Power

Poderosa Profile: Lucy Felix Of the Rio Grande Valley

I believe in dignifying and lifting all women to be an example for others. The time I’ve spent with the women at Valley have filled my life with satisfaction.

Written by Lucy Félix and cross-posted in partnership with the National Latina Institute of Reproductive Health as part of the 2012 Latina Week of Action.

This profile of Lucy Felix is one of several of powerful Latina women advocates throughout the United States.

I am powerful because I have the ability, heart and passion to empower women in the Rio Grande Valley community.

I think every woman is important and has enormous value and has the ability to change the circumstances of their lives despite the limitations and barriers that each one may have.

I believe in dignifying and lifting all women to be an example for others.

The time I’ve spent with the women at Valley have filled my life with satisfaction. For me, it was a privilege to watch them grow to their fullest potential. Before, they were people who did not leave their four walls, very frightened, some raped, others felt worthless and rejected, unable to do anything for themselves, their family and their community.

As an activist myself, I am very proud to be part of these “Warrior Women”. Their enthusiasm is contagious to anyone. Their courage is inexplicable because I can see they’re not afraid of anything anymore, they’ve learnt how to use their voices in different ways especially in the movements that have taken place.

In other words, the Valley women are no longer the same, they’re now fully trained and have understood what is Social Justice and how great it is to defend and advocate for their rights in regards to Reproductive Health.

Although they say they have learned so much from me, that’s nothing compared to what they have taught me. As I said earlier, I am part of them and I feel very lucky.

Thank you very much,
Lucy Félix
Activist of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

“A woman is a person who possesses a unique dignity which must always be respected”


Soy poderosa porque tengo la capacidad, el corazón y la pasión para empoderar a las mujeres de nuestras comunidades del Valle del Rio Grande.

Creo que toda mujer es importante y que posee un valor enorme y tiene la habilidad de cambiar las circunstancias de sus vidas a pesar de las limitaciones y barreras que puedan tener cada una de ellas.

Creo en dignificar y levantar a toda mujer para que sean ejemplo para otras.

Durante el tiempo de compañerismo que he tenido con las mujeres del Valle he obtenido muchas satisfacciones. Para mí ha sido un privilegio verlas crecer y desarrollar su potencial. Siendo antes personas que no salían de sus cuatro paredes, muy temerosas, algunas violentadas, otras sintiéndose sin valor y rechazadas, incapaces de poder hacer algo por ellas mismas, por su familia y por su comunidad.

Quiero decir como toda una mujer activista me siento muy orgullosa de ser parte de estas “Mujeres Guerreras”. Su gran entusiasmo contagia a cualquiera. Su valentía es inexplicable porque veo que no le tienen miedo a nada pues han aprendido a utilizar su voz de diferentes maneras especialmente en los movimientos activistas que hemos llevado a cabo.

En otras palabras las mujeres del Valle ya no son las mismas, ahora son capacitadas y han entendido completamente lo que es la Justicia Social y lo maravilloso que es defender y abogar por sus derechos en la cuestión de la Salud Reproductiva.

Aunque ellas digan que han aprendido tanto de mí, no se compara con todo lo que ellas me han enseñado. Como lo he dicho anteriormente soy parte de ellas y me siento muy afortunada.

Muchas gracias,

Lucy Félix

Activista del Valle del Rio Grande de Texas

“La mujer, por ser persona posee una dignidad única que ha de ser respetada siempre”