#LATISM 16- Latinos as Change Agents

This post was originally written for Conexion, the Premiere bilingual newspaper in N. Florida.

BB added a little algo to appease the Google Gods.

http://conference.latism.org/home

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

For the second year in a row, Babushka was honored to be named “a top Latino digital influencer” and is headed to the LATISM16 conference in Orlando this October. LATISM stands for” Latinos in Tech Innovation & Social Media and is a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of the Latino community in the areas de educacion, health, technology y business through the use of Tech innovation and Social Media.” Their goal is to “share best practices,  reach Latino(a)s in the digital space, and  build the pipeline of  tech innovators.  Together we are igniting Latino(a)s to drive the innovation economy." And they are Beautifuls, they are!

The impact of Latinos, especially when banded together and highlighted is a bella and powerful thing.  Thanks to LATISM and other like minded organizations, Latinos are getting heard and paid attention to, but we need more of us to bring new ideas and insights, more potencia and potential, more volume to our voices. This is a particularly crucial time; this is the year politics is priming to either elevate or eradicate the Latino existence in our nation.  Join us in our rally for acknowledgement and advancement.

October  19-21 LATISM will be having their conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.  Un lugar perfecto to celebrate our accomplishments and unite on our futures, especially since it’s in our state!  If you’ve wanted to visit Disney World and at the same time make a change in this world, now’s the time for that twofer. If you’ve ever wanted to voice your opinions, learn what that voice could do, and/or learn about topics you could help with, this is the conference to attend. Social Good is a very important part of this mission, and as our numbers grow in the US, we have more potencial in helping ourselves and others.  Babushka would love to see all of you be part of this movement and partake in the conference, por eso te doy el codigo  INFLUENCER16 to get a 30% discount.

Can BB get an ESO!!! http://conference.latism.org/home

Look forward to being a voice for Latinos and hoping you’ll join in the chorus.

And to those who want to silence us?

 JU SO FONII!!  

Nos vemos Octubre 19 en Disney.

BB2U

Reyes, Rights, y Risas

Portions of this post are from an article I wrote for a bilingual newspaper que tenemos here in N. Florida, Conexiones. Didn’t know we had that many Hispanics up here did ya? Take a moment and look at the publication, there are online issues for you to enjoy.

Reyes foto de gifsyfondospazenlatormenta.blogspot.com/

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!  

Es 2016- can you creerlo?  Seems like just yesterday Santi Clo was getting his cookie fix, and now we’re sharing our wishes and dreams with Los Reyes Magos.  Isn’t it wonderful to be parte of various cultures??  Twice the celebrations-Doble Celebraciones!!

What’s your wish and dream for 2016? It’s the comienzo of a new year, and the future looks bright, if we choose it to be.  When Babushka thinks of the future, she has to think of The Grands. Mis nietos, all our children, are our collective legacy.  Their health, mental and physical, their education and their happiness to pursue whatever their dreams are, is the bright future BB chooses to see.  Hopefully organizations like LATISM, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund,and Hispanic CREO will continue to grow and represent our children, and their right to quality education. Organizations like the National Council of La Raza , LULAC, and Hispanic Heritage Foundation that deal with civil rights and prepares them for leadership, also may they coger fuerza. And those amongst us whose voices have been shushed and hidden for years,Unity Coalition y el National Latino Behavioral Health Association ,may their story be heard with compassion and corazon. Y speaking of corazon, the heart of our beings, the Arts, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture as well as the National Hispanic Foundation of the Arts representandonos alli.  With this,  BB shows examples of intellect, soul, passion, pero falta the body,OUR bodies to join, interact, or even start a group, lo que sea, but accion. AHORA. As we say en Buen Cubano- Pa’ Tra Ni Pa’ Impulso!

What will be your impulso for 2016?  How bright is your dream of the future?  

Babushka’s prediction for this year??

Shades from JLo's "Shades Of Blue"- BB has a giveaway coming up de eso.

So Bright We're gonna need shades!!!

Always Remember:

“If someone doesn’t see YOUR Brilliance,

you look at them, Smile, and say-

JU SO FONII!!”

Shine on and Shine Bright Beautifuls, porque 2016 will be BUENISIMO!

Babushka Besos a Todos. Cuidensen.

Look out DC, Que Pa' Ya Va BB!! LATISM'15

"LATISM15 brings together the top leaders and influencers in the space.  Our goal is to share best practices,  reach Latino(a)s in the digital space, and  build the pipeline of  tech innovators.  Together we are igniting Latino(a)s to drive the innovation economy."

If you could lobby in DC what cause would it be? Cual de los siguientes son especiales pa' ti?  Education,Health,Technology,Civic Engagement,Diversity & Inclusion,Business, and National Policy are the starred topics. LATISM15 proposes to instruct top Latino Influencers on how to better organize and project their passions and beliefs and then introduce them to other influencers and lawmakers who can further their causes. This year Babushka was invited to attend as a Top Latina Influencer because of her #StopTheStigma campaign, a campaign hoping to address and eradicate the imensa ignorancia and taboo in our community when it comes to Mental illness. Like BB, influencers on all the above topics will attend to be instructed and guided.

This nation's capitol, our nation's capitol will be the school for over 50 Latino Influencers and a group of hispanic students for the Latino Youth Summit. The goal is to learn,share, and support each other as we strive to have our issues- LATINO issues focused on. LATISM is a group of Latinos who have worked and lobbied for our rights,advancements and inclusion for years. Babushka is humbled and honored to have been chosen, proving that one is never too old to dream and make a difference.

Que cambio would you like to see, and more importante- what are you doing to make it un realidad?

BB2U

P.S.  Now that BB's been recognized, will she slow down a bit?  JU SO FONII !!!!

Ahora si, watch Babushka Burn.

#Latism15   Tweety @LATISM    Feibu https://www.facebook.com/latinosinsocialmedia/

http://conference.latism.org

A Night of Firsts for BB & LatismSF - Day 20 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

When Babushka accepted this challenge I thought of all the pictures and stories I had waiting to be told from earlier in the year. Got a lot of 'em.  Seems like so much has happened since Hispanicize and the marvelous people and world I discovered there.  Case in point is Latism- Latinos in Social Media who tonight finished their yearly conference.  This year the conference was in Houston, Texas and I couldn't go, but I did get to go to the first EVER get together of the Latism chapter in South Florida. Oh yes I did- and I almost didn't make it.  You see, there was a storm...

May 10, 2010

Babushka usually uses public transportation in Miami, so Sonia, La Gallina Vieja doesn't like to be all "Babushkaized" while riding.  Thankfully she's outgrowing that silliness, but for this event she was going to do her Clark Kent imitation and had BB's hat, heels and blue eyeshadow in the Popa bag.  Upon arriving at the Lincoln Road Mall  Babushka was in for quite a shock.  The last time I was there it was a quaint little outdoor mall which catered to the older, mostly Jewish population of the area and though slower paced , BB always enjoyed going there- especially for the delis.

http://www.priceminister.com/image?action=slideshow&imagestype=PRODUCT&prdimageid=869096783&productid=112952357

the Lincoln Road Mall circa 1976




Bueno delis, make room for discos, 'cause this is the mall now!

http://greenstreetre.com/investments/details.asp?Inv_ID=5

Besides the shock, Babushka was battling the elements.  From out of nowhere a storm hit the city.  Ok si, it wasn't a tornado like we have Up North in The South, but it sure was close!  Sonia had to duck into store entrance to begin her transformation. Queee??   JU SO FONII!!!  No there weren't any phone booths, everyone in Miami has a cellular- and usually a smartphone at that.  Continuing.  Here's the first doorway I ducked into

Babushka now had her hat and heels, but there wasn't enough reflection so I moved to

and completed the transformation.  

Ah yes, that was quite a sight- una vieja in a furry Babushka hat taconiando and running between empty shops trying to keep dry, not melt, and not be carried away by the wind or the men in the white suits.Thankfully, like most sudden rains in Miami, it lasted about 10 mins. Fast, Furious y Fuerte- typical Miami.

