Name/Nombre: Celia Claudio

Age/Edad: 81

City/Ciudad: San Benito,TX

Mrs. Claudio is very happy with the Migrant Health Promotion agency for having this special program that helps elderly people in the community. The health education classes have increased her knowledge in health.  She shares information with friends, family and especially her grandchildren, so they can prevent diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. The information on fall prevention has helped her a lot because she always remembers the important information for preventing falls.  Every morning she walks for a half an hour and feels that it helps her have more energy, flexibility and balance.

“Thanks for having the Salud y Sabiduría program and thanks to the Promotor(a) Letty Gomez who always spreads her good sense of humor!” – Celia Claudio

Sra. Claudio está muy contenta con la agencia de Migrant Health Promotion por tener este programa especial que ayuda a las personas mayores en la comunidad. Por medio de las pláticas, ella ha aumentado su conocimiento de salud. Ella comparte información con amigos, familia y especialmente con sus nietos, para que puedan prevenir enfermedades como la diabetes y la hipertensión arterial. La información sobre la prevención de caídas ha ayudado mucho porque siempre se acuerda de la información importante para la prevención de caídas. Cada mañana ella camina por media hora y siente que le ayuda a tener más energía, flexibilidad y equilibrio.

"Gracias por tener esta programa de Salud y Sabiduría y gracias a la promotora de salud Letty Gómez, que siempre nos contagia con su buen humor!” –Celia Claudio

Q: What do Carino's Italian, poetry, and MHP have in common?

A: The "Pasta, Poetry, & Vino" fundraiser that Carino's and the Rio Grande Valley poetry community held for MHP on October 21st!

Photo by: Ileana Garcia-Spitz

Edward Vidaurre is the General Manager of Carino's in McAllen (Nolana location) and also an active participant in  the Valley's burgeoning poetry scene. Last April, he combined his passions to hold the first ever "Pasta, Poetry, & Vino" poetry reading/fundraiser. On the breezy back porch of Carino's, poets read their work while friends, family, and interested community members enjoyed a nice meal out and forged new relationships at the intersections of their interests and work. Carino's donated 15% of the evening's proceeds to a local nonprofit organization. The event was such a success that Vidaurre has continued to hold the Pasta, Poetry, & Vino fundraiser every month. He has recently expanded the event to feature local artists and musicians in addition to the poets.

MHP was honored to be the beneficiary of October's Poetry, Pasta, & Vino fundraiser. The evening was marked by a special synergy. As one poet commented, "The dynamics of this event really made me feel like we are on to something. The [Rio Grande Valley] has got it going on, on so many levels." An attendee noted, "It was a wonderful night. We are so lucky to be made privy to the heart of the Valley. So many people miss the beauty and talent that thrives here...I thank all of you for sharing your gifts, your spirits, and your beautiful personalities so selflessly."

MHP couldn't agree more. We extend our deepest gratitude to Vidaurre, Carino's, the poets/artists/musicians who shared their incredible talents, and the 70+ community members who supported MHP by attending.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS): Community Health Worker Training & Certification Program has approved the Pasaporte de Promotor(a) de Salud training curriculum, which is a series of skill-building and health education modules that are used to help prepare and develop health outreach skills of Promotores(as).

Click here to read the full press release.

The new De Hombre a Hombre program begins as an effort to decrease domestic violence in Hidalgo County, Texas. This Engaging Men Program is created with the "Hombres Unidos Contra La Violencia Familiar " curriculum, which includes topics such as "Understanding Gender Roles" and "Skill Building to Prevent & Respond to Violence" among others. MHP is proud to be one of the first agencies to implement a program like this in South Texas.

"As the Program Coordinator for the De Hombre a Hombre program I take great pride in the work the Promotores and I collectively put together in the past few weeks. I strongly believe that this wonderful program will forever change the lives of the participants and their immediate friends, families, and communities - as it has already changed mine," says Robert De Leon.

If you have any questions about this program or are interested in setting up a free workshop in your Hidalgo County community, please contact Robert at 800-461-8394, extension 1022 or rdeleon@migranthealth.org

Pictured above: MHP Promotores Juan Luis Fernandez and Juan Antonio Martinez, and Program Coordinator Robert De Leon