Anghelo Chavira

Anghelo Chavira - Massachusetts
Nomination by Norma Barrera
Photography by Anghelo Chavira
Issue 61 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Anghelo will be the first international Mexican-raised student to graduate from Concord Academy. Anghelo has been deeply involved in Social Justice and advocacy of the Latinx and Immigrant communities throughout high school. Anghelo has served as president and representative of his class. As a freshman, Anghelo hosted a 400+ event at CA alongside The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human rights. Anghelo is the head of the Men of Color Alliance at school and is an honorary board member of a Mexican Non-profit, Brali I.A.P, which has helped 200+ low-income families with preschool education for their children.
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Tell us about your school in Massachusetts and why you wanted to go there.
When I applied to Concord Academy, I did not even have the chance to visit the school. Yet, somehow I had the gut feeling that it was the school where I belonged. I was in love with the academics, and I was in love with the vision of the school. Concord is a school that wants students to explore their interests, explore their passions, and mostly become social leaders that create transcendental legacies. Without ever stepping foot on campus, I knew this was where I belonged.

What did getting in/enrollment entail on your end?
Coming to the United States meant leaving home, my family, and all-time friends behind. It meant an entirely new lifestyle with new people, new culture, and a new language. It meant a new chapter in my life. It meant a lot of tough goodbyes, but it also meant new opportunities. It meant new challenges, new experiences, a new life. Coming here has meant for me to make my family proud. It has meant a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be transcendental and use the tools I gain here to provide the same opportunities for those who weren’t as lucky as me.

What does it mean to you to be the first international Mexican student to graduate from there?
Being the first international student raised in Mexico to graduate from CA means continuing my grandfather's transgenerational project. When he migrated to the US, he envisioned a better life for his children and grandchildren. Ending up in a school like Concord Academy and being the only international student raised in Mexico is even poetic to me. It means continuing my family's legacy and representing who I am and where I come from with pride and honor. However, it also means a big responsibility to ensure that, although the first Mexican, definitely not the last one. It carries a unique weight to represent an entire nation and not let anyone from my home country down.

What has your involvement been in the advocacy of the Latinx and Immigrant communities so far?
I have become an active voice among students and faculty in my school for the rights and advocacy of the Latinx and Immigrant communities. I have participated in several conferences on social justice and advocacy for student leaders. I was also selected to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in November 2022, hosted in San Antonio, Texas. I have shared my experiences and started to raise my voice in favor of the Latinx and immigrant communities with leaders of organizations like “Latinos Unidos en Massachusetts” and the US-Mexico Foundation. Finally, I am currently in charge of the financial development and international relations of the Mexican Non-profit Brali IAP.

What type of involvement do you hope to have in the future?
I want to become a referent in favor of more communities in Mexico and the US. I want to amplify my voice to more extensive panels and substantially impact the country's decision-making regarding the rights and equality of the Latinx and Immigrant communities. I want to grow and reach out to more people and integrate more allies that support our cause and provide these communities with opportunities that will impact their lives.

​What was your event in Concord Academy that ran alongside the Leadership Conference?
During my freshman student presidency, I knew I wanted to do something meaningful for the community, especially regarding social justice and equality. I contacted the Leadership Conference, founded by Roy Wilkins during the Civil Rights Movement, one of the most prominent organizations that promote civil and human rights through court action. After almost six months of planning, we developed the annual Conference at CA for Black History Month. The conference mainly focused on the relevance of teenagers to become active voices in their communities.

What made you choose to host an event, what was it like in the planning, who helped you, what was the event about, how did it go - all the details.

I wanted to make an impact as a class president, so my team and I reached out to many organizations and influential people regarding Social Justice and advocacy to come to CA. After weeks of reaching out and planning, we received a response from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and we started the planning from there. Looking back, it was a great experience because I learned a lot about organizational skills and how projects come to life from just an idea. I was pleased to be surrounded by a fantastic team of class leaders and faculty that helped us bring this project to life. We ended up having the responsibility of planning the annual event at school for Black History Month, which was a total success. With over 400 attendees, we were the event with the most participation in the school's recent history. The organization shared its advocacy work and history with the community during the event. I even gave a speech to the entire audience regarding the organization's history!

