Building Bridges: How Conexión, Puente, and Lazos Global Work Together to Empower Communities
September 30, 2025
Category: Detroit
2022: A Year to Remember!
January 16, 2023
Puente Annual Report 2022
Eventos 2022
Durante el año 2022 tuvimos un índice de participación en nuestros eventos que nos sorprendió. Nos gustaría agradecer a quienes nos invitaron a su(s) evento(s), nos acompañaron, a los dueños de negocios que nos permitieron ser anfitriones en sus locales, a los panelistas que participaron y, sobre todo, a nuestros patrocinadores. Esto no hubiera sido posible sin todos ustedes. A continuación se muestran imágenes y un pequeño resúmen de algunos de los eventos del año anterior.
¡Estamos emocionados por lo que vendrá en 2023!
During 2022 we had an outstanding participation rate in our events. We would like to thank those who invited us to their event(s), joined us, the business owners who allowed us to host at their establishments, the panelists who participated, and most of all our sponsors. This would not have been possible without all of you. Below are pictures and link recaps of a few of the events from this previous year.
We are excited for what is to come in 2023!
Chelas & Cheers con Contratistas
Empezó con la idea de reunir a los contratistas y celebrar a aquellos que reciben su certificación en reducción de plomo, junto con los empleados de la ciudad que pueden ayudarlos. Sin embargo, este evento lo organizamos para reunir a todo tipo de emprendedores para establecer contactos y forjar nuevas relaciones mientras disfrutan de una bebida y comparten ideas.
¡Felicitaciones a los participantes de la reducción de plomo que recibieron su certificado en 2022!
May 3rd, 2022 at Los Altos Restaurant
October 4th, 2022 at La Palapa del Parian
December 21st, 2022 at La Posada Mexican Restaurant
Initiated in an attempt to bring contractors together and to celebrate those who receive their certification in Lead Abatement as well as city employees who can assist them. We hosts these to bring together every kind of entrepreneur to network and forge new relationships while enjoying a drink and sharing ideas.
Congratulations to the Lead Abatement partcipants who received their certificate in 2022!
Cheers! with Business Alianzas
El propósito es reunir a los miembros de Business Alianzas, así como a otros empresarios, para conocer dónde se encuentra su negocio y cómo podemos ayudarlos. Este es un buen momento para tomar un descanso y pasar el rato con otros. A veces tenemos invitados especiales quienes comparten información valiosa para los emprendedores.
January 18, 2022
at La Posada
August 24, 2022
Cheers to 50 Years!
Is meant to bring together Business Alianzas members as well as other entrepreneurs to learn about where their business stands and how we can help. This is a great time to take a break and hangout with others. Some times we have guest speakers who share predominant information with the entrepreneurs.
Cafecito with Business Alianzas
Cafecito con Business Alianzas es un evento trimestral de networking en la mañana para dueños de pequeñas empresas y líderes comunitarios en el suroeste de Detroit. Los eventos de Cafecito han sido patrocinados por Alliance Catholic Credit Union desde 2021. Estamos agradecidos por su continua coperación. Los Cafecitos trimestrales ya están programados para 2023: el primero se realizará el 24 de enero.
February • May • November
2022
Cafecito with Business Alianzas is a quarterly AM networking event for small business owners and community leaders in Southwest Detroit. Cafecito events have been sponsored by Alliance Catholic Credit Union since 2021. We are grateful for their continued partnership. Quarterly Cafecitos are scheduled for 2023 – the first one is coming up on January 24th.
Mercadito
A finales de 2021 iniciamos un evento en colaboración con El Artesano llamado Mercadito para promover las pequeñas empresas y ayudarlas a hacer crecer su negocio. En 2022 organizamos 2 Mercaditos y asistieron más de 30 vendedores. Planeamos continuar con estas ventanas para ayudar a otros proveedores.
Toward the end of 2021 we initiated a pop-up event in collaboration with El Artesano called Mercadito to promote small businesses and help them grow their business. In 2022 we hosted 2 Mercaditos & had more than 30 vendors who attended. We plan to continue these pop-ups to help other vendors.
