Daily Inspiration: Meet Jesenia Chavez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesenia Chavez.

Hi Jesenia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since the last time I shared with. Voyage LA back in December of 2022, a lot has happened both in my personal life and in our beautiful city of Los Angeles, and I know that is an understatement considering everything our city has gone through this year already. Today and always, I reach for my creative communities, I keep my friends and families close and I am always inspired by my kindergarten and first grade students and their families who are full of joy and hope even in trying times. I graduated from UCR, Palm Desert low residency MFA program, so that means I have two master’s degrees, and I am a know it all with lots of debt😅. As I look back, I give myself a big hug because my family was going through personal struggles, my mami’s health was declining, yet I still showed up for myself and was even selected to be the speaker at graduation, where I shared about the importance of telling our stories, y de no rajarse. I have continued to write and submit, and have gotten the chance to be more active with a wonderful organization, Women Who Submit, that has provided me with encouragement and support in navigating life as a writer. Jessica Wilson and LA Poet’s society have provided so many opportunities for me to write and share, and I have been touring with the wonderful women of Somos Xicanas, an anthology that highlights the diverse experiences of Xicanas, edited by Luz Schweig, that was published by the wonderful local micro press, Riot of Roses, run by Brenda Vaca. Being part of this anthology has led me to read poetry across the city, and even in Washington DC at the American Poetry Museum. I have done live storytelling events with my Que Me Cuentas podcast partner, Jaime Mayorquin, where we have folks share stories around a theme at different locations, from Horchatería in Paramount, The Fullerton Museum and most recently, monthly at a vibrant local bar in East Los Angeles, La Bufadora, thanks to Ané who has created a community space for us to share space with many other creative folks. I am entering my 20th year as a public school teacher with LAUSD, and I am proud to be a member of UTLA. We face many challenges, but we face them together, and my writing continues to keep me sane, to ground me, and to remind me that I am not alone on this journey.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Whenever I want to quit, I remember everything my immigrant parents have gone through. Their hard work has allowed me to dream. Every rejection is an opportunity for growth, and I can have my feelings, I can cry, dry my tears and get back in there. The fires, the ICE raids, the continual assault on our communities fills me with grief and rage. Yet I know in my bones, that we have each other, we fight for each other. I remember I need to rest, to breath, to write, to connect with others so I don’t feel so overwhelmed and alone. Every time someone reads my book and shares a message of hope and connection, I feel inspired to continue to be out there with my work.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My book, This Poem Might Save You (me) has been out now for three years, it received honorable mention last year with the International Latino book awards, and I am proud to say I have been able to get it out in the community with the support of my publisher, Alegría, and all wonderful local bookstores, like Casita bookstore in Long Beach, my local favorites, North Figueroa bookshop, the Pop Hop, and The Libros in Lincoln Heights to name a few, and also community spaces like Avenue 50, Beyond Baroque, and Art Space HP, among others. I have taught workshops at universities and community spaces and have been able to read and present my work across the city. I love doing readings and teaching workshops because as a veteran public school teacher, I know how to read the room. I feel electric when I share, I have my ancestors, my abuelas, tías, and mami guiding and me. I feel their strength when I write and share. I have read my Selena poem across many spaces, a tribute to a young star taken from us too soon. I sing, I play my ukulele, and I show up with so much gratitude and joy. I am nervous and awkward, but I show up with an open heart. I am a storyteller, I learned this from my family. I feel extremely blessed to be able to share my work because for many years I was afraid, I was hiding, but not anymore. I love the live audience reaction, the tears and the laughter. I was able to do a reading with a couple of poets from the Somos Xicanas anthology recently at the Santa Barbara Public Library. I went to undergrad at UCSB, and had not been there in a long time, but standing there reading my poetry I felt a surge of love and gratitude for the opportunity to share, because our work as artists and writers takes on a deeper meaning when it is shared, when we can interact with others, when it is read and experienced.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
There are so many books on my shelf, but a few books that I spent a lot of time with are, Once I Was You by Maria Hinojosa, Our Migrant Souls by Hector Tobar, Bad Indians by Deborah A. Miranda, and so many poetry collections that I loved like What Remains by Clauda Delfina Cardona, Maestra by Angelina Sáenz, Here to Stay poetry and prose from the undocumented diaspora edited by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Janine Joseph, and Esther Lin. I love everything Silvia Moreno Garcia writes, and the las two books I read were Mecca by the wonderful Susan Straight and most The Sellout by Paul Beatty that had me laughing and crying all at once. I love reading and learning from these powerful and talented authors. I love the podcast Radio Ambulante, as well as Anything for Selena. I listen to storytelling podcasts the most, and my favorite is The Moth. Women Who Submit has been so helpful and supportive, they have helped me think about expanding my work, submitting and creating time and space to write. Go out to your local bookstores, community spaces, open mics and build together, share space, share a story or a poem, buy books, or just show up and listen. Connect with local book clubs like, Pa’lante Book club, or Hermanas y Comadres, there are so many wonderful readers supporting our books and our arte. Lastly I want to shout out LA Taco for their excellent local journalism, they are keeping us informed and providing much needed resources as well as information about where to support delicious local restaurants. Let’s keep showing up for each other, for our vulnerable immigrant communities, for the people that are on the ground. We can donate, volunteer, post, write, dream, dance and continue resisting in any way that we can. Thanks for reading! Remember I am your local poeta Chicanita que no se raja! Sending everyone so much love!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jeseniachavez.com/
• Instagram: @chabemucho
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesenia-chavez-46a3b15
• Youtube: @jeseniachavez1500

Image Credits
Personal Photo was taken by Belinda Martinez
@MyCityMyDreamsLA