Happenings in the Latino Community

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!