From September 12-14, the Glocal Association of Communicators is holding the Media Music Marketing Hispanic Summit in the city of Miami, starting with the Fiesta de la Hispanidad, in commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The opening of the event took place this Thursday at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon Hotel, venue of the event for the second consecutive year.
Founded by sisters Fayra Castro and Monica Ortiz, and based in the state of Florida, the Glocal Association is a non-profit organization focused on the development and empowerment of communication professionals and content creators in Hispanic America. Through a combination of training, educational resources, mentoring and events, the organization works to elevate the skills and knowledge of its members, strengthen their capabilities and professional networks, and promote a positive impact in their communities.
The MMM Summit is the organization's annual global event designed to connect attendees with the latest trends and key industry leaders. Over three days, participants enjoy cutting-edge training, opportunities for strategic alliances and the Eagle Award ceremony, which this year celebrates its 14th edition.
During the Fiesta de la Hispanidad, seven Hispanic leaders who are making a positive impact on the community were honored. They are:
Ruben Gimenez
Originally from Argentina and a resident of the United States since 2001, Pastor Rubén Giménez is a prominent religious and community leader. With a degree in Theology from Argentina Baptist University, he has founded several churches and two theological schools, both in Argentina and Miami. In Miami, he has been a pillar of the community, organizing marches for Jesus and establishing Communities in Action and the AFE Community Center, where he has provided support to thousands of people in areas such as food, employment, health and housing. In addition, he has had a significant impact on social networks and has been recognized by various governmental organizations for his valuable work on behalf of families in need.
Mayra Nazario
An outstanding missionary, communicator and journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the REMAR International Ministry, she has been instrumental in disseminating outreach programs and managing resources for the homeless through REMAR USA in Fort Lauderdale. With a 25-year career in radio, she has produced family and community-focused content on stations such as Radio Amanecer, Radio Luz and CVCLAVOZ. In addition, she has worked as a missionary in Spain and Guatemala, where she has focused on the rehabilitation of young women and the psycho-pedagogical development of children and youth.
Jesse Rojo
A native New Yorker of Dominican descent, he is a noted human rights advocate and director of Philos Latino at The Philos Project, a Christian leadership community dedicated to promoting positive Christian engagement in the Middle East. In this role, he has led bilingual programs to educate the Hispanic Christian community about Israel. He founded Israel A Cappella in 2016 to connect Hispanic Christians to Israel through music. He holds a bachelor's degree in theological studies from Hyles-Anderson College and is part of the international church planting network Redeemer City-to-City, founded by Tim Keller.
Henry Alonzo
Alonzo is a prominent music entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California. Co-founder and creative director of Adarga Entertainment Group, he runs a company specializing in services for independent artists and record labels. With a bachelor's degree in Commercial Music from Azusa Pacific University and a master's degree in Business Practice from Concordia University, he has collaborated with major artists and companies such as Sony Music, Universal and Reach Records. He is also a lecturer at Azusa Pacific and has spoken at numerous music industry conferences and events.
Vicente Pimienta
He is an influential marketing and advertising leader, recognized as one of the 'Top 100 Marketing and Advertising Leaders' at MADcon 2020 and as '2018 Digital Educator of the Year' by the US Minority Chamber of Commerce. As CEO of Digisults, he has facilitated the transition of numerous companies into the digital marketplace and serves as a Digital Coach for Grow with Google in Florida, where he works to bridge the digital divide in underrepresented communities, especially in the Hispanic community. He is the author of the book Website Centric Strategy: The Digital Paradigm Shift, and is widely recognized for his expertise in public speaking and his ability to empower businesses in digital marketing and multimedia solutions.
Omayra Alvarez
She is an outstanding missionary and Hispanic leader with 25 years of experience in the mission field, where she leads Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa, focusing on teaching biblical principles and bringing help to those in need. He is also part of the regional leadership of YWAM in the Caribbean. She also serves as president of Haggai Dominican Republic, 3rd Vice President of the Dominican Council of Evangelical Unity (CODUE), and is an ordained pastor of the Shekinah Council of Christian Churches. She has a degree in Administration and a degree in Theology, and is a certified coach by John Maxwell Team. Her commitment to the defense of life, family and liberties, along with her efforts to redeem the arts, has been recognized with several awards for Christian music-theater events.
Luis Piña
With more than 12 years of experience, Dr. Luis Piña is an expert in the training of pastors and leaders in ministerial and professional Chaplaincy. Recognized for his innovative vision in specialized Chaplaincy education, he has been instrumental in establishing ministerial and governmental alliances. He is the author of the Latino Diamond Award 2023 nominated guide, “6 Keys to Developing Effective Alliances”. With a Ph.D. in Chaplaincy and certifications in counseling, he is president of the International Academy of Chaplaincy and co-directs Men with Purpose Ministries. His work has been honored with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, among other recognitions.
The Fiesta de la Hispanidad evening highlighted the richness and cultural diversity of the Hispanic community with musical performances that included the duo Mariannah y Diego (MYD), formed by Cuban Mariannah Aguilera and Salvadoran Diego Archer. Also performing were Marky, a talented Cuban urban artist, Ecuadorian singer and DJ Samuel Serrano, Dominican singer-songwriter Omar Salas, and Ecuadorian urban artist Liaz.
The Fiesta de la Hispanidad was hosted by renowned communicators Hernan Pantoja, from Puerto Rico, and Mellky Villegas, from Costa Rica. Their charisma and stage presence added a special touch to this event, which was held thanks to the sponsorship of Unicity and with the support of Trapformation Radio, Eagle Led and AB Dreams.
The Glocal Association provides comprehensive support to communication professionals and content creators in Latin America. Its objective is to elevate their skills and knowledge, strengthening their professional networks with industry leaders through training, educational resources, mentoring and an annual event.
The organization seeks to help professionals increase their confidence, professionalism and career opportunities, while fostering greater satisfaction in their daily work. The association strives for these professionals to not only communicate, but to establish meaningful connections between their communities and available resources, creating a positive impact on their environment.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano Internacional
