Happy Mexican Mother’s Day! Feliz Dia de las Madres!
Today, in Mexico, it’s Mother’s Day! This will probably not come as a surprise to many of you but I am very, very proud of my mother and all of her accomplishments. Sometimes I feel like people get annoyed or even uncomfortable with how much I brag about her. But, it not my fault. My mom and both my parents, for that matter, are the epitome of the American Dream.
My mother was born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 13. She was able to overcome adversity and graduate college despite English being her second language. She went on to become the first woman and first Latina President/CEO of Border Federal Credit Union in Del Rio, TX. This past February, she was awarded the 2017 National Credit Union Foundation Wegner Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement. This is one of the most prestigious awards to receive for professionals in the credit union industry.
My mother came to this country at the age of 13 on a 6-month visitor visa. Like many other immigrants at the time, she and her siblings extended their visit and stayed in this country. As an undocumented immigrant, my mother enrolled in school and continued her studies through college.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), Pub.L. 99–603, 100 Stat. 3445, enacted November 6, 1986, also known as the Simpson-Mazzoli Act, signed into law by Ronald Reagan on November 6, 1986, is an Act of Congress which reformed United States immigration law. This act legalized illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided there continuously with the penalty of a fine, back taxes due, and admission of guilt; candidates were required to prove that they were not guilty of crimes, that they were in the country before January 1, 1982, and that they possessed minimal knowledge about U.S. history, government, and the English language.
My mother was granted citizen status under this act. That day was one of the happiest days of her life. She went on to become the President/CEO of Border Federal Credit Union (BFCU), headquartered in Del Rio, TX, serving 13 Texas counties with over $130 million in assets, 24,500 members, and 114 employees. Under my mom’s leadership, BFCU obtained the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) designation; expanded its field of membership from 3 to 13 Texas counties and implemented various programs that serve the underserved, the unbanked and the youth in her community.
In her more than two decades at BFCU my mother has led several initiatives to provide financial services to low-income, predominately Hispanic communities. In 2003, she used a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a free home/financial counseling program to help individuals buy houses, develop a budget, improve their credit and become banked.
Throughout her career, my mother has strategically leveraged her credit union’s resources to make a positive impact on youth in the Del Rio area. In 2000, she launched the first BFCU Youth Fair for children to open savings accounts and participate in financial education activities, getting both them and their parents engaged with financial literacy. Free and open to the public, the Youth Fair is still held to this day.
With the help of her amazing staff, my mother launched a Youth Financial Summer Camp in 2005, aimed at children ages 14-18. The four-day session provides teenagers with a crash course in key financial topics, including the difference between credit unions and banks, buying a vehicle, credit scores, business etiquette and credit vs. debit cards.
And it’s crazy because she has done SO SO SO MUCH MORE. The list literally goes on and on.
Mom, words cannot describe everything I want to say to you. We talk every day and it still doesn’t feel like we talk enough. You are amazing beyond measure. You motivate me to do my best in everything I do. You inspire me to go after my dreams. You make me laugh. You make me cry. You teach me how to be a better person every day. You are my role model and I look up to you. Feliz día de las madres momma!! Gracias por todo lo que haces por nosotros! Te mereces mucho más que nomás un día al año! Love you crazy!!!
Mother’s Day means so much to me because it’s a way to remember the many ways my mom has helped me and shaped me. Also, my mom serves as a reminder of the amazing contributions immigrants have made to this country.
Check out the video my baby sister made for my mom this Mother’s Day. It really shows the positive, amazing, and beautiful [and a little bit cray cray haha] person she is. This and many other reasons why we love her!
Mami te quiero mucho!! Y espero que este Dia De Las Madres sea un dia maravilloso para ti! Love you momma!
What is your favorite thing about your mom?
What is your favorite memory of you and your mom?
What and how do you celebrate Mother’s Day?
