For the first time in its history, the Latinx Technology and Community Center in Flint threw a major gala on September 13 to raise funds for the center’s programming and also to celebrate the diverse cultures and countries represented within Flint’s Hispanic and Latino community.
“This event kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, and that was exactly what we were thinking, how do we highlight all of the different cultures, the music, the food, the drinks, the décor?,” said Asa Zuccaro, executive director of the Latinx Center. “So that was the main focus of the (event) committee, to represent as many different regions, countries, and cultures within that identity itself. And it helped having a planning committee that was diverse itself.”
The event, called Noche de Culturas: A Latinx Gala, was planned by a committee led by Mildred Silva. It featured food from Flint Social Club, which includes cuisines from vendors with Mexican, Argentinian, Salvadoran, and Venezuelan roots. Homemade Brasilian desserts called brigadeiros were prepared by Jenifer Veloso, who is a member of the Latinx Center’s board.
A particularly gratifying aspect of the elaborate food options is that many of the food vendors received support from the Latinx Center in starting and growing their businesses prior to working with Flint Social Club.
“Our resource center helps people grow their business,” Zuccaro said. “A lot of the people preparing the food were in partnership with Flint Social Club, so I was really excited to see these food businesses that we helped establish. It’s really cool to see them doing a catering job at this scale. They’ve catered for smaller groups, 20 or 30 people, but to see them preparing food for 150 or 200 people and just what it takes to set up and have that ready, that was really fun to see. And they were all excited about the little details they put into their food and how they presented it. These are people that prepare food that represents their home country, their identity, and for them to be able to share that with all the event attendees, I think that makes it even more special.”
Music was performed by Mariachi Jalisco Detroit, a Detroit-based mariachi band, and Mexicuba, a Grand Rapids area band with Cuban and Mexican band members who perform several types of Latin and American music. Two local DJs, Mixmasta Mas and Eduardo Scizzahandz, also performed.
The event took place outside at Flint Golf Club, with food, signature cocktails, a cigar lounge on the balcony, dominoes tables, and even a poolside party to close the evening.
“Over the years, some of our community members have been asking for a more formal event, something they can get dressed up for and come out and have a good time,” said Zuccaro, who has been with the Latinx Center for eight years. “I was excited we were able to finally make it happen, but what really made me happy was just the day of the event, seeing everybody enjoy themselves and walking around the event area with a cigar or a signature cocktail and just seeing Flint Golf Club activated like this. It was just a whole mixture of people enjoying themselves, and that really made me happy.”
Funds raised from the event will support a wide range of the Latinx Center’s programming. Center staff and volunteers provide health and wellness information and services in neighborhoods, organize community cleanups, provide language and translation services, run literacy programs, and help people with business or workforce skills, among other things.
The success and feedback from this year’s event already has Zuccaro thinking about the future. On the day of the event, he heard from other businesses that would be interested in sponsorships, and people who had a good experience made sure to ask about next year.
“Just hearing from attendees, I think this is going to be an annual thing now,” he said. “Just walking around, people were saying, ‘I can’t wait to pick out my outfit for next year.’ I also heard after the event from a couple of people who couldn’t make it but reached out and said they heard about it and want to be there next year. I think that’s really exciting to hear that people enjoyed themselves.”
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