Cafecito Caliente Events

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

Cafecito Networking Nights #16 will hold their last in person networking night of 2021 on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Taqueria El Chaparrito Restaurant on W. Saginaw will be the place with Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing providing a light dinner.

So bring a friend, some business cards, brochures or flyers. There will be time to network at this one as there will be an unveiling of an idea that Cafecito Caliente has been working on for a couple years, but otherwise, the formal part of it will end quick. 

As always, these Networking Nights are free and open to anyone.
Who: Anyone interested in the Latino Community
Why: The Latino community needs a way to connect with other Latinos and resources from the Mid-Michigan community from the non Latino community
Mission: To educate, nurture and build the Latino community by building relationships that enhance our personal and professional lives.
Come introduce your business, your profession or build some new contacts while finding out what is happening in the Latino community. Cafecito hopes to bring those together who want to connect.

For more info or if your business would like to sponsor Cafecito Networking Nights, please contact Sein Paul Benavides at 517-303-7001 or seinpaul65@gmail.com.

Introducing Cafecito Medals! Saturday, August 14, 2021 at the Latino Night with the Lugnuts and what we hope will be the start of a tradition, Cafecito Medals will begin to introduce some of the Hispanic Latino community history. About 90 of each will go on sale at 4:00pm when the vendors open up at the Cafecito Caliente table for $10.00 each. A portion of the proceeds will go to Footprints of Michigan. Next year, when the next medals come out, you will be wishing you had purchased these. Don’t be that guy. Just saying….

The Latin Baseball leagues first organized in 1948 and two of the most popular baseball teams were the Lansing Cardinals and the Lansing Aztecas ballclubs. Los Cardinales were formed in 1950 and Los Aztecas organized in 1967. Sure they played competitive baseball but more than that, they were family. They didn’t switch players or scout city teams looking for the best players. They were familia. Win or lose, they played entire seasons with the same roster. Cooked out together with the same roster. These were families. The Cardinals actually were a legal entity.

I remember when people thought Latino Day with the Lugnuts was an idea, but eh, who would show up? Five years from now, I wonder if anyone will remember how no one got excited as I did about Cafecito medals?

Much thanks to Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing and everyone who came out for Cafecito Networking Night last night. At the age of 56, I have been around similar events and usually we see mostly a 40 plus crowd and older. Last night the majority was under 40. I can easily see the next generation of leaders who many of us older folks, need to mentor and be VERY willing to pass the baton to.

Attending were people such as Adriana Ellis, realtor and who will soon host her own Networking platform, Rafael Gonzalez, owner of Brightlight Financial Consulting, Kimberly Lavon, owner of Thimble Media, Hector Maldonado from State Farm, and Ramiro Garcia who is making his way through school (future: law school) and life, they represent a new generation of leaders for the Greater Lansing area. Add in other attendees Patricia Carmona, Florensio Hernandez, Matt Thornton, Geronimo Lerma, Irma Guzman, Taisha Garcia, Natalia Reyes, Juanita Garcia, Eva Alvarez, Norma Bauer and we have a mix of people who not only want to build their own networks, but are eager to reach out and lift others up. Some are simply here to support others and enjoy that role.

It was originally scheduled for Monday, but I switched it Tuesday due to Taqueria El Chaparrito not being available on Monday. I knew we might lose a couple due to Election Day, but many of our attendees help at the polls. My apologies to those of you.

Much thanks to Taqueria El Chaparrito on W. Saginaw, Saul and Lulu and of course Yadira who took great care of us! The food was great and their service was awesome!

Anyone who knows me, know that I can tell stories til the sun comes up. Thank you all for joining me and hopefully, we all continue to connect, encourage and lift up each other even after last night. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime for info, a thought or a touch of wisdom. The next one and last one for the year is scheduled for Monday, October 4, 2021 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Location to be announced at a later date.

Cafecito finally revealed their artwork for the 9th Annual Latino Night with the Lugnuts scheduled to happen Saturday, August 14, 2021 with the evening starting with vendors at 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Incorporating the sponsors into the design, the main sponsor Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing is right on the bottom banner. The Feldman dealership is shown off to the far right of the design.

