Described by her friends as “Brownsville’s cheerleader” Wendy De Leon is sure the city will continue to grow during the upcoming years.
Surrounded by paintings given to her by friends, a poster of John Mayer and several sticky notes on her desk, De Leon said in her office that her job as the development and communication director at United Way of Southern Cameron County makes her feel that her cup is full.
“I’ve been working here for seven years and I like to say that I started when I was a baby,” she said.
“When I started here I really didn’t know what we did here exactly, or how impactful this work is. But, by being here this long, I’ve fallen in love with the mission and it’s something I believe in. When you experience this work, you realize the impact that it has on so many people. Even on my worse days, I can say that I go home and my cup is full.”
United Way has been a pillar in helping those impacted the most by COVID-19 this year and has created programs that include mass food distributions every week and giving jobs to those who need them. More than 60,000 food bags have been distributed since the first mass event back in April and thousands more are set to be given away in the upcoming weeks.
“This year has been the most impactful,” De Leon said. “With everything going on and the pandemic, I didn’t realize the role that our job is, really, in the community. It is such a huge role, it is eye opening, even though I have been here for seven years. Something like this happens and you know that you are the one that needs to step up, so this year was definitely the most impactful.”
De Leon said she considers Traci Wickett, the president and chief executive officer, as her mentor. She said it has been amazing to learn from her throughout these years.
“It’s been inspiring. It really is goals. I see her and I think ‘that is what I want and what I need’,” she said.
“Watching Traci and just the way she talks, and the way she leads. She has been my mentor throughout all of this. … I always say that I feel like I needed to be here, because this organization is mostly women and it’s powerful women. Everybody here has their own character and teaches you something. I came here super young and this is where I needed to learn. This place has definitely molded me into the person I’ve become.”
When asked about her hopes for the future in Brownsville, De Leon said she is certain the city will continue to grow and there will be more opportunities for everyone. She said it’s beautiful to see the newer generation take over and turn Brownsville into a more progressive city.
“It’s like every year it’s a new city. I know that’s very dramatic, but I do feel like every year we are just peaking to better things. Leadership is definitely changing, it is now our turn,” she said.
“Our generation, we are getting there. I see a more progressive Brownsville, a more accepting Brownsville and that’s what it’s becoming and it’s beautiful to see.”
