Latest news with #LatinoCulture
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sparkling Rum Brand Casalú Closes Seed Round to Expand Its Latino-focused RTD Across Key Retailers in Florida
MIAMI, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Casalú, a Miami-based beverage startup that has carved a unique niche in the ready-to-drink (RTD) market by introducing the canned Sparkling Rum serving Latinos, is pleased to announce the initial close of their seed funding round. "This latest round marks a pivotal moment for Casalú. In our first chapter, we set out to prove one thing: that a modern, culturally rooted brand could resonate with Latino consumers; especially those moving away from beer," states Gabriel González, Co-CEO of Casalú. "So many new drinks I see feel cynical. Copycats that add nothing to drinking culture. What Gabriel Ricardo, and the team at Casalú have built is the opposite. It's more than a tasty RTD. Casalú is a cultural movement. A brand Latinos can point to and say, 'Yeah, that's for me. These are my people. And I'd like something other than a beer, please'" comments Tom Baker, Founder and CEO of Mr. Black (Acquired by Diageo), who joined the investment round. Casalú has availability in some of the country's key retailers including Total Wine (their first partner), The Fresh Market, Winn-Dixie, Fresco & Más, and Milam's. Priced at retail for $18.99, the brand offers two initial flavors: Traditional "Limón" - An homage to a cuba libre "Maracuyá" – An explosion of tropical notes in a can. "Simply put, go to your nearest Walmart and check out the RTD shelf. There are 50 brands. Yet, how many of those were built by a Latino team to represent their culture authentically? The answer you'll find is zero. That's where we come in", states Gonzalez. To join the movement, follow us on social: Company ContactGabriel and Communications Contact Taylor FoxmanFounder & CEOThe Industry Collective609-432-2237397175@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Casalú Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrating Latino heritage: Pedro Veras leads mural project in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD ― Pedro Veras, a Dominican artist, will lead a mural painting event, 'Echoes of Heritage,' set to celebrate Latino culture, artistic expression and economic contributions of the Latino community. The event hosted by the 7 Arts Latino Foundation is designed as an inclusive community event and will take place June 28 at 11 a.m. at the Downtown Supermarket, 121 Spring St. The public is invited to watch the mural's installation begin. Students and families from the High School of Science and Technology will work closely with Pedro Veras to create a mural. Jorge Martinez, president and executive director of the 7 Arts Latino Foundation, said the project is more than just a mural; it aims to foster a deeper connection to Latino heritage and create a shared sense of ownership in this public art piece. 'It is a testament to the hard work, cultural richness and dreams of Latino immigrants who have shaped our community,' he said. 'It stands as a symbol of unity, artistic expression and the enduring hope for a better future that resonates with all residents.' Veras brings extensive experience, and his works are exhibited in cities across the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Italy. His vision and talent are anticipated to significantly enhance and create a lasting, inspiring impact on Springfield's cultural landscape, Martinez said. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockford's third annual South Main Mercado showcases Latino and Hispanic heritage
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The third annual South Main Mercado market shut down Rockford's Main Street Sunday afternoon to highlight the Latino and Hispanic community. The market's first year was in the parking lot of the Ethnic Heritage Museum and has grown immensely in just two years. Co-Chair for the Mercado Cat Valdez Doyle said she expects the growth to continue. 'We can't wait to bring in the neighborhood more year after year,' Valdez Doyle said. 'This is all about southwest Rockford, this is all about South Main. This is about an incredible area that's just been named a cultural district celebrating what has always been, which is that Southwest Rockford is special and incredible.' Valdez Doyle said the purpose of the event is to allow people to see what the Hispanic culture has to offer. 'I love the phrase respecting the culture,' she said. 'We always say that this event is for Latinos, but it's also for everyone. It's a celebration of Latino culture, but everyone is welcome and invited to come and see kind of this food, music, {and} vendors vibe that we shoot for.' Ava Kelly owns Art by Ava D.K. and had a booth at the market. She said she is proud of being a part of such a great event. 'I'm just super excited that Rockford and South Main itself is getting representation and I'm just so very excited by it,' Kelly said. Volunteer and Program Coordinator for CCS Alexis Izquierdo shared that excitement. 'It means a vitality in the Southside of Rockford that I think is super important,' Izquierdo said. 'It's really nice to see that coming back to this neighborhood. It's so nice to see how many more vendors we have. It's really exciting.' Valdez Doyle said she hopes the market helps people get a sense of where others around the world come from. 'We are all volunteers,' she said. 'All of us are going to work tomorrow. It's going to be really hard, but we do this because we believe in a cause and a mission.' Valdez Doyle said the market is always looking for more volunteers and vendors. If interested, email southmainmercado@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
San Diego cultural center asking for donations after front door smashed
