MCALLEN, Texas - Manny Vela, vice president and chief operating officer for Texas A&M McAllen, urged everyone who attended last week’s Futuro RGV forum to visit a Colonia.
Vela said many colonia residents are living in “extreme poverty,” without clean running water, electricity or plumbing.
The forum, titled Building a Thriving RGV, focused on the work of the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, which is trying to reduce the rate of poverty in the Rio Grande Valley. The Task Force was set up by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez.
Vela, who oversees Texas A&M’s Colonias Program, was a panelist at the Futuro event. He said he has been told at the forum that Hidalgo County has around 900 colonias.
Here are Vela’s remarks in full on the subject of colonias
“Another program that's highly important to me is the Colonias Program instituted by Texas A&M in 1991. And it's actually the second part of my job description, overseeing that program. Cynthia Escamilla, is regional program director. Cynthia, do you mind raising your hand. (Applause).
This program helps enhance the quality of life in colonias along the border. And it is the reason we are collaborating with the military on what is called Innovative Readiness Training that kicks off July 18 in Nueces County. We’re also implementing these same type of initiatives up and down the border.
I will tell you all this. I just mentioned this to somebody previously this morning as well. I'm incredibly motivated to be involved with this particular program. But I'm also incredibly demoralized when I go tour the colonias up and down the border and across the state of Texas.
I was told earlier this morning we have 900 colonias alone here in Hidalgo County and I know, Judge (Richard Cortez), you and your team are addressing those issues here.
It's our goal as the Colonia Program with A&M in conjunction with Healthy South Texas to work with Hidalgo County, to work with all the counties up and down the river and across the state to try to address the disparities that currently exist.
If you've not visited a colonia in your lifetime or within the last several years I would urge you to please do so because the reality is our fellow Texans in 2023 are living in extreme poverty. Many don't have clean running water, electricity, plumbing. The things we take for granted when we get home after work and open our fridge to get a cold drink or whatever are things that are an incredible luxury for these folks.
So please do me a personal favor on my part, dial in on this one with us. It's worth the effort to take some time and go visit our colonias firsthand. These are our fellow residents, our fellow Texans, our fellow human beings who deserve the same opportunities and dignity as everybody else.” (Applause.)
Editor’s Note: The main image accompanying the above news story shows Manny Vela, vice president and chief operating officer for Texas A&M McAllen, speaking at the recent Futuro RGV forum. (Photo copyright: Madison Girault/RGG)
Editor’s Note: Click here to read a related colonia story. It’s title is: Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force might want to hear from Anna Flores.
Editor’s Note: The above news story story is the second in a series of articles on Futuro RGV’s “Building a Thriving RGV” Forum. Click here to watch Part One.
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