Wishing Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters!!!!

Michael Beck, founder and president of MidwestLatino is featured in this month's Newsletter of the CAA (Cincinnati Arts Associations) Building Diverse Audience Advisory Committee (BDAAC).

Building Diverse Audiences Advisory Committee (BDAAC)

In 1996, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) and its Education and Community Relations Department formed the Building Diverse Audiences Advisory Committee (BDAAC) to produce a strategic plan to attract a more diverse audience to its venues.

Mission:

BDAAC is a committed group of citizens illustrating diversity from within the community that acts as an advisor to and ambassador for the Cincinnati Arts Association. BDAAC's purpose is to assist CAA in addressing the programming, service and cultural needs of Greater Cincinnati's diverse communities. In addition, members get the opportunity to collaborate with CAA and other community organizations on projects.

BDAAC often helps plan and participate in CAA events, volunteer at community arts festivals, and play a role in the success of diverse programs through grassroots marketing. As an advisory committee, BDAAC provides input, reminders, resources, and feedback to the Cincinnati Arts Association.

Thank you all for all the support in 2010!

May the coming year  be the best and happiest ever for all of you!!!

Thank you everybody for coming to our last party in Havana Martini Club!!!

It was best way to to say Goodbye! By dancing Salsa with friends!!!

And thank you for all your support for the last 5 years!!! 

See more pictures at our site on Facebook (click here)

Many of you asked what's next? Where will we be dancing Salsa on Wednesdays?

We are working on a new location and soon as we finalize the agreement, we'll let you know!

The key for us is to find something that will keep the Havana tradition - nice place with a big wooden dance floor! 

Thank you for being patient!!!

It happened to all of us - we dance in a crowded club, and accidentally step on somebody. The polite dancers apologize and move on. However, if the same guy runs into you 5-6 times during one song, something is wrong. Obviously, they need some extra education :)

So we've asked couple of expert teachers to show the cross-body lead the way it should be done in a crowded club. 

Please respect other dancers' space and stay SAFE on the dance floor!!!

We are pleased to announce that Michael Beck, founder and President of MidwestLatino, has been awarded the 2008 Spirit of Cincinnati: Champion Award from the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

He will receive this award together with Jason Riveiro, the President of LULAC Cincinnati (they are pictured above with Cincinnati Mayor, Mark Mallory). Michael is Vice President of LULAC Cincinnati.

Michael and Jason have been chosen to receive this award by a committee comprised of hospitality executives from across the region because of their dedication and partnership with the CVB, and for the significant contributions they made in bringing important meetings, such as the 2011 National Convention of LULAC, to Cincinnati.

Each year the Cincinnati USA CVB honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the convention and tourism industry with the Spirit of Cincinnati USA Award . The award have quickly become a recognized and coveted honor in the community - it's the highest honor the CVB gives.

The Award ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 12th, 2009. 

This is the second Spirit of Cincinnati Award for Michael Beck. In 2006 he received already the Wendell P. Dabney Award for Diversity. Named for the son of a Virginia slave who attended college in Cincinnati and was an author, publisher, musician and political activist early in the 20th century, it is given to an individual or organization for the practice of diversity and inclusion, making Cincinnati a destination of choice for people of all backgrounds. 

To learn more about MidwestLatino activities toward building bridges between cultures, celebrating diversity, and making a difference in the community, click here...

Please help us with the planning of 2009 Cincinnati Salsa Congress.

Fill out the 2008 Cincinnati Salsa Congress survey - click here...  

Your feedback is very much appreciated!!!  

We are happy to announce that MidwestLatino's founder, Michael Beck, joins Board of Directors of yet another International organization promoting diversity in Greater Cincinnati. After being recently elected Vice President of Inter-Ethnic Council of Greater Cincinnati (read more...), and joining Board of Directors of the International Center of Greater Cincinnati (read more...), he's been invited to join Board of Directors of "ballet tech cincinnati".

Formed in 1997, the non-profit "ballet tech cincinnati" uses the Art of Dance as a common language to promote unity and interaction between people of all walks of life. Its mission is to educate, entertain and amaze by providing diverse and innovative performances that have a phenomenal community impact.  Its signature event, the annual Gala of International Ballet Stars, features the best dancers from the best companies and the best choreography from all over the world.

We are happy to announce that MidwestLatino's founder, Michael Beck, has received Cincinnati's highest Diversity Award - the 2006 "Spirit of Cincinnati" Wendell P. Dabney Award for Diversity, given by the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Named for the son of a Virginia slave who attended college in Cincinnati and was an author, publisher, musician and political activist early in the 20th century, it is given to an individual or organization for the practice of diversity and inclusion, making Cincinnati a destination of choice for people of all backgrounds.

Former recipients of this coveted award include Cincinnati's Vice Mayor Alicia Reece, Citizens to Restore Fairness Group, and Cincy-Cinco Festival.

To learn more about MidwestLatino activities toward building bridges between cultures, celebrating diversity, and making a difference in the community, click here...

Come to our Pre-New Year's Eve Parties on Wednesday @ Havana Martini Club and on Friday @ Club Rain in Dayton, OH.

Wow! It's been already two years since MidwestLatino was created in Oct. 2004. Time definitely flies when we're having fun, and these two years passed with a speed of light!

We've been working with DJ TaZ, the #1 DJ in Indianapolis for the last couple of years, and decided that it would make sense to work closer together as MidwestLatino. So now you have it:

MidwestLatino Indianapolis

Vistit us at: www.midwestlatino.com/indy

We'll have tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 21st, a great opening Party at COZY (20 N. Pennsylvania Ave.) with LIVE band "Salsa & Company Latin Ensambele", and of course, DJ TaZ

And we'll raffle out 10 tickets to Puerto Rican Power concert on Oct. 29th in Cincinnati.

Don't miss the #1 Latino Party in Indianapolis!!!

We would like to welcome to MidwestLatino our new columnist: Adan De Gracia. He is a sports journalist of "Mi Diario", a Panamanian newspaper, and we are very fortunate to have him as our new columnist.

To read his first article, click here...

We are happy to announce that MidwestLatino's founder, Michael Beck, has been elected Vice President of Inter-Ethnic Council of Greater Cincinnati.

The Inter-Ethnic Council of Greater Cincinnati (IECGC) is an independent, non-profit organization supported by members from various ethnic groups. The IECGC, known also as the "Greater Cincinnati's Cultural United Nations", exists to promote multi-cultural awareness, understanding, respect and harmony among different ethnic and nationality groups in Greater Cincinnati. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1992.