VIDA

VIDA's mission is to formulate new institutional relationships in the Rio Grande Valley that simultaneously address employers' needs for skilled workers and link the area's unemployed and underemployed with high skilled, high wage jobs identified in the region.

Created in 1995, VIDA was the result of a local effort led by community leaders of Valley Interfaith and private industry business leaders. The impetus was the need to empower the underserved residents of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) with the tools, education and training, to become self-sufficient and to fuel the growth of the existing employers and attract investment to the RGV by developing a highly-skilled workforce.

VIDA is a 501(c)(3) community organization that assists economically disadvantaged adults in the RGV with education and job training opportunities through support services. VIDA trains in careers that are in high demand, pay a sustainable wage, and have an established career path. VIDA assists with one year certificates, two-year associate degrees and the last two years of some restricted Bachelor degrees. 

Through its award winning case management model, participants receive the following services:  intensive case management; tuition, book and other course-related material costs for education and job training programs such as; transportation and childcare costs; short-term, temporary emergency living expenses, referrals and career counseling. After completion of their education and job training, participants become self-sufficient with 21st century skills ready for careers in demand fields.