THE Northern Marianas Humanities Council will host its first ever Chat & Chesa event on Tinian on Friday, March 28, 2025 at Love Birds Restaurant in San Jose at 5:30 p.m., according to Humanities Council program coordinator Leaani Saralu.
The event provides an opportunity for the community to gather and engage in small and large group discussions on a given topic, with food available while supplies last.
Residents are invited to “connect, share ideas, and strengthen the spirit of unity in our community.”
Saralu said the central question will be, “What cultural values are most important to you?”
She said they are aiming for 40 participants but may have room for more.
The Humanities Council will also use “anchoring texts” or photographs at the start of activities to get participants thinking about culture.
Saralu said the discussion will not be recorded, and the council isn’t necessarily “trying to find a solution” to cultural issues.
Rather, she said, the Chat & Chesa event is a way to create a safe space to discuss cultural issues that residents might be seeing but not discussing.
“In the CNMI, a lot of times [we worry about] others being dismissive or we hold our tongue or we don’t bring up things that are complicated … so things get buried,” Saralu said. “Now that we’re having this space, people appreciate it.”
She said in past cultural discussion events hosted by the council, participants admitted feeling “ashamed” to bring up issues in public and were glad the council provided space and time for formalized discussions on issues they find important.
Saralu said a similar Chat & Chesa event is being planned for Rota and will take place later this year.
For more information, email leaani@nmhcouncil.org or call (670) 235-4785.
