Semana Santa Redux, The Success of JXMP!

For those who do not know me, I have lived full time with my family in Sayulita for eight years. Like most people who live here, I experienced one Semana Santa and then proceeded to plan to spend this holiday as far away from any beach as humanly possible. Well, I am here to tell you that Semana Santa in Sayulita is my new favorite holiday. Let me tell you why!

In early March, I was invited to join a community meeting to welcome a new youth group in town. I am a sucker for community meetings, so, of course, I said yes. Being an American, I also showed up too early. Anyway, we finally gathered the troupes and a young man, who identified himself as Dani, began the meeting.

Let me set the mood a bit. The original plan was to meet in the plaza. We got there and a live band was in the gazebo, so we made a plan to move the meeting to the church. We got to the church and there was a service, so we all wandered over to a small, dark, dirt lot where we stood around, barely able to see each other, and yelling to ensure we could be heard over the nearby music.

Dani, the apparent leader of this group, opened the meeting by saying, “Welcome to Juntos Por Mi Pueblo (JXMP) (Together for my Town). I want everybody to look around and see all the different kinds of people and talents that are here. We are here tonight to get to know each other, and instead of asking each other for things, share what we can offer.” He had me at JXMP.

Before you knew it, the infamous Semana Santa was just a few days away. Over the course of a few more meetings, plans had been made for traffic flow, signage, trash collection, parking and camping options, bathroom installations, and coordination with government officials. Even with all the planning in place, I am not sure any of us had any real idea what to expect. Honestly, we were a bit scared. We had heard that more people were heading our way than in any other year and, let’s face it, kids were in charge.

Well, here is what those kids did, led by Daniel Camacho Venegas and Ruben Jr. Rodriguez. The week prior to Semana Santa, they began their efforts by partnering with the Delegado and going door to door in town to personally explain the traffic flow and trash pick plan to all. Let me say that again; they had personal conversations with everyone in the center of town. A few days before Semana Santa, signs emerged in the town center, BIG signs, with arrows clearly showing traffic flow patterns.  As the crowds began to move in, JXMP volunteers, ranging in age from 12 -25, were out in force. Every critical corner of town was staffed by volunteers and they worked closely with transito to ensure flow and access for those in need.  Local organizations such as Pro Sayulita, Sayulimpia, Vigilantes, Eco Sayulita, Mercado del Pueblo, and Festival Sayulita all jumped in to help.  Tracie Willis, Paula Gignac and Suzanne Gravelle turned into trash warriors. Nydiia Zarate partnered with JXMP to rally daily volunteers to patrol the beach and streets to remove trash and talk to visitors about their responsibilities. Individuals of all nationalities jumped in as needed to do whatever was needed, whenever it was needed. Strangers saw folks working and jumped in.  Okay, I could go on, but you get the point.

So, why is Semana Santa now my favorite holiday?  Because, while we all have our own little reason for loving Sayulita, JXMP helped us remember what that is. The effort was led by inspired, Mexican youth and was joined by people who speak all kinds of languages.  We came together in a way that many of us have only dreamed.  We all looked each other in the face, smiled, made jokes, gave each other hugs, and laughed off the exhaustion that good, satisfying community work brings.  Yes, the town was clean, yes, one could actually walk and drive around. However, what really happened was that we took another step forward as the community of Sayulita. We met the future of our town and it looks more than rosy. Thank you to the JXMP youth who helped us all remember and relearn why we have chosen this community. I cannot wait to see what happens next!