Video produced by local filmmaker José Guadalupe Jiménez Jr. with the song "Agradecida" by Yaremi Mora.
Salsa Night
Somos Comunidad Fund invited community to join them for a Salsa Night in April. Hosted at Grand Celebration Center, the evening was dedicated to supporting the fund while showcasing the vibrancy and energy of its philanthropy. The event aimed to raise donations to support the volunteer-led fund as it invests in Latinx-focused initiatives and community-driven projects in Kent County. Participants and volunteers joined together to celebrate Latinx culture, enjoy lively music and dance and contribute to a worthy cause.
Key Event Moments
The evening kicked off with salsa music and dancing. Most of those who attended joined in the fun and learned to dance. Kate Mora Woods and the the Zunzun Dance Team taught us salsa, then Michael Page lead us in the bachata. Zunzun is the official dance team of the GR Cuban Salsa community. We also enjoyed snacks from Mercadito, a new Grand Rapids business, ensuring everyone had the energy to keep dancing and enjoying the festivities. The event featured engaging speeches from Somos Comunidad Fund Advisory Committee volunteer members, sharing their personal connections to the cause and the importance of their involvement.
Watch a short video highlighting the event here. Video produced by local filmmaker José Guadalupe Jiménez Jr. with the song "Agradecida" by Yaremi Mora.
And, to see a Facebook album from the event by Isabel Media Studios, click here.
Throughout the evening, the event emphasized various ways to support the Somos Comunidad Fund. Whether through direct donations, sharing personal stories with the videographer, or simply enjoying the refreshments knowing that a portion of drink sales would go to the fund, attendees were encouraged to contribute in meaningful ways.
Ways to Get Involved with Somos Comunidad Fund
The opportunities to learn more about and support the fund did not end at Salsa Night! Please continue spreading the word about this fund's work to your friends and family. Together, we can make strides and do important work to create change in our communities. You can always support the fund with a one-time or monthly contribution.
Starting May 20, Somos Comunidad Fund Advisory Committee will be recruiting two new volunteers, if you are interested in this opportunity, please let our staff team know. In the fall of 2024 we will share more information about our competitive grantmaking cycle, the investments into Latinx communities that your donations support!
Power of Community
Salsa Night event exemplified the power of coming together for community, culture and charitable giving. Through the event Somos Comunidad Fund was able to unite people for a night of celebration and learning. The success of the event not only provided support to the Somos Comunidad Fund but also showcased the strength and unity within our community in support of Latinx communities in Kent County.
---
Somos Comunidad Fund, led by community volunteers, was established to support Latinx focused and driven initiatives. In partnership with Latinx communities in Kent County, the fund is adaptive and responsive to pressing needs through grantmaking, community engagement and collective giving. For more information, visit GRFoundation.org/SomosComunidad