Board Member Spotlight: Betzy Valdez
Dreamer
Betzy’s mission is “to inspire and empower others to serve, transform, and lead in their own lives. Creating leaders who lead with heart and passion is the goal.” This is the thread weaving throughout her volunteer service and vocation.
“Dreamer” is an accurate descriptor for Betzy–it encompasses her past, her present outlook and her future aspirations…
Her Story
A proud Mexicana from the beautiful Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, Betzy immigrated to the United States with her parents and sister as a child. Due to financial challenges, her parents made the difficult decision to come to the country undocumented hoping to provide a better future for their family. This meant that for many years, Betzy had to hide her status and in essence a part of herself to keep her family safe–a circumstance that made it hard for her to feel a sense of belonging. She didn’t feel “American enough” and yet at the same time her experience was so different from that of her parents. It was hard to know where she fit. She also kept hearing this narrative–immigrants are criminals, only here to take–that she couldn’t reconcile within herself or with what she knew of her community. Fortunately, the DACA program made it possible for Betzy and others like her to step out from behind the veil of fear and secrecy. In 2013 when she became a recipient, a Dreamer, she found new hope. She was finally able to invite others into her story. Though ongoing policy changes have made it risky to remain open about her origin and experience, Betzy believes she must because her story is so fundamental to the purpose that now drives her.
Her Vocation
Today Betzy is an ally and advocate because she wants to do more than wait for change–she wants to participate in it and to empower others to participate too. Betzy says, “I want to be part of the conversation and to have my voice heard. I want to show that I can and want to contribute. I want to change the narrative.” Betzy agrees with Michelle Obama, “It’s hard to hate up close,” so she strives to replace those negative stereotypes with her helping hands, joyful face and genuine heart.
Betzy started by volunteering at the Weld Food Bank where she and her family first received aid. She remembers what a difference those boxes made when her family was new to Greeley 25 years ago and it was so gratifying to know that she could make that kind of difference for others.
Serving at the Weld Food Bank
Currently, she serves on the Weld Food Bank board to support this vital work. Betzy is also the President of Hispanic Women of Weld County (HWWC), an organization dedicated to helping Hispanic women take charge of their lives by promoting recognition and career advancement. HWWC works to provide avenues for Hispanic women to collaborate with organizations and businesses to help provide knowledge and resources for the Hispanic community.
Hispanic Women of Weld County (HWWC)
Betzy believes it’s critical for organizations to collaborate with each other because we can accomplish so much more together than we can separately–a conviction which led Betzy to get more involved with the Greeley Creative District (GCD). In 2019 she was looking for creative new ways to connect to our community so she applied to be a speaker at the GCD’s Do Tell! live storytelling event. Through the experience, she realized that the group was eager to connect with the diverse community in Greeley and that her unique voice and perspective could help be a bridge.
Ultimately Betzy’s mission is “to inspire and empower others to serve, transform, and lead in their own lives. Creating leaders who lead with heart and passion is the goal.” This is the thread weaving throughout her volunteer service and vocation. Through her business Empowered Leader, she hosts workshops that invite participants to explore their own stories in order to uncover purpose.
Photos from one of Betzy’s Empowered Leader Workshops
Likewise she seeks speaking engagements to inspire and encourage others with her experiences. As a mama of three gorgeous daughters, how could she do anything but try to make the world a more connected, empathetic place for them to grow-up?
Betzy with her husband and daughters