“My Group Chat” isn’t your average newsletter and may not look like a newsroom’s traditional journalistic pursuits. That’s because My Group Chat isn’t intended for everyone. It was designed by NJ Advance Media columnist Daysi Calavia-Robertson, a thirtysomething Latina, to reach millennial women of color where they are: in their email with a weekly newsletter, on social media with an Instagram account, and through their phones via a WhatsApp chat. Each week, Daysi offers her voice and perspective on matters that resonate with her and her peers, whether it’s local or national news— like how a change to the U.S. Census has Latinos divided on how they choose to self-identify — hot takes on the latest reality shows on Netflix, or what’s trending on TikTok that has everyone talking. A key component of My Group Chat is the WhatsApp chat, which connects readers in real-time not only with Daysi, but with each other. Newsletter ideas come from the chat, and the chat also talks about what’s in the newsletter — one of the purest forms of engagement. It’s led to many of the members finding common interests and opportunities to support one another. And they’ve even made it out of the chat. In 2024, NJ Advance Media hosted multiple My Group Chat meetups, including a yoga and wine session at a Black-owned studio where members were able to network and build those relationships in real life. “As people of color, who’ve grown up navigating mostly white spaces, we sometimes bite our tongues, and don’t always feel encouraged, empowered, or even safe to say what’s really on our minds or to express how we really feel,” Daysi said. “In My Group Chat, that melts away because it’s a space that’s ‘for us, by us,’ it’s a community that we’re building together and where every person can feel supported and understood.”
