April Spotlight: Jorge Reyes
Our inaugural spotlight is on Jorge Reyes, a key member on the Student Records team and Beach Central staff. Jorge Reyes is deeply connected to his ancestral roots and keeps all the traditions alive in the community. He exudes great pride for his community and his family.
Where are you from originally? Is your family in California?
Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s in Michoacán, Mexico, but my home was always here in California. My parents officially migrated to California in 1978 and most of my immediate family is here. I have a lot of extended family in Mexico but also scattered throughout the U.S.
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I went to school right here at CSULB and studied Chicano and Latino Studies.
How did you come to work for Enrollment Services? What do you do in ES?
My first job on campus was in 1999 when I was working for the EOP Admissions Office. My desk was located in the current ES kitchen with my EOP colleagues, which made us indirectly part of the ES team. I wasn't officially part of ES Team at this time, but it introduced me to Enrollment Services. I went from being a Freshmen processor to a lead to spending some time in International Admissions before coming back to Student Records. I now work as a Student Records Counselor in Beach Central.
Tell us a story about your best day in Enrollment Services?
The day Hurricane Katerina hit in August, 2005. I witnessed the campus gather as a community under unfortunate circumstances to help students. As a campus, we were taking in students that had been hit hard by this natural disaster; we were supporting students with their studies, finding places for them to live, helping them out with food and even trying to find them employment. It was truly notable how we came together as a community to help students in a way that didn’t fit our job descriptions.
Tell us about your life outside of the office: Do you belong to local or national organizations? Do you have hobbies? Are you active in sports or recreational activities?
I am a member of an indigenous group named the Purépecha. Both my paternal and maternal families are members as well. Based in Michoacán, Mexico, Purépecha groups are now spread out across the U.S. My grandparents are both fluent speakers of the native language. Throughout the year, my family and I are very active in ceremonies all over the place. I have became a Chichimeca dancer in 1995. This traditional dance has been present since the colonial period and is the oldest dance of the native people of Mexico. All of my family have always danced from my grandparents to my kids. It is through my community that I met my wife who is also a dancer. Our kids have also learned how to take part in this tribal ritual. Many say our kids knew how to dance before they knew how to walk! In 1999, I met a group of Navajo men and was invited to become a Pow Wow singer with their group. We started travelling around to perform and we have even recorded two albums that are now available on iTunes: Redhouse from Long Beach. When I’m not dancing or singing, I can be found doing feather-work or custom woodwork cabinetry with my brother as a side-business. I inherited this woodworking trade from my grandfather who was also a custom woodworker. My culture means a lot to me and is the focus of my life outside of ES as well as my family.
Are you working on a special personal project?
I am trying to complete a custom outfit for my daughter. We are celebrating her coming of age throughout the year and we will be celebrating with a final big ceremony at the end of the year. I am working on the outfit for that day. I am also working on outfits for my son.
Are you planning a vacation this year?
My vacations are usually always aligned with ceremonies in which I am involved from Pow wows to singing in Mexico. We have built a strong relationship with friends that will also travel with us which makes it a lot of fun for my entire family.
Do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share?
My grandfather used to always say this quote and it has since stuck with me: “we are all made up of sayings but it just depends on the day."