But all ended well. 

I made it to the event, met a great group of people

Pic from Feibu

  

AND-

at 11:42 pm I met today's deadline for the SMCSF challenge.

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Google + Left me all Googly Eyed

Babushka had just come from the Ford Fusion event in LA (wonderful event, but total shock after no air travel for over 15 yrs- but that's another post) and literally went straight from the airport to the empowering Hispana Leadership Summit  in Miami.  Needless to say I needed a rest. Queee?  JU SO FONII!!!  Ok si, Miami and rest? Bueno, maybe not rest but I did slow myself down a little.  I stayed with La Tata in Little Havana and just chilled with her because let's face it- she's a strong 90 year old, but there's only so much partying she can do.

During my "down time" I was busy with my Tweety and my Feibu, but I was reading how Google is destined to become the King of Social Media and was curious. I started playing with Google+ but really didn't quite get it.  I tried, but considering BB's no techie and am still trying to follow Feibu with the new Timeline I left it alone.  Not anymore; the S Sisters made sure of that.

I received an invitation via Google+ from Joe Martinez to attend a SMCSF event about Google+ of which he was one of the panelists. On a prior trip I had met this personable young man at a  Latism function and wanted to show support so I got bus fare and went.  Si, BB takes the public bus when in Miami ,and you should see the looks! But again, that's for another post.  Continuing with the SMCSF event, I arrived at the Hotel Urbano.

Nice.  Totally unassuming from the outside but once you're there...

you're in a mini Cosmopolitan Oasis

complete with art gallery

and reflection

In reality this was a perfect place for the SMCSF event because this too was very cosmopolitan. 

foto by Joe Martinez

The different people,organizations, oficios that use Social Media- attending were marketing professionals for the Florida Bar,programmers, bloggers and everyone in between. We were all there to learn about the powers of Google+ and how to use it better, and boy did they tell us how to use it better.

Joe Martinez, Hanae Kimura, Cynthia K. Seymour
foto by Natascha Otero

My friend Joe & moderator Liza Walton

Oh the things one can do with Google + , they left me speechless and all Googly Eyed. Esta bien, you're right, being Cubana, speechless is an exaggeration  but my head was definitely spinning with the information and possibilities. Turns out Google+ "is the best combo of all social medias- it has the conversation of Twitter with more than 140 characters, not as buttoned up as LinkedIn, and the circle of participants is bigger than Facebook" Can you imagine? Just "search" for a topic and people appear. Que fun!  And speaking of people and fun, let's not forget about the "social" part of the SMCSF.

Joe Martinez, Agustina Prigoshin,John Muir, Maria de los Angeles, BB, Blanca Stella Mejia ,Kerry Gruson 

It was so nice to see friends like my Capitan Maria de los Angeles and Lynn Ponder as well as finally meeting in person my fellow roadtripper Alex Carvaljo  and GM rep Melissa Galarza. Not only that, but I got to know Blanca Stella Mejia better and have a 3D real vision, not profile pic, of the lovely Brenda Leguisamo. I also met charming people like Agustina Prigoshin and the very down to earth Queen of thescene. Y quien dice, who says Miami people aren't nice and friendly? John Muir and Kerry Gruson (who I knew I was going to like as soon as she ordered a cappuccino)  graciously offered BB a ride home when they heard I was going to take a bus. Oh, and I got swag -and you KNOW Babushka loves her swag!! Si, not usually done at these events, but I got something I sooooo need.

Gracias to Franky Arriola from NapDogMedia.com

Babushka's entering this decade! 

Now I can understand My Little One when she posts RL or TAS 

and I now know how to have "hangouts".  AND I can also have them via YouTube!! 

Oh my. 

Consider yourselves forewarned My Beautifuls because BB's gearing up for new adventures and I welcome y'all to be part of it. 

 Estan listos?? 

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  More pics of the event on my Feibu page.