2022: A Year to Remember!

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

10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees #1: VOTE!

Welcome to the tenth and final post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!

#1: VOTE!

The conclusion of our 10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees series is quite simple: if you care about immigrants and their rights, vote for candidates who support their rights.

Check out websites such as ISideWith to see how your values align with different candidates’ values. Encourage others in your community to vote and to vote for candidates that will uphold the rights of immigrants and refugees.

How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!

Instagram: @puente.ci

Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration

– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst

10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees #2: Gain Experience

Welcome to the ninth post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!

#2: Gain Experience

Although immigration and refugee issues affect many Americans, they do not directly affect all of us. Because of this, it can be difficult for those who care about human rights to feel connected to immigration rights issues. A way to combat this is to gain personal experience volunteering for or communicating with refugees and immigrants. Many organizations offer opportunities to connect one-on-one with refugees, such as Samaritas‘ tutoring program and the Refugee Outreach Collective’s Global Classroom program.

When interacting directly with immigrants and refugees, it can be helpful to learn some basic terms in the language they are most comfortable with. In my experience working with a refugee partner from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, learning a bit of Swahili made her feel included and more comfortable with me. Even a simple “hello” in their primary language will help you build a meaningful relationship with your partner.

How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!

Instagram: @puente.ci

Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration

– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst

Chelas con Contratistas 4.Oct.2022

This was one of our most successful events since we launched Business Alianzas (post-COVID).

Almost 60 attendees joined us for Cheers! and Chelas on October 4th, 2022 from 5-7:30pm + after party! The Puente Team registered 17 Immigrant contractors for our upcoming Bilingual Lead Abatement Training in November.

The Bilingual Panel: Resources & Opportunities (Recursos y Oportunidades) was very well received.

We broadcast the panel live on Puente Facebook. You can watch the video here:

Bridget Espinosa, Puente CEO was the moderator:

  • Steve Cato, City of Detroit HRD – Chief Compliance Inspector
  • Sonia Alvarado, City of Detroit HRD – Lead Inspector
  • Patrick Beal, Detroit Training Center – CEO
  • Melissa Rios, Detroit Land Bank – Procurement Manager

In addition, we were featured on the front page of El Central Hispanic News on Thursday October 6, 2022.
Un artículo bilingüe fue publicado en la portada de El Central Hispanic News el jueves 6 de octubre, 2022.

El equipo de Puente actualmente está inscribiendo para sus próximos cursos bilingües que se llevarán a cabo del 7 al 11 de noviembre del 2022 y nuevamente en febrero. La fecha límite para inscribirse es el 17 de octubre. Todos los trabajadores de habla hispana en Metro Detroit son elegibles para presentar una solicitud.

Se puede encontrar más información en businessalianzas.org/events 

o comunicándose con
la Gerente General de Puente
Yazmin Payan, al 313-349-0089 o por correo electrónico a team@puenteci.com.

Original Invitation:

Únase a nosotros con una merecida bebida después del trabajo el martes 4 de octubre. 🍻🍸🍹 Tendremos Cheers con Business Alianzas seguido por Chelas con Contratistas

📍 La Palapa (1633 Lawndale St, Detroit, MI 48209)

Agenda:

  • 5:00-6:00 pm Cheers! con Business Alianzas
  • 6:00-7:00 pm Chelas con Contratistas
    • Panel Bilingüe: “Recursos y oportunidades”
      Expertos hablarán sobre los recursos y oportunidades disponibles para aquellos que están certificados en reducción de plomo.
    • Registro para la reducción de plomo noviembre de 2022

—————————————————————————


Contractors, don’t miss out on this networking event! 

Join us for a well-deserved drink after work on Tuesday, October 4th. 🍻🍸🍹 We will be hosting Cheers with Business Alianzas followed by Chelas con Contratistas (Beers with Builders) 

📍 La Palapa (1633 Lawndale St, Detroit, MI 48209)

Agenda:

  • 5:00-6:00 pm Cheers with Business Alianzas
  • 6:00-7:30 pm Chelas con Contratistas
    • 6:30-7:15 pm Panel Bilingüe: “Recursos y Oportunidades”
      Experts will talk about the resources and opportunities available to those who are certified in Lead Abatement. 
    • Registration for Lead Abatement Nov 2022

10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees #3: Share on Social Media

Welcome to the eighth post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!

#3: Share on Social Media

You can be an “influencer” for your friends and family! Make it easy for your loved ones to participate in advocacy for immigrants and refugees by sharing templates for emails and phone calls to representatives. You can also create infographic posts that your followers can repost. As long as you are sharing reliable data and including sources, you can be an impactful social media advocate.

Another effective type of social media advocacy is the sharing of petitions. Create your own on Change.org or reshare already-existing petitions. In order to access the petitions that already exist, try subscribing to the Change.org newsletter or following social media accounts that often post the links to the petitions.

How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!

Instagram: @puente.ci

Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration

– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst

10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees #4: Take Action in Numbers

Welcome to the seventh post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!

#4: Take Action in Numbers

An important right as Americans is the ability to assemble in protest. Exercise this right by organizing a protest of your own or joining a protest in your area. Find local protest events here on Indivisible.

If you are not yet ready to participate in a protest, another choice could be a documentary screening. Invite family and friends to watch a documentary with you, and provide a chance for conversation afterward. Informative options for documentaries and docuseries include Living Undocumented (2019), Targeting El Paso (2020), and Immigration Nation (2020).

Another option is to assemble a group or join a group that focuses on refugee outreach, such as the Refugee Outreach Collective (ROC). Groups like ROC give you an opportunity to be in contact with refugees in order to create cross-cultural and cross-continental bonds.

How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!

Instagram: @puente.ci

Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration

– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst

10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees # 5: Contribute to “Freedom Funds”

Welcome to the sixth post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!

#5: Contribute to “Freedom Funds”

When I.C.E. detains someone, they impose an “immigration bond”, which is essentially the same as bail in the U.S. court system. The bond amount must be paid to Homeland Security in order for the person to be released while their case is processed through court.

There are organizations called “Freedom Funds” that donate these bail amounts to both immigrants and American protestors who have been detained. To support immigrants that have been detained by I.C.E., donate to or volunteer for organizations such as the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!

Instagram: @puente.ci

Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration

– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst

10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees #6: Stay Informed

Welcome to the fifth post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!

#6: Stay Informed

Although we have already discussed educating yourself in this blog series, refugee and immigration rights and situations are constantly changing. New information is essential when it comes to staying up to date on social issues such as those impacting refugees and immigrants in the United States and across the globe. When you become passionate about these issues, it can be tempting to immediately talk about them to everyone you know. However, it is important to stay informed with these topics if you wish to become a strong advocate for immigrants and refugees.

The following resources may be helpful on your journey to becoming an informed immigrant and refugee advocate:

How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!

Instagram: @puente.ci

Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration

– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst

10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees #7: Support Direct Service Organizations

Welcome to the fourth post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!

#7: Support Direct Service Organizations

Nonprofits and other direct service organizations can always use the help of passionate volunteers! To support immigrant and refugee rights, volunteer for or work with a human rights-based nonprofit, such as the International Rescue Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union, or Samaritas.

Another way to directly support nonprofits and service organizations is to organize fundraising campaigns through platforms such as GoFundMe, Givebutter, or Facebook Fundraisers.

If you are interested in donating to or volunteering for local nonprofits, here are some options in Michigan:

How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!

Instagram: @puente.ci

Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration

– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst