunteering after hours in educational programs that posi tively impact Latina students.

I have shared stories of three gen erations of my family that have one theme resonating among them: education is a beautiful gift you can receive and it should be con tributed back by helping others around you. The learning we gath er through the many outlets and facets of our lives is a wonder ful collection that help shape and mold our individuality. Formal and informal education is learning that should be celebrated, recognized and valued. The way we chose to use our learned knowledge also enriches our culture, heritage and future. It is how progress contin ues to move forward towards a brighter tomorrow for generations

to come. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated “Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.”

“education is a beautiful gift you can receive and it should be contributed back by helping others around you.”

Dawn Karla Goldammer Constanza Miner

Dawn Karla Goldammer is the President/CEO of D&J Site Const. a native of the Rio Grande Valley, she attended Pan American University and Texas Tech University where she studied mer chandising.

MS. Goldammer’s company, D&J Site Construction, provides the Upper and Lower RGV full “site work” services including site clear ing, demolition, site preparation, asphalt paving, concrete paving, excavation, earthwork, build ing fill, storm drains, curbs & gutters, seal coating and all other related services uninter rupted for over 50 years. Thru her stewardship D&J increased its company revenue by over 400 percent.

MS. Goldammer is active in the local community having served as: Treasurer and Member of the Finance Committee of St. Matthews Episcopal School; Executive of the Diocese of West Texas; City of McAllen’s Convention Center Committee; Chairperson for Women in Construction (RGV Associated General Contractors); Board of Director Top Contractor’s School.

MS. Goldammer is a long time resident of McAllen and a proud mom of 3 children Dallas, Jonn, and Sara.

Constanza Miner is an accomplished professional with a demonstrated ability to deliver mission-critical results. She joined the City of Brownsville team in 2015 and has served in several capacities including Planning and Development Services Director and Retail and Redevelopment Manager before becoming the Business Development Director for both the City of Brownsville and Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC). On July 26, 2022, the GBIC Board of Directors vot ed unanimously to appoint her as the Interim Executive Director & CEO of GBIC. She has over 7 years of expe rience in the public sector in several executive capaci ties, twenty years of experience as a business executive in the private sector, and over twelve years in real estate development as a previously licensed real estate agent in the state of Texas.

Constanza Miner holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas-Pan American, and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Public Administration from Northcentral University where she was elect ed a member of the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business in recognition of her high scholas tic attainment. She is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional and an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC), and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

BY MARIE GARCIA

Evelyn Cano

Evelyn Cano is the co-founder and President of the Disability Chamber of Commerce Rio Grande Valley, It is a 501c3 and the fourth cross-disability chamber of commerce in the nation. DCC-RGV is a regional South Texas dis ability chamber that provides disability friend ly employees in the RGV with resources so that they can provide meaningful competitive, inte grative employment opportunities to individu als with different abilities.

In 2019 Mrs. Cano was featured as a TEDx McAllen presenter about the disability advo cacy movement in the RGV. She serves on the board of Disability Rights Texas and the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, a position appointed by Texas Governor Abbott.

She is married to Raul Cano and is the proud mother of Orlando and Yareli. She is the co-owner of Grande Produce LTD and Cano & Sons Trucking in San Juan. Her plans are to attend law school as she hopes to pursue a career in civil rights law to continue fighting for equity for people of all abilities.

Lizzy De La Garza Putegnat

Lizzy de la Garza Putegnat, a native of Brownsville, is currently the Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Titan Fuel, a vertically integrated company dedi cated to maritime logistics and fuel exports. Before joining the oil and gas industry, she was an Account Executive for a Fortune Global 500 company, Schneider Electric. Prior to joining the private sector she worked for the Brownsville Economic Development Council.

Recent awards include 2022 Women Empowerment Award by the Greater Chamber of Harlingen and 2022 Women of Distinction by the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2021 she was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents. In 2020 she received the award for Distinguished Service by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Cameron and Willacy Counties. Ms. Putegnat is the proud wife of Steven Putegnat and the proud mother of 3 year old daughter Isabella and another baby girl on the way.

Women in Medicine

BY UTRGV NEWS AND INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS / SAIRA CABRERA

Dr. Keila Rodriguez, assistant pro fessor and co-clerkship director for the Department of Pediatrics, knows the benefits of breastfeed ing for both mother and baby.

“Breastfeeding is important for a multitude of reasons,” she said. “For mothers, benefits include decreased risk of breast and ovar ian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. There is less blood loss after delivery. And breastfeeding helps the uter us return to its normal size.”

A board-certified pediatrician and an international board-certi fied lactation consultant, she sees mother-baby dyads who wish to establish or work on their breast feeding relationship and hopeful ly increase breastfeeding rates in the community. She also helps with babies who have difficul ty latching and transferring milk while breastfeeding.

Rodriguez is among a handful of lactation specialists in the country and the first at UT Health RGV to hold the certification.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES

In the United States, low breast feeding rates add more than $3 billion annually to medical costs for mothers and children, accord ing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Many women struggle with breastfeeding for different rea sons, and 60 percent of mothers stop breastfeeding sooner than

planned. Moreover, rates of breastfeeding in the United States vary widely due to the range of barriers moth ers face when starting and con tinuing to breastfeed, according to the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ).

These factors, as studied by the NICHQ, influence how long a baby is breastfed, and include issues with lactation and latching, con cerns about infant nutrition, and concerns about taking medica tions while breastfeeding.

Hispanic mothers are also most likely to supplement breastmilk with formula within the first two days of the infant’s life, NICHQ reports. Some of the potential causes, according to a study by PubMed, are due to poor breast feeding outcomes, including breastfeeding ambivalence, the availability of free formula from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and

UT Health RGV pediatrician, board-certified lactation consultant, talks benefits of breastfeeding

Children, WIC, a high level of com fort with the idea of formula feed ing, limited availability and low er intensity of WIC breastfeeding support for minority women, and issues surrounding trust building and perceived mistreatment by providers.

THE MANY BENEFITS

But Rodriguez said the benefits can outweigh the challenges in some cases.

There’s the economic benefit, because parents don’t have to rely just on baby formula, she said.

As for the newborns, breastmilk provides significant protection from diseases, especially infec tious diseases.

“Breastfed babies get less gastro enteritis (infection and inflamma tion of the digestive system), and fewer respiratory diseases, ear infections and urinary tract infec tions, among others ailments,” Rodriguez said.

Many of the benefits continue even after women stop breast feeding. Soon after birth, she said, breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact allows for greater cardio respiratory stability and less cry ing and stress for the baby.

“While there are not as many stud ies with evidence on chronic dis eases, it is thought that breast feeding also decreases rates of long-term health problems,” she said. “And, there is some evidence that shows breastfed babies have higher intelligence, improved visu

al function and fewer behavioral problems – though those need to be studied in more depth.”

NORMALIZING BREASTFEEDING

Rodriguez believes that, as important as breastfeeding is to both mother and baby, it is crucial not to pressure women to do so because all women are different.

Normalizing breastfeeding is a big step toward encourag ing more women to breastfeed. In addition, advocating for more access to community support, like peer counseling and supple mental nutrition programs, can help inform more women about the benefits of breastfeeding, she said.

She believes normalizing breast feeding is a community effort that starts by:

• Encouraging moms who want to breastfeed.

• Helping them troubleshoot their issues.

• Giving nursing moms pumping breaks and helping them stay hydrated.

“We need to normalize, encour age and support women who want to breastfeed, so they are able to,” Rodriguez said.

For more information on breastfeeding, lactation and mother-baby dyads, contact Rodriguez or other UT Health RGV physicians at UTHealthRGV. org or to find UTHealth locations available for appointments.

“We need to normalize, encourage and support women who want to breastfeed, so they are able to,” Rodriguez said.

