Cafecito Caliente began putting events together going back to the Latinos2College Project (L2C) in the community and at Michigan State University in 2007. With the help of many folks from the Lansing School District, Michigan State University and the many students from the Lansing School District who helped us to revive the Latino Clubs from 2008 to 2013, the MSU version of L2C began in 2010.
Our networking nights, 5k races and the Latino Day with the Lugnuts offer many opportunities to become involved as a participant and from a business standpoint. Sponsorship info will go out in late January. Reach out to us at seinpaul65@gmail.com for more information. Here is our schedule through the end of 2022:
- March 9, 2020 – Cafecito Virtual Networking Night
- May 11, 2020 – Cafecito Virtual Networking Night
- June- August 2020 – Worked with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership to help distribute $5.5 million dollars to underrepresented communities. Cafecito specifically was chosen to work with the Hispanic Latino community and its business owners. We worked to help identify qualifying businesses as well as helping to write the grants.
- August 14, 2020 – Running La Vida Loca 5k Virtual Run/Walk in which 100% of the profits went to the MSU Migrant Camp Program. We sent a check of $3,500 to Luis Garcia.
- March 29, 2021 – Cafecito Virtual Networking Night
- June 12, 2021 – Frida 5k Virtual Run/Walk in which 100% of the profits went to the Capital Area Latina Youth. We sent a check of $4,200 to Maria Serrato
- July – August 2021 – Worked with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership to help distribute $11.0 million dollars to underrepresented communities. Cafecito specifically was chosen to work with the Hispanic Latino community and its business owners. We worked to help identify qualifying businesses as well as helping to write the grants.
- August 3, 2021 – Cafecito Networking Night – Taqueria El Chapparito
- August 14, 2021 – Loteria 5k Run/Walk Lugnuts Stadium
- August 14, 2021 – Latino Night with the Lugnuts
- September 21, 2021 – Cafecito Spanish Club begins.
- October 5, 2021 – Cafecito Networking Night at Taqueria El Chapparito.
Cafecito requested meetings with the various Latino organizations in the area to see how we could partner and more importantly, how can we get their message out. For the most part, we have found some success in being able to work together with several of them. We met with the following organizations:
- Latin Council Latin American Advancement – Maria Starr Van Core & Florensio Hernandez. Will partner on one event in 2022.
- Salinaz Promotions – Corina Salinaz. Will promote all events.
- LLEAD – Albert Flores & Guillermo Lopez.
- CALY – Maria Serrato. Will create bridge to School District.
- Latino Advisory Committee – John Castillo & Max Anguiano – we will continue to be the lead fundraiser for scholarships. LAC gave away $5k in scholarships in May 2021. Goal is to raise $3k in 2022, 5k yearly by 2024 and $10k yearly by 2026.
- Latin American Coed Softball League. Will assist to build bridge between health organizations and league.
- Midwest Tejano Radio – Louie Garcia. Will partner to bring similar Tejano Latino Fest that is run in Saginaw to Lansing
- Lansing Latino Health Alliance – Linda Delgado-Kipp. Will continue to promote LLHA events and info.
- Adelante Forward Magazine – Dr. Saturnino Rodriguez. Will add Adelante as a sponsor in future events.
- Cristo Rey Fiesta 2022 – Guillermo Lopez. We will initiate an email marketing program for the Church.
Cafecito Caliente Group
President – Sein Paul Benavides
Project Coordinator – Tammy Salazar
Project Coordinator – Juanita Garcia
Project Coordinator – Lupe Dominguez
Photographer – Antonella Benavides
Video – Martin Hernandez
Staff – Ashley Garcia
Staff – Josefina Dominguez
