On June 17, 2025, leaders from Elsa, Edcouch, and La Villa came together not just to meet, but to move forward. The Delta Summit, hosted at the EEISD Technology Center, brought mayors, city managers, department heads, and staff together for something we don’t often see in small communities: real, intentional collaboration across city lines.
The day was built around one simple truth. Our people don’t live by borders. They work, shop, play, and raise their families across this region. And if that’s how our community moves, then it’s time our cities start moving that way too.
What We Shared
Over breakfast and conversations, it became clear how much we already have in common. We’re all working with limited resources. We’re all trying to stretch small budgets. And we’re all proud of the progress our cities have made.
During our “Proud & Possible” session, each table shared something they were proud of and something they believed could happen if we worked together. What stood out was how grounded and achievable these ideas were. They weren’t wishlists. They were next steps. Like sharing equipment. Supporting each other’s events. Cleaning out drainage canals together. Helping one another prepare for storms. Or working side by side to fix the outdated address systems that create confusion for emergency services.
These were real ideas, and the energy in the room made it feel like they could actually happen.
Learning From Leaders
We also had the chance to hear from people helping communities think bigger. Rick Carrera from COSTEP talked about how regional coordination can unlock funding and increase resilience. Sergio Castro from AIM GIS Solutions showed how digitizing our data can help us plan and serve more efficiently. And Jim Darling, the former mayor of McAllen, shared how unified water districts have created more capacity and control for cities across the Valley.
Their insights helped give structure to the ideas we were already starting to form. They reminded us that we’re not behind—we’re just getting started.
Belief Is the Foundation
Underneath every conversation at the Summit was a deeper idea. That when people believe their actions can make a difference, they show up more. They speak up. They take ownership. And when communities build that kind of belief in themselves, the results follow.
Sociologists call this collective efficacy. It’s what happens when neighbors help neighbors, when civic groups become active, and when residents trust their local government enough to participate. It’s also one of the strongest predictors of long-term success.
This belief doesn’t just live in policy. It lives in relationships. In the trust built when someone answers the phone. In the way one department offers to help another. And in moments like this Summit, where different cities gather around the same table to talk about what’s possible.
What’s Next
This wasn’t just a feel-good event. Here are a few things already in motion:
- The Address Initiative will focus on fixing address mismatches across Elsa, Edcouch, and La Villa to improve public safety and emergency response.
- Cities are working together to explore the purchase of a shared vactor truck, a critical piece of sewer maintenance equipment.
- Teams are organizing around storm prep and drainage cleanup, with a goal of coordinating efforts before hurricane season.
These efforts may sound small, but the impact can be big. And more importantly, they build the habit of collaboration. That’s the real work.
Final Thought
The Delta Summit didn’t happen because everything was already working perfectly. It happened because we know things can get better if we work together. That belief—that our combined efforts can lead to real change—is the most important thing we left with.
Elsa, Edcouch, and La Villa have always been resilient. Now, we’re becoming something else too. We’re becoming united.
And that’s where the real momentum begins.