Closing the Gender Gap Through Financial Literacy

BY MARLEN LOPEZ REVISED BY FERNANDA A. LOPEZ

too much time talking about the state of the economy and mon ey around our little ones. Fast track to the present, I am eternally grateful for those moments which I thought to be parenting mistakes back then.

It was September 2008; the Dow had a record-breaking drop and was in tandem with other markets across the globe. The financial world was collapsing, and I rushed out of the office to pick up my lit tle girls from school right after the market closed for the day. My old est, Fernanda, was 5 years old and Ximena, my youngest, was 3. Mentally exhausted from the cra ziness at the office, I got to the school, buckled up my girls in the backseat and asked, “what do you feel like eating today; where would you like me to pick up din ner?” I was in no mood to head home and cook dinner for the fam ily. Fernanda eagerly responded, “Mom, aren’t we in a recession? I thought you said we should not be spending money; let’s go have dinner at Grandma’s.” I felt a huge sense of guilt rush over me as I realized my husband, also a finan cial advisor, and I were spending

Financial literacy is the confi dent understanding of concepts including saving, investing and debt that leads to an overall sense of financial well-being and selftrust. A recent study from George Washington University states that women are less financially liter ate than men. Acknowledging and understanding this profound gen der gap further allows us to bet ter teach financial literacy to our younger generations of women. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, financial knowledge only tells two-thirds of the financial literacy story; the remaining third is a lack of finan cial confidence. Finance should not be some trivial concept you only come across after the age of 18. It begins at home; it begins with introducing the world of finance to our children at a young age and building their confidence to make financially literate decisions.

As women whether single, mar ried, widowed, or divorced we need a bigger financial reservoir to secure our future because of our longevity compared to men. Life also tends to throw unexpect ed challenges our way sometimes. We need to be prepared finan cially for whatever that might be whether it may be divorce, illness, or death. Here are some pieces of financial advice to survive finan cially.

Make sure you build up your emergency savings account

Pay yourself first - start saving for retirement ASAP

Fall in love with budgeting and create a realistic monthly budget

Make a plan to get out of debt and stick to it

Create multiple streams of income

Surround yourself with likeminded people, i.e., a partner with common financial goals

Don’t hesitate to ask for guidance from a professional

A big part of trading and investing is building confidence through education. I am a firm believer that our purpose in life is to serve one another. Even more so as professional women, we need to con tinue to close that gender gap and build each other up starting with our younger generations to get to the next level. It is of vital importance to continue to share our wisdom, Woman2Woman, to help each other build, preserve, and grow not only our financial but our professional and spiritual wealth.

Checklist for Starting a Business

BY CRISTINA DEMARA

Create A Defined Workspace

Get A Good Tax Person / CPA

Select A Name And Legal Structure (Llc, Partnership, S-Corp)

Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)

Company Bank Account (Connect To Quickbooks)

State Licenses And Permits (Cottage Food Labels, Cosmetology, Etc.)

Develop A Business Identity / Brand, Logo

Get The Word Out (Marketing) (Wedding List)

Sign In Sheets, Email List (Mail Chimp, Constant Contact)

Everything Deserves An Appointment

Solve A Problem

Give Value

Google Reviews

Phone Number And Or Link

Systems In Place (If It’s Not Documented, It Never Happened)

Be Intentional, Always.

Hold Yourself Accountable For Growth, Always. (Why Aren’t We Growing?)

Hold Yourself Accountable And Conduct Audits, Always. (Docs, Social Media, Consistency)

Hold Yourself Accountable When Things Go Wrong, Always. (What Was My Part? Lack Of Leadership?)

Relentlessness

Grace

Community Connection

Recognizing a Non-Profit

Village in the Valley

With the growth of the University, the medical community, and the influence of multinational companies, the Rio Grande Valley continues to grow more diverse every year. Understanding the culture of others has become a more prevalent need now more than ever. Enter Village in the Valley, affectionately known as ViVa. ViVa is a nonprofit organization founded on four core principles: community engagement, economic empowerment, social & cultural connections, and education & training.

Village in the Valley

With the growth of the University, the medical community, and the influence of multinational companies, the Rio Grande Valley continues to grow more diverse every year Understanding the culture of others has become a more prevalent need now more than ever. Enter Village in the Valley, affectionately known as ViVa. ViVa is a nonprofit organization founded on four core principles: community engagement, economic empowerment, social & cultural connections, and education & training.

ViVa’s mission is elevating and uniting the Black community while connecting cultures in the Rio Grande Valley. ViVa is a membership-based organization open to everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. You are a perfect member for ViVa if you want to learn about the different cultures in the Rio Grande Valley, promote appreciation of cultural differences and similarities, are open to trying new things, and want to build respect and empathy for your community.

ViVa’s mission is elevating and uniting the Black community while connecting cultures in the Rio Grande Valley. ViVa is a membership based organization open to everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. You are a perfect member for ViVa if you want to learn about the different cultures in the Rio Grande Valley, promote appreciation of cultural differences and similarities, are open to trying new things, and want to build respect and empathy for your community.

Each month ViVa hosts a “First Friday” to unite cultures and learn about members of our community. This event is based on relationship building, engaging with the community, as well as creating networking connections. All are welcome to attend and connect with our members to learn and share experiences. So, mark your calendar for the first Friday of each month, 6 pm, and meet us at Espana on Main Street in McAllen.

Each month ViVa hosts a “First Friday” to unite cultures and learn about members of our community. This event is based on relationship building, engaging with the community, as well as creating networking connections All are welcome to attend and connect with our members to learn and share experiences. So, mark your calendar for the first Friday of each month, 6 pm, and meet us at Espana on Main Street in McAllen.

ViVa is known for its innovative projects. One is the Illumination Project in partnership with Mission ISD Working with administrators, teachers, students, and parents this project focuses on supporting an inclusive school community. In addition, the project’s goal is to provide insight to cultural diversity and acceptance of other cultures within schools. The need for this project has become increasingly important especially given the incident that occurred in Uvalde, TX.

ViVa is known for its innovative projects. One is the Illumination Project in partnership with Mission ISD. Working with administrators, teachers, students, and parents this project focuses on supporting an inclusive school community. In addition, the project’s goal is to provide insight to cultural diversity and acceptance of other cultures within schools. The need for this project has become increasingly important especially given the incident that occurred in Uvalde, TX.

Annually, ViVa celebrates Juneteenth by hosting an event in recognition of the day all people were free in America. We gather the community together around food, beverage, and history, as we celebrate what Juneteenth means to us – Perfecting Unity. ViVa is a membership based organization open to everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. You are a perfect member for ViVa if you want to learn about the different cultures in the Rio Grande Valley, promote appreciation of cultural differences and similarities, are open to trying new things, and want to build respect and empathy for your community.

To learn more about ViVa or to join visit www villageinthevalley org

Annually, ViVa celebrates Juneteenth by hosting an event in recognition of the day all people were free in America. We gather the community together around food, beverage, and history, as we celebrate what Juneteenth means to us Perfecting Unity. ViVa is a membership based organization open to everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. You are a perfect member for ViVa if you want to learn about the different cultures in the Rio Grande Valley, promote appreciation of cultural differences and similarities, are open to trying new things, and want to build respect and empathy for your community.

To learn more about ViVa or to join visit www.villageinthevalley.org.

The Importance of EDUCATION

FEATURED IN THE FRONT COVER

Rose Benavidez

As a native of Starr County, Texas, and as president of the Starr County Industrial Foundation, I have witnessed, first hand, the challenges involved in overcoming high unem ployment and poverty levels in the area. To that end, I have worked to reduce many of these obstacles by dedicating my career to developing the local economy, improving access to education and creating job oppor tunities. The transformational change created by the power of education is undeniable and it our responsibility to ensure that it is afford ed to every one of our region’s residents. I am grateful and blessed in my role as Board Chair of South Texas College to serve as a voice for those in our community that often face a life time of disadvantage by providing them a life line to achievement.