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A San Diego cultural center is asking for donations to fix their front door and upgrade their security system after their building was vandalized earlier this month. Centro Cultural de la Raza, an arts and culture community center that 'creates, preserves, promotes and educates about Chicano, Mexicano, Native American and Latino art and culture' in the San Diego/Tijuana border region is located in Balboa Park in San Diego. According to the cultural center, sometime late night on May 18 or early May 19, the glass was shattered on one of the 10-foot front doors to the building. Two city-issued cement trash cans were also found overturned at the entrance. No one is believed to have entered the building. 'This is not the first time, not even this year, that Centro has experienced violence. We are profoundly grateful that Centro volunteers, staff, and members of the many community groups that call Centro home were not here at the time, and so everyone is safe. We are also grateful that our exhibit, collections, and tools and equipment are unharmed. But how many times will I have to repeat this?' 'The violence cannot continue: our safety and peace are paramount and, moreover, acts like these have ripple effects. Acts like these intimidate people and communities, and often result in second-guessing one's safety in public spaces, or self-censoring in order to avoid drawing attention. This is anathema to the work of Centro, which is even more critical now, to shift narratives and shape political consciousness. We don't know who is perpetrating the attacks, but we do know that collective care is a powerful safety measure – we ask our communities, friends, and allies to look out for one another. In doing so, we resist isolation, we build community,' stated Dr. Roberto D. Hernández, President of the Board of Trustees. 'This is an escalation of the violence we've experienced this year. The first two incidents involved petty theft and damage that, while harmful, invasive, and very stressful, were to a smaller scale. This time, someone intentionally threw a stone through our door and tipped over two very heavy garbage receptacles that required three of us to put upright. It is clear that the violence, the attack, was the point.' 'We want to let people know what is happening, and call on us all to keep each other, Centro, and our thriving arts and cultural work safe. Please stop in to visit, say hello, join a workshop, or shop at La Tiendita or our monthly artisan market. As a show of collective strength, we are raising funds specifically to cover the expense of replacing the glass pane in our front door.' 'Centro is a place for self-expression, political education, exploration, and sharing, within the artistic and cultural traditions across Indigenous, Chicano, and Latinx communities. We have long survived and thrived in the face of overt and structural violence, and this will be no different. But it is sobering and heartbreaking that it continues to be our reality and now we are in the position of raising funds to repair harm rather than invest in things like programming or restoring our iconic murals,' said Ana Hernández, Executive Director. The center says all funds donated from now through June 15 would be used to fix the Centro Cultural de la Raza front door, and that any excess funds would go towards upgrading their security systems this summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
John Leguizamo Returns To MSNBC To Explore Latino Culture In Trump's America
The return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought change and chaos to many parts of America, and for many, it's a time when the feeling of community, pride, and the sense of being part of a country built by immigrants is threatened. The actor John Leguizamo hopes his MSNBC series Leguizamo Does America, which launches its second season on July 6, can remind people of the power that still exists in Latino communities across the country. "Finally something for the whole community that uplifts, elevates and celebrates our Latiness in a way all people can admire and share," Leguizamo said, reflecting on his time in neighborhoods from Philadelphia to San Antonio, where vibrant Latino communities are defining America through food, culture, history and the achievements of people young and old. 'For season two, I wanted to go deeper into America and put a magnifying glass on Latino exceptionalism, Latino ingenuity, and Latino genius,' Leguizamo said. 'Our culture has made America what it is since 1492 and nobody knows it. We built and fought for this country, and suffered in America for who we are. Let's celebrate our legacy of contributions that continue to be vital to the prosperity of this great country.' In the show's first season, Leguizamo told the Los Angeles Times he was motivated to make the series because Latino culture has traditionally been erased or ignored from both popular culture and the media. 'So for us to be so invisible, so erased, so excluded all over the map in America, the media and corporate settings where decisions are being made is just abysmal.' Leguizamo, a New Yorker whose has roots in Puerto Rico and Colombia, has explored Latino culture for decades, in film, television and on Broadway. His MSNBC series, produced by NBC News Studios, brings Leguizamo's distinct high-energy style to a kind of cross-country road trip, with stops in cities and towns where Latinos--the country's fastest-growing demographic--are changing the culture, and, in cities like Phoenix, Denver, New Orleans, and Raleigh, having a growing voice in politics. 'Now more than ever, it's important that we celebrate the incredible contributions that Latinos have made and continue to make to this great nation,' said series director Ben DeJesus. 'It's been one of the highlights of my life to create and develop this series alongside the force of nature that is John Leguizamo and our passionate showrunner Carolina Saavedra. It's also important to note that this is a show made for audiences of all backgrounds, not just Latinos.' DeJesus and Leguizamo have worked together for years on projects like American Masters: Raúl Juliá, and the series American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, both of which aired on PBS. 'I really give John a lot of credit for risking his own career, because he is not afraid to be vocal about [the lack of Latino representation] Leguizamo addressed the lack of Latino representation in film and television in a speech at the 2024 Emmy Awards, saying 'I'm John Leguizamo and I'm one of Hollywood's DEI hires. That's right. The D is for diligence, the E is for excellence, and the I is for imagination.' 'We need more stories from excluded groups,' Leguizamo told the audience. 'Black, Asian, Jewish, Arab, LGBTQ+ and disabled.' The second season of Leguizamo Does America airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC, beginning July 6.
