Leadership, Community, and lots of fun at LAM-Network’s 8th Anniversary.

By Lupita Peimbert.

It was exciting getting together with a fine group of Latino professionals and others who love everything Latino and Latin American; meaning: fun music, beautiful women, dance, handsome men, interesting conversations, and most of all, camaraderie.

LAM-Network, an online and offline organization that used to be called Latinos a Morir (LAM) –and I still prefer that name! celebrated their 8th Anniversary at the W Hotel in San Francisco. The centerpiece for this event was the recognition of outstanding Latinos who use their success to support the community.

06272015_LAM8_SapientStudios_971_D7H1694 — A group of LAM members and finalists for a community award having to pose before the event. At the center, in red, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, guest speaker for the event.

A wonderful surprise that evening was the presence of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who says: “I am excited to see a new generation of well-educated and global Latinos.Their quest will be to decide how much of their success will stay within their circles, and how much will be used to empower other Latinos.”

The four professionals and one non-profit organization recognized with a LAM Community Award are:

Member of the Year:
Brian Rashid, TED-speaker and messaging expert.

Brian2 — Brian Rashid receives Member of the Year award.

Mover-and-Shaker:
Laura Gomez, Latina tech entrepreneur.

Activist:
Richard Carranza, Superintendent, San Francisco Unified School District.

06272015_LAM8_SapientStudios_747_DSC4731 — Richard Carranza, Superintendent of Schools in San Francisco, receives The Activist award.

Corporate Advocate:
Rafael Hurtado, Advisory Manager at KPMG.

Community Organization:
Bizworld.org, entrepreneurship for kids.

BizzORg — Bizworld.org publisher receives Non-profit of the Year award.

Giovanni Dubois, who founded LAM-Network in 2007, says: “We are humbled by having the opportunity to recognize such important individuals through our community awards.”

06272015_LAM8_SapientStudios_298_DSC4416 — Sofia Navarro, Jorge Ortiz, Martha Soledad, and Giovanni Dubois.

Kuddos to the other directors from LAM-Network: Pablo Perez, CEO, and Sofia Perel, Partner and Marketing Manager. The presence and support from Verizon, HermanMiller, Aeromexico, and Alex Sotelo Cellars definitely made this event better. Event Planner Michelle Madrid, who produces corporate, nonprofit, and private events ran the evening smoothly, as usual. DJ C Bass did a spectacular job with his choices of songs and music. Everybody danced at some point on another!

The one who writes is very happy to have done PR and media for this event again, as I enjoy tremendously working with LAM. What I really like about LAM-Network is that their events are uplifting, positive, and fun. This was a social/community grand party but they also organize plenty of career development and entrepreneurship workshops and forums. Find them at LAM-Network.com and invite yourself to an interesting circle of friends!