What does being the head of the Men of Color Alliance at your school entail on your end?
Ever since my first year, I’ve tried to have an active role in my community as a leader. I was elected class president in my first year and class representative in my sophomore year. After two years in student government, I realized my interest in social justice and advocacy. Becoming the head of the Men of Color Alliance has meant a great responsibility to favor the causes I have pursued. Being the head of MoCA means to me the responsibility to advocate for all students of color at school. MoCA head represents the leadership I aspire for and the need to give a voice to all the underrepresented minorities at this institution.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
I learned once that the best way to be immortal is through your legacy. Our probability of being right here right now is minuscule. Therefore, we all are responsible for getting the best out of it. I want my legacy to inspire people to raise their voices and stand up for the things that matter to them. I want to leave behind a story that pushes people to become a better version of themselves in favor of their ideals every day. I want to leave a legacy that resonates with the future leaders of our society.

How did you find out about Brali I.A.P, and what is your biggest accomplishment working with them?
Since I was a little kid, my family has been strongly connected with philanthropy. I have always been taught to give as much as I receive, and that charitable work is a must. My first interaction with Brali was in 2017, when an earthquake struck Mexico City and the surrounding cities. After most of the facilities were damaged, we brought new desks and materials for the children of this institution. As I came to the US and grew as a leader, I wanted to be more involved in helping the organization to accomplish its mission and became involved in its daily funding endeavors. Last summer, I was elected by the board to become their new member. During my first three months, I collaborated with multiple peers at school, and we developed the internet presence of Brali. We have redesigned the web page and social media and translated it into English. I’ve also linked Brali with three international NGOs, one of them being the biggest educational non-profit in Mexico.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
My grandfather was an illegal immigrant from Mexico who crossed the border through the desert several times. He raised my dad and his family in a low-income community in a border town. When I had the opportunity to come to the United States, I realized the enormous responsibility I had to advocate for the Immigrant communities. I want to grow as a leader and make an impact on the society where I live and the one I left behind. I want to motivate other Latinx to advocate for equal opportunities at home and abroad, inspiring passion and activism.

What else would you like to talk about in your interview?
We live in a world that faces many social problems. Our generation has the moral responsibility to utilize wisely the resources we have been provided. We need to use our knowledge to revise the current power structures and promote more equitable societal systems that allow equal opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, and gender. People should not have to risk their lives to seek a better life at home or abroad.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be and why?
I want to talk about the economy's current role in helping close the inequality gap and how we can propose tax laws that build social mobility. We need to discuss whether it is more crucial to promote taxation that generates more revenue or to suggest a more conscious tax-revenue spending on programs that will build bridges between social strata. Government spending in programs that create social mobility, regardless of the nation, will create a better society over time.

Thank you so much for answering the above questions specific to you!
Here are some EXTRA QUESTIONS if you have time to answer some extras not included above: (These answers should be one -two sentences as the most as they may or may not be used in the magazine but will be used on the blog. They should be added in with your Q&As above if you decide to add them to the end of your interview.)

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
“Diligence is the mother of good fortune”- Cervantes Saavedra. The strongest people are the ones that are not afraid to fail until they succeed; resilience is key.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
I see myself having a broader understanding of the value drivers to reach a more equitable life for Latinx and immigrants and possibly leverage that understanding in their favor.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
I have been playing the drums for the past 4 years, and I am the current drummer for the Vocal Jazz and Pop Ensemble at school. I Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?

3 Things on your bucket list:
Get invited to the White House
Visit the 7 wonders of the world before turning 30
Bring my mom to the US

Who do you find inspiring?
Martín Luther King Jr. because of his ability to unite an entire community to fight for the same ideals.

Look for Anghelo in issue 61 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here for more information on issue 61

click here to nominate an inspiring teen