224,000 Members Flood Southwest Side With Aid

More than 224,000 people follow the Facebook group known as 210 La Chismosa. Created by Cecilia Chavez, the online community recently directed support to residents on San Antonio’s Southwest Side who lost homes to flooding.

Chavez started the group during the COVID-19 pandemic. She uploaded a Zoom recording of herself, her mother, and her aunt exchanging personal stories. The video gained rapid traction, transforming private family conversation into a public platform for sharing local information.

The group’s recent work involves coordinating aid for those affected by the storms. Chavez manages the page around the clock, a duty she describes as a constant presence in her daily life. "You wake up to it, you go to sleep to it," she said.

Chavez grew up on the South and West sides of San Antonio. She contracted measles as a child, which caused hearing loss in one ear. Her path to community organizing was shaped by personal struggles, including a dispute over her son’s high school football eligibility.

After an appeal failed, Chavez moved her family to a Native American reservation in Nevada where her husband held tribal ties. Her sons played football there, and one earned a college scholarship. Her online influence expanded further after her son Jose died in a motorcycle crash in 2024. Chavez stated that helping others through the group filled a void left by his death.

The platform allows Chavez to maintain her independence. She has declined sponsorship offers to keep the group free from outside commercial influence. Her next goal is to open a physical community resource center in San Antonio.

Chavez appeared on "Pickup Lines," a digital talk show hosted by KSAT’s Ernie Zuniga, to discuss her background. The show features guests who share personal histories, ranging from business owners to local figures like Chavez.