La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) has provided unwavering support to our members and their communities since it was established in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas back in 2003. By then, our region was already recognized as a colonia hot spot, so the need to improve the standard of living for local colonia members was quickly embraced by the organization. Since then, our team of organizers has assisted a plethora of local communities by equipping them with the tools they need to organize and secure their basic needs and rights from their elected officials.
Last month, Doña Thelma, a member of colonia Southern Breeze, invited her neighbors over for a well-deserved celebration. Public light posts were finally installed after years of living without public lighting. Residents of Southern Breeze could finally reap the benefits of their labor and enjoy the dinner that Doña Thelma prepared for everyone. Representatives of both LUPE and Hidalgo County’s Precinct 4 joined and dined while LUPE’s Executive Director, Tania A. Camacho Chavez, and the Commissioner of Precinct 4, Ellie Torres, spoke to the attendees and congratulated them for accomplishing their goal. This victory wouldn’t have been possible without the collective effort and unyielding determination of this community.
Across county lines, colonia Villa Pancho celebrated its own public lighting victory in early November. This community, located outside the City limits of Brownsville, endured over 30 years without public lighting. Once the colonia residents decided to organize, they reached out to LUPE for assistance. Leaders of Villa Pancho made time to attend their respective commissioner’s court and gather the signatures they needed. Their persistence and perseverance would ultimately improve the living situation of over 150 people that reside in colonia Villa Pancho. 19 street lights later, residents of Villa Pancho are now able to enjoy safer streets and a well-lit neighborhood.
A few cities west of Southern Breeze, the Pueblo de Palmas colonia would overcome a challenge of their own. After months of struggling with insufficient water pressure and constant lapses of service that would last for days on end, the residents of Pueblo de Palmas were able to enjoy uninterrupted water access in their colonia. They fought tirelessly by organizing, signing petitions, and visiting the AGUA SUDs Water Company to demand a solution from the board of directors. Their relentless efforts allowed them to secure a water pump and restore a basic human right for their community of 1,800 residents.
At LUPE, we recognize the importance of empowering under-served communities to fight for what they deserve. From basic needs like public lighting and access to water, to paved roads, proper drainage, traffic control devices, speed bumps, sidewalks, and parks, these fights are reminders that there is still so much work to be done for our gente. The victories we highlighted have made a world of difference in the lives of the people living in Colonias Villa Pancho, Pueblo de Palmas, and Southern Breeze, and they are prime examples of what can happen when we remind each other that the power of change is in the hands of our Pueblo. Fill out our LUPE Survey to share your priorities and learn how to get involved in the fight for change.