Develop with Business Alianzas /
Bilingual Bootcamp Credito Commercial
El propósito de este evento bilingüe es ayudar a los dueños de negocios a conocer las diferentes formas en que pueden aumentar su crédito comercial. Los panelistas, banqueros y prestamistas se unen a nosotros durante estos eventos para brindar más información sobre cómo pueden ayudar o cómo y por qué es importante el crédito comercial.
The purpose of the Bilingual Bootcamp & Develop with Business Alianzas is to help business owners learn about the different ways that they can grow their business credit. Panelists, bankers, and lenders join us during these events to provide more information about how they can help or how/why business credit is important.
Charlas
Estamos ofreciendo Charlas virtuales breves en español o bilingües de temas para emprendimiento durante todo el año. Se puede conectar por zoom a cualquier de las Charlas con este enlace de Zoom: bit.ly/micharla
We also offer short (bilingual or Spanish only) virtual presentations about entrepreneurial topics throughout the year. You can connect by zoom to any of the Charlas with this link: bit.ly/micharla
Lead Abatement classes have been a success!
Durante el año tuvimos 70 participantes y ayudamos a certificar a 59 de ellos; esperamos ayudar a certificar más en 2023. Las clases fueron de forma gratuita para los residentes de Detroit y contratistas que trabajan o planean trabajar con la ciudad de Detroit. Aparte de completar todo el papeleo, nuestro equipo se comunicó con la ciudad y el estado para programar las fechas de clases y exámenes. Nos gustaría agradecer a todos los contratistas que participaron en estas clases, los inspectores estatales y los empleados estatales que nos ayudaron a hacer esto posible.
We had 70 participants and helped certify 59 of them and look forward to helping certify more in 2023. Classes were provided free of charge to Detroit residents and to other contractors who are working or planning to work with the city of Detroit. Our team helped fill out all of the paperwork and had communication with the city and state to schedule the class and exam dates. We would like to thank all the contractors who participated in these classes, state inspectors, and the state employees who helped us make this possible.
Small Business Gala
“The Small Business Ethnic and Minority Media Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 brought together micro-business owners, Black and Brown community leaders and our Metro Detroit ethnic press together to network and celebrate at one of the most prestigious locations in the midwest, the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Our incredible team spent weeks inviting and confirming the guest list for this free event. Puente is so thrilled to have partnered with the Latino Press Foundation to host this celebration of our small businesses in Southeastern Michigan. I am so proud and grateful for my staff!”… Keep Reading
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN OUR 2023 EVENTS
TE ESPERAMOS EN NUESTROS EVENTOS DEL 2023
A Gala to Remember: Celebrating Small Business Owners at the DIA
September 8, 2022
The Small Business Ethnic and Minority Media Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 brought together micro-business owners, Black and Brown community leaders and our Metro Detroit ethnic press together to network and celebrate at one of the most prestigious locations in the midwest, the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Our MC and one of our sponsors was the esteemed Mark Lee from The Lee Group, “It was an honor and privilege to MC and speak at this wonderful event honoring outstanding entrepreneurs. It was a celebration recognizing those truly making a difference.”
My favorite part of the evening was helping entrepreneurs to connect to one another and with media and government leaders. The cocktail hour in the Diego Rivera Court at the DIA was the perfect backdrop to weave relationships. It is not everyday that a taquero, a barber, a realtor, a contractor, and a cleaning company get to network with leaders in banking and government. Introducing some of our Business Alianzas clients to Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II was the highlight of the night for me!
Elena Guardiola
We are thrilled that the Puente Team was able to support the Small Business Ethnic and Minority Media Appreciation Dinner. Our original role was to ensure that there would be a diverse group of entrepreneurs invited, once again providing equitable opportunities for our clients and our community. This gala was by invitation only and we carefully curated the guest list and speakers with leaders in government, education, banking, real estate, and of course small business. Typically these types of events are primarily attended by corporate and nonprofit leaders, we intentionally kept our focus on our mom and pop businesses.
Successful Entrepreneurs, Start-Ups, Great Friends, Incredible Memories!
see the photo gallery below
Grateful for the Latino-Puente Team for their incredible work in organizing every detail of this event.