Dr. Annabel Palomo

It is an honor and true blessing to be part of educating students throughout my career. Prior to Rio Grande Valley College, I worked in the public education sec tor as an elementary school teacher, administrator, and principal to executive director before transition ing to higher education.

The opportunity to work with individuals to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in any educational setting has proven to be my life’s passion. My parents did not have the opportunity to attend college, but my mother would frequently tell me, “La educacion nadie te la quita”.She would go on to explain how education would be something you would have for the rest of your life, yours for eternity.

Those words, along with the support of wonderful educational mentors, inspired me to pursue a doctor ate in educational leadership and use my experience to help students understand how education has prov en to be the best investment of my life. I am fortunate to have a daily platform from which I can speak to stu dents about discovering their and taking the neces sary steps to make the best investment in their lives through education.

- Elizabeth Warren

My mother picked crops as a young girl. The work was hard and back-breaking, and it was not something she ever wanted me to have to do, so she encouraged – no demanded – that I do well in school and get a college education. Her dream was that I become an attorney or a doctor. Tragically, my mother never got to see me graduate from college or law school because she died in a car accident when I was 14 years old, but her words, her advice, her dream stuck with me. Thanks to education, I realized our mutual dream of becoming an attorney, a profession that allowed me to serve others and that allowed me to support myself and help my family. Education, in large part, also gave me the confidence to do something I never thought I would do – run for public office and be a voice for hundreds of thou sands of people for 8 wonderful years in the Texas Legislature. And so how fateful is it that today my job at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley combines two things that impacted my life so very much – education and government. I truly believe that every child, every student, should have at least the same opportunities and support that I had; I want them to have many more oppor tunities and much more support. It not only transforms their lives, but it also transforms all of ours for the better.

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar

84%! That’s the percent of time kids spend out of school! I know! As a traditional classroom teacher for over 13 years I was surprised by that shocking data point too! I use to teach art, coach after school, and oversee a college and career readiness program in our tradition al school setting- never did I consider the positive (err negative) impact out of school time providers like Boys & Girls Clubs could have on a child. Kids spend about 1,440 hours in a traditional academic setting and over 7,320 hours out of school from the 8,760 hours they have in one calendar year. Now in my 6th year as CEO of Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, I have made it my mission to get traditional practitioners of education to understand the value of out of school time and how partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs (and other quality outcome based out of school time providers) can have a profound impact on the lives of our community children, especially when it comes to accessing wraparound services like food, mental healthcare, physical fitness, mentorship, work force development, academic intervention, and fun!

Lately I have been revisiting Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a reminder of the important work set out before educators and those in youth development. It’s simple: we can no longer expect our school system to go about the business of educating our children and simul taneously expecting that same system to meet every need. For many children, basic needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, and self-esteem needs will mostly be met at home and with family but there is a subset, and a growing number, of community children whose needs will need to be met by out of school time providers. If our children are going to grow up to be the best versions of themselves we must ease the burden on schools and create strong partnerships with quality out of school time providers to build up the child.

Veronica Gonzalez

“A good education is a foundation for a better future.”

35th “Ayer y Hoy” Annual State HWNT Conference Was

held in San Antonio Texas this year!

Congratulations to the following members of the HWNT RGV Chapter for being recognized at the conference!!

Justice Leticia Hinojosa Cristina Solis Wilson Marie Salazar Garcia

Trailblazer RGV Estrella De Tejas Chapter Chair of the Year

Color of the YEAR

BY KENNEDY CASTILLO

VERY PERI

Each year Pantone Color Systems designates a color of the year. The color is a trend forecast that pre dicts which color will be popular among consumers each year. At the start of 2022 Pantone declared Very Peri as the color of the year for this year. Very Peri is described by Pantone as “a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone”. To put that in laymen’s terms it is essentially a purple/blue shade.

