Event

LatinoExpo Brings Community Together at Heritage Hill Elementary

August 25, 2024 – The Latino Coalition of Southwest Ohio (LCSWO) hosted a vibrant LatinoExpo at Heritage Hill Elementary School. The LULAC Ohio Educational Foundation (LOEF) actively participated, sharing information about its mission, scholarships, and services. LOEF also supported the event by providing Spanish-English interpreters to enhance accessibility.

The expo featured a variety of events and services, including an informative session on immigration law and law enforcement rights, opportunities for community members to connect with local agencies, health screenings, delicious food, lively entertainment, and a “Touch a Truck” experience with first responders’ vehicles. The event successfully brought the community together, fostering connections and providing valuable resources.

August 23, 2024 – Florence Y’All hosted a memorable Latin Heritage Night. Sponsored by P&G, the LULAC and LULAC Ohio Educational Foundation (LOEF) community joined the festivities. The evening was filled with delicious food, a spectacular fireworks display, and a thrilling Frontier League baseball game between the Florence Y’alls and the Schaumburg Boomers. Players proudly presented their heritage flags, adding a special touch to the event.

LOEF members successfully raised $547 through a split-the-pot fundraiser for LOEF scholarships. The organization extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the fundraising and celebrated Latin Heritage Night with them.

July 19, 2024 – The LULAC Ohio Education Foundation (LOEF) hosted a vibrant fundraising event to support LOEF scholarships led by Victoria Garland. The event featured a creative floral arrangement class at Green Living by Design Garden Center, conducted by renowned floral designer Betsy Bowers. Attendees enjoyed a delightful combination of music, food, and flowers.

The class was a resounding success, raising over $500 for scholarships. LOEF extends heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, class attendees, and donors for their invaluable contributions in making this event a triumph.

July 10, 2024 – The Rheingeist Brewery Taproom was alive with the vibrant sounds and flavors of Latin culture, thanks to LULAC Ohio Educational Foundation (LOEF) and its Young Latino Professional Network (YLPN). On that lively Wednesday, LOEF participated in the Brewery’s “Beer for Humans” program, where several non-profits compete for tokens, with the winning organization receiving a generous contribution from the brewery.

LOEF’s main goal for the event was to reach out and introduce our organization to the wider Cincinnati community. They aimed to communicate their mission and purpose in a fun and engaging way. The Young Latino Professional Network (YLPN), in collaboration with LOEF and LULAC boards, took charge of the outreach efforts, ensuring to bring a touch of their rich culture to the event.

Maribel and Victor Velez delighted Taproom patrons with lively performances of Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata. Meanwhile, Alexandria Montgomery, Marjorie Rodríguez, and Alba Azamar, members of the Salsamberas Folkloric Fusion, showcased a stunning fusion of Latin dances. The team from Viva Cinci added to the festive atmosphere by serving delicious Latin cuisine and Abelardo Avalos was live painting in the room. Overall, the Taproom visitors enjoyed a wonderful evening, experiencing the vibrant culture and spirit of the Latin community.

Congratulations to Alba Azamar, Ricardo Ugas, and the entire YLPN team for organizing such a fantastic event!

June 8, 2024 – Noche Latina Lights Up William Frances Theater!

In a heartwarming celebration of community and education, , the LULAC Ohio Educational Foundation (LOEF), with unwavering support from its Young Professionals, hosted Noche Latina at the iconic William Frances Theater. The event aimed to showcase LOEF’s commitment to supporting Latino students and promoting educational opportunities.

📚 Empowering Education: LOEF’s impactful programs, including scholarships and mentorship initiatives, were spotlighted during the evening. Attendees learned about the foundation’s tireless efforts to uplift students and create pathways to success.

🎶 Salsa Rhythms: The theater came alive with the vibrant beats of salsa music. Guests swayed and learned basic salsa steps, immersing themselves in the fusion of movement and culture.

🌟 A Night to Remember: Noche Latina tantalized taste buds with free food and drinks. From savory tamales to tasty salsa, the flavors mirrored the richness of the community. Noche Latina had achieved its mission—to inform, inspire, and unite. LOEF and the Young Professionals deserve applause for orchestrating this unforgettable night.

June 3, 2024 – Laura Moese addressed the City Council team during their 2024-25 budget review. Her focus was on the positive impact of the nearly decade-long partnership between our organization and the Community Center for Global Health (CCGH).

Key Highlights:

• Long-Standing Partnership: For almost ten years, our collaboration with CCGH has yielded significant benefits for the Hispanic community.
• Supporting Our Partners: By actively supporting CCGH, we demonstrate our commitment to fostering strong partnerships.
• LULAC’s Involvement: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) participates in CCGH’s Health Fair and workshops. These initiatives specifically targeted African American and Latino communities, providing valuable resources and support.

The event saw the presence of numerous community organizations, emphasizing the collective effort to uplift and empower marginalized communities.

June 4, 2023 – LOEF is planning on bringing the following workshops at Hartwell Community Center:

• ESL in partnership with Cincinnati State College and CPS
• ⁠Hazlo Bien -Health program with Center for Closing the Health Gap
• ⁠Mentoring day with Florence Baseball YALLs International players
• ⁠Career day – LULAC Young Latino Professionals, role models for young students
• ⁠Explore new programs for Teenagers. “Play it Like a Girl “ program to inspire girls to stay in school/ sports with P & G

June 4, 2024 – Congratulations to Laura Castillo on her well-deserved promotion to Director of the Economic Inclusion Department! As the youngest director on record, she’s blazing a trail of success. Her dedication and fortitude are tireless, serving as an inspiration to all at LOEF. Within the Young Latino Professional Network, Laura excels in strategy planning, and we eagerly anticipate her continued accomplishments. The sky truly is the limit for her!

June 1, 2024 – Laura Moese director of LOEF Supported ASPIRA – Esperanza in its closing ceremony of this program. This program graduated a group of Latino students (grade 4th to 8th). This program coordinated by Leo Calderon and Irene Encarnacion consisted on visiting 12 different locations including companies so they could learn about professions available to them.

LOEF in collaboration with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Princeton High School organized a visit to Princeton High School. Here, Maggie Perez from the NKU LULAC council discussed the community impact of LULAC, while Daniel McGee Marin (our 2023 WYLS participant) engaged students with numerical games titled “Math Can Be Fun.” Students were transported back in time, counting like Scottish farmers using only their fingers and toes, demonstrating creativity and innovation.
Tony Arreaga, LOEF Young Professional, delivered an inspiring talk titled “Dreams Come True.” Arreaga shared his journey from studying engineering at UCLA to pursuing his passion for cooking and working toward opening his own restaurant.

We are very proud of our partnership with The Esperanza Latino Center and will continue supporting these educational opportunities for our Latino youth