International Women’s Day – Gloria Tellez Benavides
For our final article in our International Women’s Day series, we end with thoughtful words from Gloria Tellez Benavides.
I have always admired Gloria for her neverending compassion for the citizens of Bucerias and surrounding areas. Along with being a wife, mother, sister and daughter, she is also a savvy businesswomen and fierce fundraiser through her role as Director of the John Ozzello Memorial Food Bank and Humanitarian Aid.
We thank you, Gloria, for sharing your thoughts with our readers, and for your immeasurable community altruism.
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Being a female business owner/operator in Mexico can be daunting due to the machismo attitude that prevails here. I’d like to think that the tenacity I bring to my businesses, as well as the charity that I direct, encourages new generations of women to dream big and know that anything is possible…whether those possibilities are in business, politics or charities.
Women are already strong. It’s our successes that will change the way the world perceives that strength.
Taking over as director of the John Ozzello Memorial Food Bank and Humanitarian Aid since 2017 has been a humbling experience.
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Looking over the 10 values that guide the International Women’s Day, it is easy to apply them to my journey.
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Justice – Providing food, we try to afford those with less the same equal rights as others.
Dignity – Our despensas are always distributed by caring volunteers considering the recipients have the right to be valued and receive ethical treatment.
Hope – We are always hoping and expecting that our contribution will be a leg up for people, trying to ensure it will be a road to a better life.
Equality – Everyone should have equal opportunities. Nobody should have poorer life chances because of their background.
Collaboration – We could not make any of this happen without our volunteers and community support.
Tenacity – As suffragettes have tirelessly fought to make changes, we must keep fighting to make changes. It’s together that we can make a difference.
Appreciation – Our volunteers are everything. They make my job easier every day.
Respect – Respect for others and respect for self are an important part of obtaining equality.
Empathy – I am constantly reminded of the empathy of others who want to help make positive changes in our community.
Forgiveness – It is important to focus on moving forward. Forgiving while encouraging awareness.
