Chimigos Year in Review 2021
“2021 was all about awareness for our Chimer Resource Group (CRG), Chimigos,” says Ivan Parrales (he/him/his), one of the group’s co-leads. “We helped Chimers learn about Latinx culture and I even developed a better understanding of my own roots.”
2021 was also a year of energy, rewards, community, and pride for Chimigos. “There was palpable energy from the group and our community,” Ivan says. “People showed up and participated, which makes this work so rewarding.” For Janice Vela (she/her/hers), another Chimigos co-lead, the rewards came in the form of learning. “I learned so much about different backgrounds and cultures,” she says. “We were rewarded with feedback and a community that really cares about what we’re building.”
Here’s a look back at 2021 and the group’s achievements, challenges, and their thoughts moving into a new year.
Highlights to celebrate
LatinX Heritage Month
To celebrate the group’s heritage month, the co-leads put together an amazing program featuring education, celebration, and ongoing conversations for CRG members and all Chimers. The panel event featured Chime leaders from different communities who shared their personal experiences. “Our panel showed us Chime leaders in a new light and that vulnerability can lead to connection and a supportive community,” says Tinoi Lautoa (she/her/hers), another Chimigos co-lead.
“We really came together over LatinX heritage month and learned about our respective cultures through conversation, music, and food,” says Ivan.
[photos from LatinX Heritage Month celebrations]
History of the Mariachi and performance
As part of the month-long celebration, the group hosted a virtual concert and educational session with a San Francisco-based mariachi band. “Growing up with my Mexican heritage, mariachi was always a big staple for us at weddings, birthdays, and funerals,” says Tinoi. “To be able to share the history and the cultural significance of mariachi with my fellow Chimers was really special. I loved seeing people dancing virtually, emotionally connecting with the lyrics, and smiling at the upbeat music,” she adds.
Mezcal tasting
Chimigos hosted an adventure into the spirits of Mexico. They taught Chimers the differences between different Mexican drinks, like Sotol, Bacanora, Raicilla, Tequila, and Mezcal by reviewing the tasting note of each spirit as well as its regional history.
Pupusa making class with Dos Manos Kitchen
They also hosted a CRG-only event: a virtual Pupusa making class. During the class, Chimigos members learned how to make pupusas, a delicious staple from El Salvador, from Edwin Orellana, the chef and owner of Dos Manos Kitchen in Boston.
A Conversation with Yessenia Funes
Yessenia Funes, a New York-based journalist who covers the intersection of race and the environment, joined Chimers to discuss her identity and the overlap between culture and our globe’s climate.
Challenges to overcome
The year was full of great events, but the group also faced several challenges. One challenge was scalability — how to maintain intimacy within CRGs as Chime grows. “We grew from 600 to over 1000 Chimers this year, so our group had to find ways to keep folks connected and engaged as we scale our CRG,” Ivan explains.
Another challenge was planning — despite busy schedules and other priorities. “CRG work is done in our after hours,” explains Sara Reyna (she/her/hers), a co-lead. “We learned a lot this year about the importance of preparing ahead of time, planning, and finding the best ways to communicate with Chimers about our work so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.”
Looking to the future
As Chimigos embarks on a new year, they’re excited to bring more members on and find new co-leads to take over the helm of the group. “It’s also so exciting to think about our 2022 programming,” says Sara. “This year was amazing, but we want next year to be even more engaging for Chimers and to find additional ways for folks to connect with each other and their heritage.”
The group has continued to see growing engagement with their events and Slack channel — and they’re proud of that. “It’s nice to know that we made a difference for Chimers,” says Janice. Ivan echoes her sentiment, saying “I’m proud of the effort we put in and programming we produced; our team really came together to make it happen.”
And in the new year, the team will inevitably continue to broaden their inclusion of cultures and Chimers. “I’m eager to learn more about other communities within Chimigos and highlight them next year,” says Tinoi. “2022 will only bring more representation and education — all while having fun — as we build upon this community at Chime.”
