UNITY COALITION|COALICION UNIDA, INC.
2010 Board of Directors | Junta Directiva
Herb Sosa - President
Vanessa Brito - Political Advocacy
Dahlia Canes - Animal Advocacy
Milan Rodriguez - Equality, women & trans issues
Luis E. Gonzalez - Membership & Development
2010 Board of Directors | Junta Directiva
Herb Sosa - President
Vanessa Brito - Political Advocacy
Dahlia Canes - Animal Advocacy
Milan Rodriguez - Equality, women & trans issues
Luis E. Gonzalez - Membership & Development
| Dahlia Canes dcanes@unitycoalition.org Dahlia Canes Ms. Canes was born in Havana, Cuba and her family was one of the first to be exiled in Miami. As a graduate of Hialeah High in 1971she served as student government president and was the only student to serve on the Board of Governors for Florida National College. Later Ms. Canes worked as a hair & platform stylist for many years, including working with the Llongera Brothers in Spain. Canes holds a Associates Degree in Law, has extensive experience working Florida's courts and judicial system, and has worked as a paralegal with the firm Gregory A. Moore, P.A. for the past 17 years. She is recognized as an animal rights advocate and hands-on rescuer, active in the political & legal system and is currently fighting the breed-specific legislation in Miami-Dade County. Canes is an award winning writer and serves as a board member of Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida. |
In Memory...
| . |
Luis Penelas
Mr. Penela was a nationally respected civil activist, preservationist and community leader.
As a spokesperson for LGBT issues, HIV/AIDS and civil rights, Mr. Penelas served on varoius community boards, as well as on the Board of
Advisors of Unity Coalition.
Mr. Penelas passed away July 2006 and will be greatly missed.
Mr. Penela was a nationally respected civil activist, preservationist and community leader.
As a spokesperson for LGBT issues, HIV/AIDS and civil rights, Mr. Penelas served on varoius community boards, as well as on the Board of
Advisors of Unity Coalition.
Mr. Penelas passed away July 2006 and will be greatly missed.
| UNITY COALITION|COALICION UNIDA is the leading Latino|Hispanic gay civil-rights initiative, offering leadership on issues that concern LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Latino|Hispanic and other minority groups across the U.S. UNITY COALITION|COALICION UNIDA es una iniciativa sin fines de lucro y lider en la defensa de los derechos civiles de la comunidad Latina|hispana LGBT (lesbianas, gay, bisexual, transgenero), ofreciendo liderazgo en asuntos concernientes a este y otros grupos minoritarios en todos los Estados Unidos. |
| MEET THE BOARD | JUNTA DE DIRECTORES |
| . |
| . |
| . |
| . |
| HERB SOSA herb@unitycoalition.org A proven track record in verbal & written communications and excellent public relations/ cause marketing successes Community activist, Miami historian, preservationist and freelance writer, Herb Sosa is a founding member of, and currently serves as President of Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida. Sosa also is Pubisher|Editor-In-chief of AMBIENTE Magazine, a bilingual Hispanic|Latino|LGBT publication produced bi-monthly, offered free of charge, distributed electronically around the globe, and reaches 30,000+ loyal readers monthly. Mr. Sosa brings over 20 years of corporate and not-for-profit leadership experience in the community. Previously, Mr. Sosa was Corporate Creative Director for Burdines Dept. stores, was Executive Director of Miami Design Preservation League and the Art Deco Weekend Festival in Miami Beach. In 1995 Mr. Sosa created and developed the Ba-Balu Store concept in Miami & Miami Beach, earning the store the unique distinction of being named one of Conde Nast Traveler Magazines top 100 destinations in the world in 1996. Mr. Sosa has receive various career and personal accolades from his peers, including the Up and Comers Business Leaders Award (1996), City of Miami Beach Herb Sosa Day proclamation (1997), and featured in Cafe Con Leche, a documentary on first- generation Cuban-Americans (1996). Sosa served as chairman of Miami Beach's Historic Preservation Board for over six years, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami Beach Community Development Corp., Shelbourne & Fernwood HIV/AIDS Housing, and variety of other organizations throughout South Florida. While president of Dade Heritage Trust, Sosa was honored to be involved in the restoration and re- lighting of the 1925 Cape Florida lighthouse in Key Biscayne, culminating with a Gala Re-Lighting Ceremony in July 1996, capping Miami's Centennial. In January 2004, Herb Sosa was named one of Tentaciónes Magazines Top Ten Latina/o activists in the U.S. and in 2005 was named one of OUT magazines Top 100 LGBT Activists and featured on LOGO TV. On April 2008 Sosa was named Terra.com's Activist of the Month. In 2009 Sosa received a City Proclamation from Miami Beach – Herb Sosa Day - for his community work, was nominated for a Glaad Media Award in 2009 for Outstanding Digital Journalism for his work in Ambiente Magazine and was named one of the 25 Most Influential GLBT Latinos by miapogeo.com. |
Unity Coalition of Miami-Dade, Inc.