Left to Right:
- Cintia Alejandra Mora
- Claudia Rivera
- Bridget Espinosa
- Yazmin Payan Sanchez
“I would like to thank the assistance of personalities such as Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Mr. Roberto Nicolas Consul of Mexico, Bruce Morgan of WSU, Wafa Dinaro of Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Kevin Hardy editor of Detroit News, Gabriela Santiago Detroit City Council,This event would not have been possible without the support of these people or these companies.”
A note from our host, Elias Gutierrez, Publisher of Latino Press:
Special thanks to our Sponsors:
- Yolanda Serra, Comerica Bank
- Sherri Saad, Remax Leading Edge
- Joe Gappy, Prince Valley Supermarket
- The Puente Cultural Integration Team
- Stephanie Coney, London Insurance
- Maria Holmes & Shannon Dulin, Comcast
- David Orozco, Beast Construction
- Wicho & Nancy Diaz, El Parian Restaurant Group
- Ada Cepeda, Fifth Third Bank
- Mark Lee, The LEE Group
Recap: Cheers! with Business Alianzas, Chelas con Contratistas and 1 Year Anniversary
February 18, 2022
So far we’ve had two big events this year, Cheers with Business Alianzas and Chelas con Contratistas which took place on January 18th at La Posada restaurant. During both events, besides networking with everyone present, our priority was to register as many contractors as possible for Lead Abatement, a course that explains how to safely work with lead and asbestos. There’s still availability for those interested in this free program.
By the end of the event we registered approximately 10 contractors! Additionally, they were able to exchange contact information between each other. Huge thank you to La Posada Restaurant for allowing us to host this event at their business and to their employees for their attention with us.
Lastly, we want to thank each and every member of the 150 small businesses that form part of Business Alianzas. Our 1 year celebration would not have been possible without all of you! Thank you for allowing us to help you every step of the way. We look forward to continuing working with all of you this year. We enjoyed celebrating with all those who joined us at Los Altos Restaurant, via zoom, and in Puerto Morelos. Thank you to Los Altos for hosting this afternoon with many shared conversations and laughs. Here’s to many more years of assisting entrepreneurs.
Visit our Business Alianzas website to stay up to date with our upcoming events. We hope to see you at our next event!
Recap: Events 2021
January 29, 2022
Business Alianzas is an organization that was launched by the Puente Team on February 7, 2021. The purpose of this organization is to provide entrepreneurs with the help they may need to build a successful business. From assisting them in registering their LLC to filing their EIN to connecting them with other services and resources necessary such as accounting, banking, insurance, and more.
During 2021, Business Alianzas organized a series of virtual and in-person events to promote thriving conversations and the creation of successful business-related collaborations. It was a difficult year for networking; however, we managed to gather with entrepreneurs, always following CDC guidelines.
Entrepreneurial Education
Workshops & Webinars
Our Workshops, Webinars and Cohort events were all designed to contribute with the formation of knowledge around business related topics. For example, our Women Certification Cohort helped women get certified and register their business as women-owned. This will allow them to receive more benefits for their business. Our first session of the Women Certification Cohort took place via Zoom on July 14, 21, & 28. The second session was in-person at Latino Press on August 4, 11, & 18.
In the month of March 2022, we plan to relaunch Serie de Emprendimiento which is a course provided in Spanish made up of workshops that help new entrepreneurs start their business and walks them through the process. Nevertheless, this course is also for those who already have a business as it helps them stabilize or grow their business.
In-Person Networking Events
Some of our biggest networking events yet were Women Alianzas which took place on June 30th and Q3 Develop with Business Alianzas which took place on August 15th. Our Women Alianzas event focused mainly on bringing female entrepreneurs together to create new bonds. This event initiated the Women-Owned Certification Cohort. Our other event was more of a family event. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to bring family and friends to spend time together. We had live music and food for everyone to enjoy. We truly appreciate El Artesano Juice & Café Bar for allowing us to host this and other events at their establishment.
Monthly Events:
Cafecito & Cheers! with Business Alianzas
Our Cafecito and Cheers! with Business Alianzas events were crafted to remove the formality of business meetings, and get to know the humans behind the companies of our community. Furthermore, we updated entrepreneurs on exciting news and other information relevant to their interests. We encourage you to join us at our next Cheers! with Business Alianzas & Chelas con Contratistas which will both take place at La Posada market in Southwest Detroit on January 18th. Our next Cafecito will be on February 25th at Alliance Catholic Credit Union.
