Coca-Cola Tour: Adelante

CMI and Coca-Cola Inspire LA Latinas to Live Their Dreams

¡Adelante! was the call to action on Saturday, December 3, as more than 300 Latinas from the greater Los Angeles area gathered at the Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica for the first stop on the Coca-Cola Tour: Adelante. Developed with Count Me In, this new initiative designed to inspire and empower Latinas to focus attaining what they need to make the most of their lives.

The Count Me In team had a blast at this day-long, sold out forum, which focused on helping participating Latinas better visualize and realize themselves as nurturers for their families and themselves; builders of intellectual capital; drivers of the entrepreneurial spirit; pillars of their community; and important influencers in the shape the political future of the U.S.

Count Me In Founder Nell Merlino was a featured speaker at the event, along with acclaimed novelist and MacArthur Genius Award recipient Sandra Cisneros, and Nely Galán, a first generation Latina and self-made media mogul, who was the first Latina president of a U.S. TV network (Telemundo) and the only Latina to appear on the hit television series Celebrity Apprentice. 

In addition to hearing inspiring addresses from this roster of power women, participants were invited to place hand written dreams on the Glam Goddess Alter designed by local artist Patssi Valdez, as well as compete in a pitch their plans to live their dreams of starting or growing their own businesses. Ten women were chosen to receive a free round of professional coaching to help them move toward their dreams of entrepreneurial success.

Special guests included Corina Villaraigosa, former First Lady of Los Angeles, media guru Michele Ruiz, and M3 Awardee Beatriz Ramos, who had produced commercials for Coke with her firm Dancing Diablo.

View photos from the event here.

Additional Adelante events are being planned for 2012 in cities across the US. CMI will return to Los Angeles for one of its new Urban Rebound business growth events, supported by the Sam’s Club Giving Program, for women entrepreneurs at the $50,000-150,000 revenue range, in early 2012. Sign up for updates on these and other events here.