From day laborers to teachers, these are love letters to the Bay Area residents who carry our communities

This year for Valentine’s Day, El Tímpano set out to spread love, joy, and recognition across our Latino and Maya immigrant communities in the Bay Area.

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At a time when immigrant communities may be feeling targeted and attacked, we decided to focus our attention on something different: celebration. We chose to honor the everyday people who quietly shape so many lives — the neighbors, workers, parents, and children whose care and labor hold our communities together.

For Valentine’s Day, we sent a message of love and appreciation to our more than 6,500 text message subscribers. We expressed gratitude to the jornaleros waiting for work at dawn, the women who clean houses not their own, the fruit vendors on the corner, the cooks behind kitchen doors, and the children who move between two languages to help their families navigate the world.

Then we asked:

“Is there someone in your daily life that often goes unrecognized that you would like to dedicate a message to?”

We called the project Palomas Mensajeras (Messenger Pigeons), and invited our text message subscribers to respond via SMS. We also took Palomas on the road by creating small, welcoming spaces at public library branches across the East Bay where people could pause, pick up a notebook, and write a message to someone they cherish.

Our pigeon coops quickly filled—with notes for teachers and coworkers, for friends and spouses, for parents and children. Some were even love letters to themselves.

These are some of the messages our East Bay neighbors shared.

This message is dedicated to the restaurant cook. Her work nourishes bodies and souls; her daily effort inspires respect, gratitude, and community. Thank you for your “sazón” and unwavering dedication.
Martha, Oakland

For [myself,], Norma Lemus, who is a marvelous being who has gone through so much and even still keeps helping as much as she can. Even though she doesn’t have much, that doesn’t matter. For her, helping others is the most important thing. I dedicate this to Norma Lemus, a beautiful source of light.
Norma, Walnut Creek

Thank you so much for reminding us about our hardworking community. I would like to send recognition to stay-at-home moms and caretakers.
Karina, Berkeley

To our children’s school teachers, thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your work with our girls.
Obdulia, Brentwood

To the day laborer, who has been an example of a person eager to fight for their family, despite the situation they’re living in they don’t lose faith and hope to achieve something better.
Daly, Oakland

To the people who are dealing with mental health issues, to the grandparents who care for their grandchildren or help their children, to the janitors who clean the schools–thank you to all of them.
Celia, Brentwood

To my deaf son who’s struggled so much, but today we admire his resilience and determination to move forward.
Maria, Hayward

To those who sell flowers on the street corners instead of asking for money on the same street corners. To those who work in construction and those that care for children.
Miriam, Pittsburg

I send orchids to myself because they’re such beautiful flowers–for working outside the home and at home without pay, for running every day with my daughters and for living such a fast-paced life. There is no other way.
Maribel, Oakley