Pantone’s color of the year has a major effect on fashion every year. This year we have seen the col or worn by celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo, Zendaya and Lady Gaga. Whether you’ve noticed it or not the color has been everywhere in 2022. A-list celebrities have worn the color, top designers have released collections incorporating the color and you’ve probably even seen the color take the form of nail polish or eyeshadow.

As the year comes to a close Pantone will soon declare a new color of the year and we’re sure to see that color dominate 2023, but there’s still time to incorporate

Very Peri into your wardrobe or accessories before 2022 is over. In case you need help deciding how to incorporate the color here are a few ideas:

Graphic Eyeliner

This trend is very bold and allows you to experiment with your eyeliner by using bold colors or geometric shapes. This is the perfect way to incorporate Very Peri into your makeup routine. Simply use an eyeliner in Very Peri and go as bold or as simple as you’d like. You can draw a normal line, add a wing to your liner or have fun experimenting with geometric shapes. No matter what you decide to do Very Peri is sure to look great in your makeup look and it’ll defi nitely make your eyes pop.

Jewelry

Statement jewelry is another trend that has taken over this year. Since Very Peri is such a popular color it won’t be hard to find earrings or a necklace in the col or. You can pair the jewelry with a black outfit so that it can pop or pair the jew elry with an outfit of the same color for a monochromatic look.

Nail Polish

Very Peri is a beautiful color for nail pol ish. The light purple/blue shade looks lovely on any skin tone and works for every season. The fun thing about nails is that they are unique to each person. Start with a Very Peri colored polish and decide what you like from there. Long nails? Short nails? Matte top coat? Glossy top coat? Gel Polish? Acrylics? Nail art? The possibilities are endless and whatever you decide is sure to look great with Very Peri.

Accessories

If you don’t want to wear Very Peri col ored makeup or clothes try incorporat ing the color into your accessories. This is a subtle way of incorporating a pop of Very Peri into your look. Try wearing a purse, sunglasses or a hat in the color for a fun pop.

Monochromatic Outfit

If you’re feeling really bold try wear ing a monochromatic outfit in Very Peri. Don’t be afraid to wear a monochro matic outfit, pick your favorite clothes and accessories in Very Peri and wear the color from head to toe.

One of my favorite things about the Rio Grande Valley is its traditions. One of the oldest and most exciting RGV traditions is the Texas Citrus Fiesta. The first Texas Citrus Fiesta was started by Paul Ord and the Young Men’s Business League in 1932. The purpose of the Texas Citrus Fiesta is to celebrate the Valley’s bountiful citrus indus try.

When asked about this year’s Texas Citrus Fiesta Lisa Rivera the direc tor of the Texas Citrus Fiesta said “As director for the past 4 years my goal is to continue our Texas Citrus Fiesta traditions bringing together families and communities as we get Bigger and Better.” The Fiesta will be celebrating 90 years in 2023, and will consist of several events including the Parade of Oranges, Fun Fair and my personal favorite the Coronation of Queen Citrianna, King Citrus, The Royal Court and The Tangerine Court.

During the first Texas Citrus Fiesta in 1932 John H. Shary was crowned the very first King Citrus and a Queen Citrianna was also crowned. Since then the court has expand ed and now includes Princess of Grapefruit Blossom, Princess of

Texas Citrus Fiesta

BY RIZA HERNANDEZ

Orange Blossom and Lady-InWaiting. Together they make up the Texas Citrus Fiesta’s Royal Court and represent the Texas Citrus Fiesta at various events throughout the year of their reign.

The Royal Court is selected each year from Duchesses who com pete for the opportunity to rep resent the Texas Citrus Fiesta the following year. This year there are almost thirty Duchesses compet ing. Each Duchess represents a different community and a prod uct or industry that is prominent in the Rio Grande Valley. This year I have the honor of representing the City of McAllen as the Duchess of Palms.

