Every Friday, Virago Rising will be featuring a new artist, ranging from poets to visual artists, and everything in-between. Whether they are established years into their career, or at the beginning of their journey, we hope you enjoy their work as much as we do.

Meet Jesenia Chavez!

Jesenia Chavez (she/her) is a proud Chicanita, public-school teacher, poet, and storyteller. Her writing is inspired by her parents’ migration to Los Angeles from Chihuahua, México, her teaching career, her sense of loss in the rapidly changing landscape of the city, and all the small moments in between when she can catch her breath and put pen to paper. She is the author of a poetry collection titled, This Poem Might Save You (me) by Alegría Magazine. She also co-hosts Que Me Cuentas: A mostly Latinx storytelling podcast. She is currently working on her MFA at UCR.

In a society where many of us are told not to get angry, or watch how we say things, Jesenia is taking back the mic and encouraging readers to get angry, to get inspired, and to get deep into their feelings with her book, This Poem Might Save You (me). Her poems are a reminder for any artist to commit to themselves. Ask yourself, “What do I deserve? What is in my heart?” While at the same time, making sure you are taking into account others. How can you heal someone else with your art?

Meeting weekly with Alegria’s writing group over six to eight months, Jesenia fully committed to the process and admits, “there’s real magic to committing to yourself.” With about four poems due per week, Jesenia tapped into memories of traveling back and forth from the U.S. to Dolores, Chihuahua and the musings of a Chicana living in Highland Park. 

This duality is a common theme throughout her book: she can be both privileged and not, live in the internal and external, and be proud of her family’s journey while also carrying survivor’s guilt. She thanks Dr. Sandoval at UCSB for empowering her to live in this contrast. While at UCSB, she had her identities collide as she navigated the artistic world, but seeing other writers be unapologetic themselves, she knew she had to share her family’s story, and subsequently hers. 

“We all have superpowers navigating spaces as children of immigrants,” shared Jesenia. However, she is aware that in writing her story about her family, there is a privilege that comes with it. She has the time to pursue this endeavor while other members may not, which is why she really strived to be as authentic with her words. This book is a survival, self-reflection, prayer, and a wish. 

Jesenia shared her piece titled, “Mango.” in 2019 at one of Alivio’s monthly open mic. Alivio Open Mic is a grassroots safe space created to celebrate the working class community of Southeast L.A. Their next event is August 26.

If you wish to message Jesenia the next time you are mango shopping, like another reader of hers did, she lives for those moments!

For more on Jesenia, visit https://linktr.ee/chabemucho or email her at jesenia.chavez80@gmail.com. To purchase her book, please visit Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Alegria Publishing. 

IG: @chabemucho & @quemecuentaspod