May marks the beginning of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander month and we’re excited to celebrate November Project Co-leaders and community members who honor our Community Agreement of Come As You Are and bring their full selves to NP. This year’s AANHPI month theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity” so we’re kicking things off with one of our newest Co-leaders, Alexa Calingo (she/her), who just stepped up to lead in Chicago.
What words do you use to describe your full identity/all your identities
Filipino-American; People Motivator; Servant-Leader
Who are some of the Asian and Pacific Islander athletes in the world of running/sport that you look up to?
Stella Abrera (Filipino-American ballerina); Tim Lincecum (Filipino-American baseball player); Michelle Kwan (Chinese-American figure skater). It was always so inspiring to see people who looked similar to me and/or practiced similar cultural traditions represent the US in the world of sports.
When did you first #JustShowUp to NP? How did you come across NP? What is it that you were looking for in a fitness group? How did NP provide that? What was an “extra” that NP has that you found value in?
I first showed up in 2017 in Atlanta. I was new to the area (I believe about 3 weeks in), needed friends, and saw a flyer in a coffee shop. I was excited to be able to get a workout done in the morning and meet people. I kept showing up because I loved how the community made me feel welcomed and how everything was pretty much adult recess. NP balances social time and an out-of-the-box workout, and I have never been part of a fitness group that could provide both. I loved that when I moved to Chicago, the friendly vibes were also felt.
What apprehensions did you have as you considered coming for the first time? What was your first impression? Why did you keep showing up?
I was only worried that I would get lost/wouldn’t find the group! I’ll say that the first time did confuse me since I didn’t understand what a bounce was, but other than that it was an awesome way for me to get to know parts of Atlanta. I kept showing up because of the friends I made. I remembered how the community made me feel as I moved overseas and thought about starting a group in Manila (that didn’t pan out), but when I moved back to the states, I was so happy to find myself fit in with NP Chicago.
What does it mean to you to be an Asian and/or Pacific Islander Co-leader? What does it mean to your community? What does it mean to our global community?
It is an incredible honor to represent NP Chicago as a Filipino-American. This might need fact checking, but we (Vince and I) think we are the first two Asian (more specifically, Filipino-American) leaders for NP Chicago (and at the same time). I think it shows truly how diverse the NP community is, how willing people are open to learning about things new/different, and how more and more ethnicities are stepping up into leadership roles. At a global level, it shows that representation in a grander scale does matter. In photos of previous NP groups, I would barely see AAPI co-leads, so this is our opportunity to step up and send a message to future NP-ers that we are seen and heard.
How does being Asian and/or Pacific Islander influence your leadership? What was it like to be Asian and/or Pacific Islander in your community before you stepped into leadership?
Being a Filipino-American is ingrained in me. Growing up, my parents did a wonderful job reminding my sisters and me of our culture, and how we shouldn’t forget that identity. Some things I feel I can attribute to being a Filipino-American and a leader stem from how Filipinos work hard, try our best at being servant-leaders, and always welcoming. I bring those values with me in whatever role I am in, so I am glad that NP Chicago is giving me this opportunity to share what it means to be a servant-leader.
Do you remember the first time you saw someone who identified the same as you in leadership (at November Project or anywhere else)? What was that feeling like?
I’ll admit that I haven’t met another Filipino-American in NP It until Vince, who I now co-lead with (but I found out that there is at least one more Fill-Am as an NP leader). Prior to becoming leader, I remember meeting Vince in Chicago and feeling ecstatic that there wasn’t just another AAPI, but a Filipino person who could understand our culture’s values/traditions/struggles.
Did you have any apprehensions to lead this group? Did you experience imposter syndrome when you were asked to lead? What advice would you give to another Asian and/or Pacific Islander person who is nervous about leading a group (at November Project or anywhere else) or coming to November Project?
I had a few apprehensions to lead – some stemming from still grieving multiple losses (in a short span of time) in my personal life; to filling the shoes of previous coleads of Chicago; and also not seeing many AAPIs in NP Chicago made me a bit apprehensive. All this to say, I definitely had (and have! I am just starting) imposter syndrome, but I vow to do what I do best – which is to be me and use this as an opportunity to share my talents with others. Advice I’d give to others in the AAPI community who may be nervous to lead a group would be: to not be afraid to speak up and take space – there’s lots of talk of not having a seat at the table, but don’t be afraid to bring your own chair or even build your own table. Additionally, everyone (absolutely everyone) has something to offer and share with others – don’t be afraid to share your gifts and talents and let that become your legacy.
How do you celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month? How can others celebrate you or celebrate with you this day? How can we celebrate you all year long?
I celebrate this month by remembering AAPIs who worked hard to help me (and others) get to where we are today. I love celebrating through food – it might be a stretch but AAPI have some of the best flavored dishes. I would love others to celebrate my heritage by asking questions and being open to trying new things – you don’t know what you’re missing if you don’t ask.
What else do you want people reading this to know?
Maybe it is because I am very much new to this Co-lead role, but I am extremely excited and thrilled to be in this position of leadership. I feel there is so much potential for the NP community to learn more about different cultures and identities. Honoring AAPI within the NP community is one step, but there is so much more that we can do and I am happy to be part of this journey. Maraming salamat!
