We're Rio Progress, a Brownsville-based 501(c)(3) non-profit helping RGV students achieve their educational and career goals with mentorship and counseling. Our vision is a future where all RGV youth have access to high-quality services that empower and motivate them to create positive change.

Paving the Way to Bright Futures

We see the potential in our community and want to help students and adults navigate their educational and career paths. What started as a small group offering college application support has evolved into a comprehensive program providing resources, guidance, and opportunities for all ages. Our mission is to empower individuals to make informed, financially sound decisions for a brighter future.

Why We Started RioProgress (RP)

RP was founded on a simple belief: that every student in the Rio Grande Valley deserves access to a high-quality education and the opportunities that come with it. We believe education should be accessible to all — not just those who can afford it or happen to live near the best resources. And we believe in the power of mentorship and community to lift us all higher. When students and families are supported, informed, and encouraged, they don’t just succeed — they thrive. RP exists to help make that possible.

We're working on some amazing projects for students and professionals in the Valley. And we need your help to see them through. Take a look to learn more about them here:

Learn more

Paths We're Running With

Our commitment to students doesn’t end with college admission. We continue to support them as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of higher education — offering mentorship, guidance, and access to resources along the way. Whether they’re adjusting to campus life, exploring career paths, or working through personal or academic hurdles, we remain a steady source of encouragement and support. Our goal is to ensure that every student we serve not only gets to college, but thrives once they're there.

University Logos with Counts

Our Mission

Our goal is to help young people of the Rio Grande Valley figure out what they want to do after high school, apply themselves to the pursuit, and provide them the tools to ensure it is a financially smart decision and a smooth transition. In other words, we want to help young people find their path and run with it.

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots; the other, wings.” — Hodding Carter, Where Main Street Meets the River (Rinehart)

Our Vision

We envision a future where all Rio Grande Valley youth have access to high-quality educational mentorship and counseling services that enable them to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential. Our organization aims to be the leading nonprofit provider of such services, fostering a community of empowered and motivated youth who will go on to create positive change in their local communities and beyond.

"And so, lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go, struggling and striving, and hoping that the buds and blossoms...will burst into fruition from here on" — Mary Church Terrell

Meet Our People
At the heart of RioProgress is a team of educators, mentors, and advocates who believe deeply in the potential of every student in the Valley. We’ve been where our students are — navigating the challenges of college, family, finances, and the future — and we’re here to walk with them as they do the same. Our team brings together lived experience, local insight, and a shared passion for making higher education more accessible. We’re not just here to advise — we’re here to listen, uplift, and grow together with the community we serve.

Our Team