In addition to the Royal Court and Duchesses there is also the Tangerine Court. In October of each year 6 year olds from all over the Rio Grande Valley compete for a spot on the Tangerine Court. The Tangerine Court consists of

Princess Anna, Princess of Lemon Blossom, Princess of Lime Blossom, Princess of Tangerine Blossom and Princess of Red Grapefruit Blossom. Just like their older counterparts on the Royal Court, the young girls selected for the Tangerine Court have the hon or of representing the Texas Citrus Fiesta at various events during their reign. An honor I am famil iar with as I had the opportunity to represent the Texas Citrus Fiesta as the Princess of Lime Blossom in 2013.

This year’s coronation and all of the other wonderful events that make up the Texas Citrus Fiesta are sure to be exciting.

For more information about the Texas Citrus Fiesta and its upcoming events visit texascitrusfiesta.org

Ribbon Cutting for Galaxy VR RGV

BY KENNEDY CASTILLO

Virtual reality gaming has taken the world by storm lately, becoming one of the most popular forms of gaming. During the pandemic one Valley local Heather Segovia and her husband Moises decided they wanted to start a new business where people could quite literally “escape reali ty”so they created Galaxy VR. Galaxy VR is a virtual gaming arcade fully equipped with motion platform simulators and headsets that allow peo ple of all ages to do things they couldn’t do in the real world like taking a sleigh ride with Santa or killing zombies. It is the first of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley and sure to provide fun for the entire family.

On Thursday, October 27th Galaxy VR’s ribbon cutting took place. Both the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce were present for the ribbon cutting.

Hours and location:

2001 W Trenton unit 108 Edinburg, TX 78539

Tuesday-Thursday 11-10 Friday & Saturday 11-12 Sunday 10-6

Fill Your Holiday Cup with More Joy and Less Stress

BY: SYLVIA MORALES

In an ideal world, the holidays would be a time of all joy, and no stress. However, the Holidays can be one of the most stressful times of year. It is easy to get caught up and even stuck in the anxi ety and stress of trying to make a perfect Holiday celebration din ner and finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones. It is important to remember: we simply cannot pour from an empty cup.

We are living in a world of man ufactured perfection, and the pressure to deliver this perfec tion can be intense & overwhelm ing at times. Sometimes, the best gift we can give to others and to ourselves, is the gift of presence. It’s easy to get sidetracked in the kitchen & inundated with the dish es. The chaos of the mind loves to distract, and one of the great est gifts we can gift to ourselves is learning to FALL BEHIND THE NOISE. Learning to fall behind the noise does not need to be a grand ceremony where you shut the entire world out for one qui et moment. It’s learning to find the quiet moment within, in the midst of all that chaos. We get so caught up in the doing of all things, we end up disconnected from the simple

self of things. So when the chaos starts to get to the point where it overwhelms, I’d like to invite you to pause and breathe. The breath dictates every aspect of life, I encourage others to pause & care for it. When we breathe from our chest and take a shallow breath our body and brain are not getting the proper oxygen it needs so the body starts to feel anxious and get into fight or flight mode. I invite you to press your tongue to the roof of your mouth in the middle of cook ing, working, texting and even shopping to soften the muscles around your jaw. Try to imagine sending your breath into your dia phragm, give yourself a moment to feel the expansion of your lungs in the middle of all the things that need to get done. As you breathe take a moment to appreciate the beginning of the breath and the end of the breath. Try 5-10 rounds and your brain will receive the oxy gen it needs, and it will bring you back to the present moment. If the mountain of dishes makes you want to cry, take a moment to turn it into a meditation. Reminder: you don’t need a pillow and a sound proof room to meditate. I invite you to connect to the water and feel it wash over your hands, connect to

the bubbles and the motion as you wash the dishes even as you load them into the dishwasher. Take a moment to sit in gratitude for the water running over your skin and the blessing it is to have the dish es to wash and give thanks for the meals that were eaten over them. These are simple techniques to come back into pres ence and sink a little more deeply into grat itude which are great ways to fill your cup this Holiday season. Wishing you all peace and love.

Merry Christmas Merry Christmas h h