We want to thank Latino Press, Alliance Catholic Credit Union , and Chilango’s Bakery for partnering with us for these events.
Launch Events
Corktown Sounds gathered musicians and performers from all different backgrounds in a unique street festival that took place every Thursday afternoon from August 5th – September 23rd. This outdoor event allowed everyone in the city to come out and enjoy the different styles of music in a COVID friendly environment. Corktown Sounds is expected to come back in the summer of 2022 so stay tuned! We would like to thank the Corktown Business Association for partnering with us to make this event possible.
Mercadito opened the possibility to connect amazing vendors with new customers in a familiar environment. Additionally, they were able to create relationships with the other vendors and support each others’ businesses. Big thank you to El Artesano Juice & Café Bar for allowing us to host this event at their establishment.
Business Alianzas is all about forging meaningful connections among the bright spots in our community. Our goal is to help current and upcoming entrepreneurs develop their business by hosting even more valuable events in 2022.
Come and join us, we want to hear from you!
Bilingual Outreach
July 17, 2021
Puente Cultural Integration, LLC is the leading bilingual consulting agency in the State of Michigan supporting Hispanic small businesses and providing coaching to startups in the City of Detroit. We have worked with over a dozen agencies providing program development, project management, and as consultants to nonprofit organizations and governmental departments. Our most important work is helping immigrant business owners formalize their business practices. We start each day determining which businesses need our help.
We have a unique and multi-faceted approach to outreach to the immigrant communities we serve. Puente provided direct, door-to-door outreach to the West Vernor & Springwells Business Improvement District in Southwest Detroit from 2017-2021. During the pandemic, we shifted to direct phone calls, many months making up to 500 calls to ensure that business owners knew of the most recent changes to COVID-19 protocols, grants, and resources.
We currently have a mailing list of over 1000 email contacts, over 500 phone numbers, and we have over 100 direct clients that we are coaching through Business Alianzas.
Presenting the BRIDGE Networking MODEL: Detroit Startup Week
June 16, 2019
This will be my second time presenting at Detroit Startup Week! If you’ve never attended DSW, this is the year to start. There is something for everyone – tech companies, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits all join together for a really powerful experience and it’s all FREE! I will presenting my newly launched BRIDGE Networking MODEL workshop.
Tuesday June 18th 3-4pm
Happy Hour Immediately Following
2nd Floor of the Madison Building
1420 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
#DETSW2019
Register on Eventbrite, then create your schedule on Sched. Be sure to do both steps!
*STEP 1) *Sign-up on Eventbrite
*STEP 2) *Sign-up on Sched and build your schedule
Bring your business cards and take a guided lesson on networking. This Ted-X style Interactive Workshop will be led by professional “Connector”, Bridget Espinosa from Puente Cultural Integration.
Effective networking skills is a requirement in this age of digital social interactions. Learn from a from an expert on how to bring value to every networking event. Go beyond the business card exchange and the LinkedIn contacts to truly create a powerful in-person network. This will be a literal hands-on interactive workshop where we will take you step-by-step on how to strengthen your elevator pitch, increase your value, and up your networking game. Grow your network while you learn using the PCI BRIDGE Model for Networking.
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Apply the BRIDGE Networking MODEL to help you remember that networking is not just about collecting business cards and perfecting your elevator pitch.
Come join me this coming Tuesday for a free Networking workshop – Happy Hour immediately following.
Please share widely – this is open to the public, but registration is recommended because of limited capacity. We all know someone who could use a master’s class in how to network!
Using my years of being a professional “Connector”, I have created an interactive Networking MODEL to help you to remember the most effective tips to successful networking – whether you are looking to boost sales, connect to resources, or find a job opportunity.
In addition, there are free workshops, networking events, and opportunities all week long during #DetroitStartUpWeek.
Register using the following links:
Register on Eventbrite, then create your schedule on Sched. Be sure to do both steps!
*STEP 1) *Sign-up on the Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/detroit-startup-week-2019-detsw2019-tickets-61543257540?aff=eac2
*STEP 2) *Sign-up on Sched and build your schedule
https://techstarsstartupweekdetroit2019.sched.com