About VIDA
Since 1995, VIDA has been dedicated to equipping residents with the skills and support needed to secure high-demand, high-wage careers—transforming lives and strengthening our community.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is very simple: A well-trained, well-educated population will not only be ready for tomorrow’s jobs. Rather, they will be able to live a more prosperous, healthy, and happy life. The ultimate goal is job retention–not job placement–which will develop strong citizens who are self-sufficient taxpayers providing a clear return on investment of federal, state, local, and private funding. Our graduates have not only helped the families they support and the businesses that now employ them. Their ability to successfully move from the ranks of the low-income has helped us all. Their increased earnings have also enhanced their contributions to our tax system and reduced their dependence on public welfare. VIDA demonstrates a model for success by graduating participants into high-demand occupations that normally remained unfilled or were filled, at a very high cost, by people from outside our community.
Our Mission
Empowering Rio Grande Valley residents to achieve economic prosperity through market-driven training, resources, and career pathways.
Our Complete Approach Model
VIDA’s complete program model of providing the necessary support services, career guidance, intensive case management, and financial assistance, represents the key factor in over 90% average persistence rate success. Monthly case management sessions help students address and overcome emotional challenges, financial struggles, family and life stressors, which empowers participants to remain focused in completing their educational program and graduate on time. In addition, VIDA counselors infuse group sessions with soft-skills training such as general employability, resume preparation and interviewing, financial management, and study skills; these wrap-around services equip VIDA participants with the knowledge, skills, and commitment necessary to enter and succeed in the workforce long-term.
Career Counseling
Ongoing personalized guidance and monthly case management sessions that connect students with high-demand occupations, sustainable career pathways, and the support needed to stay on track and reach their goals.
Financial Assistance
Support for tuition, textbooks, tools, uniforms, childcare, transportation, and other emergency needs to reduce financial barriers and keep students focused on their education and career goals.
Support Services
Comprehensive support addressing emotional challenges, financial struggles, and life stressors to ensure student success.
Soft Skills Training
Essential skills including employability, resume preparation, interviewing, financial management, and study skills.
Our History
Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) is a community-based, nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency. Created in 1995, VIDA is 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 our region with the tools, education, and training needed to become self-sufficient while fueling the growth of existing employers and increasing recruitment of new investment to the area by developing a highly skilled workforce.
VIDA was modeled after Project Quest in San Antonio. In 1992, Texans pioneered a unique workforce development model in San Antonio known as Project Quest, which has since been replicated across the state in four other Texas regions: Greater Austin/Central Texas (Capital Idea), El Paso (Project Arriba), Houston (Capital Idea), and here in the Rio Grande Valley (VIDA).
Since its inception, VIDA’s mission has remained constant—formulating new institutional relationships in the Rio Grande Valley that address employers’ needs for skilled workers while linking the area’s unemployed and underemployed with high-skilled, high-wage jobs identified in the region. VIDA works closely with the business sector, training providers, and community-based organizations to develop a skilled workforce that will meet the demands of employers in the Rio Grande Valley.
1995
VIDA Founded
Community
Valley Interfaith partnership
Business
Industry collaboration
Success
90% persistence rate