Presale Tickets: $25
Tickets sold at: Maria’s Restaurant, El Rancho Grande, Vargas Bakery
Cost: $30 per person at the Door
Doors open at 7:00pm/Puertas abren a las 7:00pm
Dance/Baile 8:00pm to 1:00am
2824 Perkins St. Saginaw, MI 48601
Best for children ages 3-10. Latin Grammy nominated artist Sonia De Los Santos and her band bring a joyful sound to children of all ages with the music of Latin America. Sharing songs of hope and joyful community understanding in English and Spanish, Sonia’s music uplifts hearts and encourages all of us to look back at our own journey, cherish our homes, be grateful to one another, dream of a better future, marvel at nature, and find light within ourselves. Lively, lyrical and soulful. This is an evening of music for the whole family you do not want to miss.
“Best Latin kids music.” Billboard Magazine
Tickets: Sonia De Los Santos | Midland Center
Midland Center for the Arts
1801 W. Saint Andrews
Midland, Michigan 48640
Tel. 989.631.8250
Email. info@midlandcenter.org
Tickets: Sonia De Los Santos | Midland Center
The Hispanic Latino Commission held their first meeting Friday night in downtown Lansing. With State appointed Commissioners coming from around the State, the conversation seemed to center around data. Whether it was data about health, education (graduations rates and placement rates after college completion) was a heavy topic.
These meetings rotate around the State so that these “open meetings by law” can be attended by folks from different cities. If you ever get the chance, you should really drop in as there is room on the agenda for public commentary.
Public commission meetings are a great way for the community to interact with our commissioners, and for people to be aware of the work being done by the HLCOM. We encourage everyone to attend either in person or take advantage of participating via Zoom.
H/L Commission Mission Statement: The Hispanic/Latino Commission is a 15-member Commission under the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor of Michigan, for three-year terms, subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate. Commission Leadership is elected from within the Commission.
Website: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
Facebook Page: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan | Facebook
Facebook Event Page: Commission Meeting | Facebook
The Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan (HLCOM) will be holding its next public commission meeting in person at the Landmark Building in downtown Lansing, Michigan on Friday, January 13, 2023 with a 6:00pm start time. The Landmark Building is located at 105 W. Allegan St. Lansing, Michigan 48933. The meeting will be on the 2nd Floor in the LEO East and West conference rooms.
Public commission meetings are a great way for the community to interact with our commissioners, and for people to be aware of the work being done by the HLCOM. We encourage everyone to attend either in person or take advantage of participating via Zoom.
H/L Commission Mission Statement: The Hispanic/Latino Commission is a 15-member Commission under the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor of Michigan, for three-year terms, subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate. Commission Leadership is elected from within the Commission.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86426581945…
Password: hlcom
Website: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
Facebook Page: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan | Facebook
Facebook Event Page: Commission Meeting | Facebook
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH 2023.
The Hispanic/Latino Commission Michigan invites the public to join the annual Hispanic Heritage Scholarship and Awards Dinner on November 18, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at The Fountains Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan (535 S Riverview Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49004). The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Cocktail attire required. If processed and approved, you will receive an email from the HLCOM office with your registration.
Hispanic Latino Commission website: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
Hispanic Latino Facebook Page: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan | Facebook
Hispanic Latino Facebook Event Page: 2022 Hispanic Heritage Event | Facebook
Saginaw Valley State University will show the War of the Flea documentary on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 7:00pm at the Malcolm Field Theater Performance Arts Center. This has been a long awaited showing for many.
War of the Flea is a real-life David v. Goliath story of Xicano students at Michigan State University. The documentary examines how they forced a major university to establish a Xicano/Latino Studies program despite their small numbers and how an increasingly marginalized Xicano/Latino community was barraged by attack after attack from the white power structure.
Ernesto Mireles is a Professor of Social Justice Studies at Prescott College, author of the award winning book Insurgent Aztlan, a strategy coach for organizers, and creator of The Reality Dysfunction Podcast. Follow him on Twitter. Read his ideas on building Xicano Latino political power at La Xicanada Blog.
War of the Flea Trailer: https://youtu.be/85118gOvXQU
War of the Flea Facebook Page: War of the Flea | Facebook
War of the Flea website: Home | WarofTheFlea v2
Tony. Benavides. Mayor Tony Benavides. With all due respect to the many Hispanic Latino leaders in the Mid-Michigan area, there was no one like him. And I am certain, there will never be anyone like him again. He was born with a servant’s heart. How many of us in his lifetime, felt like we had hope if we could just reach out to him? How many of us, just knew that Tony, could find a way to lighten our load? And if he didn’t have the answer, then he would get back to you with a resource or two. Add in his wife Carmen, and they together have been a power couple for the ages.
To so many of us, he was a leader because he was one of us. My earliest memory of Tony was in the kitchen at Cristo Rey on Ballard in the early 70’s. I was probably about 7-8 years old. He had to make the coffee and seen me waiting next to the kitchen door. He apparently knew who my parents were, but I only knew him as the “Director”. He was making the coffee and decided to show me how to make it. While I was getting the pot ready listening to his instructions, he decided to sweep. Confused, I asked him “aren’t you the Director here”? He smiled and said “yes”. I had to ask him, “do you have to do all this too?” He laughed and simply said “leaders serve, good leaders serve”. Outside of my family, he offered the first impression for me of what community service and leadership looked like.
At the age of 31, he applied and gained the Director position of Cristo Rey Community Center which had evolved from Cristo Rey Church. His love for the Hispanic Latino community included 33 years of leading the Center which used to be a Hispanic Center that offered programs such as counseling, medical services, job placement, youth programs, a Senior Citizens program that engaged an older population with meals and Mexican bingo, parenting classes just to name a few. He had once stated “I went there with the idea of being there three years and it ended up being thirty-three years”. The Center was a haven for Hispanic Latinos and anyone else who needed anything.
Over the last 10 years since I started Cafecito Caliente, my Benavides name has often led to conversation about Tony and Carmen and the impact they made on people’s lives. Tony and Carmen have continued over the years to quietly advocate for others. When Cristo Rey Community Center began to lose its identity as a Hispanic Center not to mention the financial problems that plagued it, he went to the Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing and offered to return to the Director position with no pay. I have no doubt in my mind had the Bishop allowed that to happen, Lansing today would still have a Hispanic Center like so many other cities in the State of Michigan.
Tony’s love for the City of Lansing, for its people, was endless. Besides his time as Mayor from 2003 to 2006, he spent 22 years on the City Council with a few of those as City Council President. From the fields of Stockbridge to Schimdt Brothers grocery store (later known as L & L Shop Rite) to Mayor of Lansing.
Yes, he really was one of us and leaves a legacy of serving others no matter who you are or even what time it is. As I look back, I have to believe that he always took his role in the community as one who could change lives so, that was his job. It seemed that each time that I spent time at Tony and Carmens house, besides wisdom and conversation, they would offer a connection or two.
The community lost one of the best to ever serve this area. My thoughts and prayers are with Carmen and the rest of Benavides family during this time and may you all take comfort in knowing, yes his name is in the Book of Life as he hears the words: “Well done my good and faithful servant”.
The Hispanic Latino Commission of the State of Michigan (HLC) will hold their 6th Annual Graduation on Friday April 22, 2022, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM for the Annual Statewide Hispanic/Latino College Graduation Ceremony that will be hosted at the Lansing Center. Graduates from the Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022 and Summer 2022 semesters, will be recognized.
If you wish to attend, all Parents, Community members, faculty, and staff must register to attend.
Graduates: The last day to register to secure a serape is Friday April 1, 2022, by noon.
The ceremony is to celebrate the achievements of Hispanic/Latino college and university graduates from across the state. Our goal is to recognize the efforts made by these students, while also acknowledging the support given by their families, fellow students, faculty, and administrators who helped in achieving this very important milestone.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.leo.state.mi.us/ogm/hlcom-college-graduation-submission/?fbclid=IwAR2Be0YEx6fZ_Ny8OIxtbmrGlmUHad7d6P259L__x0FyJYQqC3Sj1_LYDho
We ask that all graduates wear their cap and gown. It is not mandatory, but we encourage cap and gowns if possible.
Graduates: The last day to register to secure a serape is Friday April 1, 2022, by noon.
The Hispanic Latino Commission exists to advocate for the well-being of the Hispanic/Latino population with the vision of achieving an environment of social justice and economic parity for the Hispanic/Latino population. The Hispanic/Latino Commission is composed by a 15-member Commission under the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The commissioners are appointed by the Governor of Michigan, for three-year terms, subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate. For the commission to communicate with Hispanic-led organizations, community leaders, and the general public, it is required to have no fewer than six meetings a year that may be scheduled in various parts of the state.
For more information on the HL Commission: https://www.michigan.gov/ogm/commissions/hlcom
Find the HL Commission on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlcommission
The Hispanic Latino Commission will host their monthly meeting at the Central Michigan University which is their Capital Area location Friday, November 19, 2021 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
H/L Commission Mission Statement: The Hispanic/Latino Commission is a 15-member Commission under the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor of Michigan, for three-year terms, subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate. Commission Leadership is elected from within the Commission.
Website: Office of Global Michigan – Hispanic/Latino Commission
Facebook Page: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan | Facebook
Stressing “I don’t need to speak for Latinos, Latinos can speak for themselves across the State obviously. But I can do everything in my power to make sure that their voices are amplified to the highest echelon of government and see that change happen slowly but surely. These changes don’t happen overnight and they don’t happen because of one person. It happened because of all the non profits and different organizations that you all represent. Each one of you can continue to contribute, outside of work, inside of work, what you do for your community. And the only way change can happen is through that collaboration.”
Latino Leaders for the Enhancement of Advocacy and Development (LLEAD) organized the Meet & Greet welcoming Dr. Montemayor. With about 100 people coming through the Grand Cafe Sir Pizza in Old Town, it was a beautiful evening of reunions, networking and just plain fun. Most importantly though, it was about Lansing Public Schools very own Dr. Montemayor coming home and leading the Hispanic Latino Commission for the State of Michigan.
During what will become a challenging era for Hispanic Latinos Statewide (when isn’t it?), Dr. Montemayor offers an impressive resume and with an experienced set of Hispanic Latino Commissioners (found here: Office of Global Michigan – About Us), she appears not only down to earth, but ambitious, full of energy and ready to “amplify” the Hispanic Latino community’s voices Statewide. We here at Cafecito Caliente wish her and the rest of the Commissioners much success leading the various Hispanic Latinos Statewide!
Hispanic Latino Commission website: Office of Global Michigan – Hispanic/Latino Commission
Follow the Commission on Facebook: Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan | Facebook