The Lansing Lugnuts is shown prominently as is a building which appears to be a coffee shop for Cafecito Caliente on the far left. Everyone always asks us where our coffee shop is located. We can dream can’t we? Everything is centered around the Jackson Field stadium.

We happen to like the fact that there are no sponsors listed on the back which for some people, stops them from wearing a 5k shirt when out and about. Many attendees of Latino Night with the Lugnuts and from the Running La Vida Loca running series wear our shirts year round. Seriously folks, no one needs another shirt to paint the house or cut the grass in do they?

Shirts and tickets will be on sale starting Friday, August 6, 2021. Shirt are $15.00 and tickets are $12.00 each. Save $2.00 by buying a shirt and ticket together and they are $25.00 for both. Follow this website for updates on times and dates although usually each year we set up at Sir Pizza in Old Town on a Friday evening. Vamos Locos!

Cafecito Networking Nights #15 will hold their first in person networking night Tuesday, August, 3, 2021 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Taqueria El Chaparrito Restaurant on W. Saginaw will be the place with Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing providing a light dinner.

Earlier this year back in March, the first Networking Night was held via Zoom. Aren’t we ready for some in person events finally? Also on the calendar will be Cafecito Networking Night #16 will take place on October 4, 2021 at a location to be named later.

So bring a friend, some business cards, brochures or flyers. There will be time to network at this one as there will be an unveiling of an idea that Cafecito Caliente has been working on for a couple years, but otherwise, the formal part of it will end quick.

As always, these Networking Nights are free and open to anyone.
Who: Anyone interested in the Latino Community
Why: The Latino community needs a way to connect with other Latinos and resources from the Mid-Michigan community from the non Latino community
Mission: To educate, nurture and build the Latino community by building relationships that enhance our personal and professional lives.
Come introduce your business, your profession or build some new contacts while finding out what is happening in the Latino community. Cafecito hopes to bring those together who want to connect.

For more info or if your business would like to sponsor Cafecito Networking Nights, please contact Sein Paul Benavides at 517-303-7001 or seinpaul65@gmail.com.

Much thanks to Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing for helping to bring back Latino Night with the Lugnuts in 2021. Latino Night will be Saturday Night, August 14, 2021 with a concert starting us off in front of the stadium at 4pm .Kicking off the day will be (Tejano band name to be released at a later date) beginning at 4pm to about 6:00pm. Then the Lansing Locos take the field at 7pm. There will be folkloric dancers, Tejano music, an event shirt for purchase and a great crowd with family and friends.
For the previous eight years, people have bought between 300-500 tickets, 200 event shirts and well, sometimes they even watch the game. Mark the date and plan on joining us for a great family experience!2019 was truly amazing. Any questions please feel free to inbox me. Check back on the Cafecito website and social media pages for updates on entertainment and shirt design. We will also have a few surprises on this day.

Tickets and shirts will go on sale late July 2021.

Facebook Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/816508408983298?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22page_admin_bar%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22page_id%5C%22%3A362388953837782%7D%22%7D%2C%7B%22surface%22%3A%22events_admin_tool%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22recommended_actions%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22[]%22%7D]%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D

With the Frida 5k wrapping up (for good this time) this Friday at 5pm, we would like to introduce the Loteria 5k Sponsored by Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing. Right in front of Jackson Field home of the Lansing Lugnuts! Feldman Chevrolet is right now the street on Michigan Ave. and we thank them for supporting Cafecito Caliente as we try to promote our “Life Happens Cafecito Helps” philosophy!

We thank everyone for supporting the Frida 5k and we will be giving some final numbers this weekend in support of the Capital Area Latina Youth organization. So, what will your running or walking attire be? La Dame? El Valiente? El Soldado? Maybe La Chalupa? La Sirena (keep it clean)? Or maybe El Boracho? You choose but most importantly keep August 14th in mind and register for either the in person run/walk or the virtual version (especially if your out of State.

Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Lansing/Loteria5k