Inspiring Stories: Rio Grande’s Tribute to Women’s Achievements

Women

In recognition of National Women’s Month, the City of Rio Grande held a special ceremony to celebrate women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion. The event, which took place at the Customs and Border Protection Offices, brought together women from various law enforcement agencies, including CBP, as well as community leaders who are making a difference in their communities.

Rogelio Olivares Jr., Port Director at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry, emphasized the importance of honoring women both locally and nationally. “It is very important for us to hold a celebration to honor the women, not only working in CBP but throughout the nation and our community here,” he said.

The ceremony featured two guest speakers who shared their inspiring stories of overcoming adversity. Dr. Veronica Barrera, a physical therapist and School Board Member for Rio Grande-La Grulla ISD, spoke about the challenges she faced when opening her own practice. “Another challenge I faced was after I graduated when I decided to open my own practice. When I came to Rio Grande, I had a lot of I knocked on a lot of doors. And because I wasn’t, I didn’t have anybody in any influential people around me. I didn’t know any influential people. A lot of doors. I knocked on a lot of doors. And I could see that almost all of them were not opened.”

Air Interdiction Agent Julie shared her journey to becoming a pilot for CBP in McAllen, highlighting the financial struggles she faced early in her career. “I remember eating instant noodles and lean pockets just to get through because I had my aviation loan and other bills and working those jobs. But it was worth it, you know? And now it’s like I remember my first paycheck, my first my month, the whole month. I made like $248 for the month as a pilot, you know, And now it’s like, wow, I have my own house and, you know, my everything is looking good.”

Julie and Barbara’s stories serve as a testament to the resilience and determination of women in pursuing their dreams. Both speakers hope to inspire other women to overcome challenges and pursue their passions.

The ceremony concluded with a message of empowerment and encouragement for women to continue making a difference in their communities and beyond.