Since 2023, a Burges High School student has set up a listening table in the school’s courtyard every Friday during lunch to invite his fellow students to talk with him about anything. He simply listens without judgment and doesn’t offer advice.
“I feel like in a Hispanic community, we aren’t very listened to because of traditions and closed-mindedness,” Edwin Ortega said. “I wanted to bring some welfare to the community by setting up a table and have them talk to me so they can be listened to.”
Edwin Ortega set up his Panda Listening Table in 2023. Every Friday during lunch he invites his fellow students to talk with him about anything, free of judgement, advice, or cost. Photo credit: Yoali Rodriguez
Ortega was inspired by the Listening Table movement founded by Orly Israel, who became an internet sensation through his Instagram account @Orlyslisteningtable, which has 154,000 followers. Ortega said before beginning his table, he reached out to Israel.
“I saw his reels on Instagram, and I was like I want do my own,” Ortega said. “I texted him and he said he wanted to spread the listening tables around the country, and I was like down to help you with that mission.”
In March, Ortega’s efforts to spread positivity earned him praise from the El Paso community when pictures of his listening table were shared on El Paso Instagram account @Fitfam. The post received more than 26,000 likes on Instagram and many positive comments.
“This is beautiful, I wish we had this in hs, I had no one and was bullied went through so much,” wrote Instagram user @sherri.thompson.7545
Ortega said that to give his “Panda Listening Table,” he incorporated his stuffed Panda named Pan. It sits on the table and people can hold it for comfort if they want to.
“I love pandas, black and white is my thing,” Ortega said. “I thought a nice little mascot would make it memorable too.”
The staff at Burges helped Ortega follow his mission by lending him the table and chairs and providing materials for posters. Student Activity Manager Ruth Bohlin said that Ortega’s passion for the project was a key reason the school approved it.
“I think one of the things as far as an educator, it’s absolutely important to allow a student to get passionate about something,” Bohlin said. “To be able to create that in the classroom is super hard, but when it happens for a person, you just try not to get in the way. That’s exactly what has happened in Edwin’s case.”
Despite all the media coverage, Bohlin said that Ortega has remained centered on his mission to create a space for his classmates to be heard.
“Honestly, I think just a little bit of validation for Edwin,” Bohlin said. “It’s not that he’s looking for any sort of spotlight, he’s very much who he is before and after. He’s authentically a very kind guy.”
Burges students Natalie Lujan and David Sanchez became part of the Panda team and sometimes substitute for Ortega when he can’t be there. Lujan also does social media and Sanchez contributes his art skills for the social media graphics.
Burges staff helped Ortega lending him the table and chairs and providing materials for his signs. Photo credit: Yoali Rodriguez
The team is trying to spread the conversation about young Hispanic mental health in the Borderland throughout the community.
“We want it to exist beyond us,” Lujan said. “First we want to go to other places than just our school, I think there’s a lot of people that would be willing to come visit our table.”
Sanchez said the table is filling a need for teenagers who may be undergoing a lot of stress nowadays.
“It’s a lot of adversity. It’s the years you face the most problems,” Sanchez said. “I feel that it makes a big impact on people simply because there’s nothing held back, and it makes you more peaceful.”
While wrapping up his sophomore year, Ortega is looking toward the future and plans to keep his table when he goes to college. He is also currently training his younger sister to take over the Burges table when she starts high school.