2002 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa – President, Luisa Rondón-Lassen -Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer “Ron” Saul Brenesky- Secretary, Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Isabel Morgado,
Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg ADVISORS: Doralba Muñoz
2003 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa – President, Luisa Rondón-Lassen -Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer “Ron” Saul Brenesky- Secretary, Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Isabel Morgado,
Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg ADVISORS: Doralba Muñoz
2004 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer, Miguel Trujillo - Secretary, Dahlia Canes, Maria DeLak, Dr. Laura Leyva
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg ADVISORS: Luis Penelas, Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
2005 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa – President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar – Treasurer, Dahlia Canes – Secretary, Arturo Alvarez, Alex Fernandez, Axel Javier, Efren
Martinez Pulgarón, Dr. Laura Leyva, Miguel Trujillo
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2006 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer, Dahlia Canes - Secretary, Arturo Alvarez, Alex Fernandez, Axel Javier, Dr. Laura
Leyva, Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Miguel Trujillo
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2007 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer, Dahlia Canes - Secretary, Dr. Laura Leyva, Dr. Arturo Alvarez, Alexis Fernandez,
Dr. Manuel Laureano Vega, Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Oscar Medina, Tony Rodriguez
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Chairman
Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Dr. Arturo Alvarez, Christian Aguilar, Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Oscar Medina
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida, Inc.
2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“Ron” Saul Brenesky - Co-Chairman, Herb Sosa – Co-Chairman
Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Dr. Arturo Alvarez, Christian Aguilar, Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Oscar Medina
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa|President, Dahlia Canes, David Carcache-Guzman, Armando Diaz, Jr.,Efren Martinez-Pulgarón
2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa|President, Vanessa Brito, Dahlia Canes, Milan Rodriguez, Luis E. Gonzalez
2002 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa – President, Luisa Rondón-Lassen -Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer “Ron” Saul Brenesky- Secretary, Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Isabel Morgado,
Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg ADVISORS: Doralba Muñoz
2003 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa – President, Luisa Rondón-Lassen -Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer “Ron” Saul Brenesky- Secretary, Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Isabel Morgado,
Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg ADVISORS: Doralba Muñoz
2004 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer, Miguel Trujillo - Secretary, Dahlia Canes, Maria DeLak, Dr. Laura Leyva
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg ADVISORS: Luis Penelas, Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
2005 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa – President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar – Treasurer, Dahlia Canes – Secretary, Arturo Alvarez, Alex Fernandez, Axel Javier, Efren
Martinez Pulgarón, Dr. Laura Leyva, Miguel Trujillo
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2006 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer, Dahlia Canes - Secretary, Arturo Alvarez, Alex Fernandez, Axel Javier, Dr. Laura
Leyva, Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Miguel Trujillo
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2007 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Vice President, Christian Aguilar - Treasurer, Dahlia Canes - Secretary, Dr. Laura Leyva, Dr. Arturo Alvarez, Alexis Fernandez,
Dr. Manuel Laureano Vega, Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Oscar Medina, Tony Rodriguez
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa - President, “Ron” Saul Brenesky - Chairman
Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Dr. Arturo Alvarez, Christian Aguilar, Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Oscar Medina
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida, Inc.
2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“Ron” Saul Brenesky - Co-Chairman, Herb Sosa – Co-Chairman
Dahlia Canes, Dr. Laura Leyva, Dr. Arturo Alvarez, Christian Aguilar, Dr. Manuel Laureano-Vega
Efren Martinez-Pulgarón, Oscar Medina
OF COUNSEL: Alan Ginsberg
2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa|President, Dahlia Canes, David Carcache-Guzman, Armando Diaz, Jr.,Efren Martinez-Pulgarón
2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Herb Sosa|President, Vanessa Brito, Dahlia Canes, Milan Rodriguez, Luis E. Gonzalez
VANESSA BRITO vbrito@unitycoalition.org
She has her B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Florida International University. During her five year tenure with the FIU Metropolitan
Center, she served as the FIU Project Manager for the Miami-Dade County Metropolitan Planning Organization quarterly and annual
newsletters as well their Citizen's Guide to Transportation. Ms. Brito has also served as the Project Manager for the 2006, 2007, and
2008 City of Miami EITC Outreach Campaigns, the 2006 Broward County Exit Poll on Hispanic Voter Accessibility, the 2006
Transportation Survey for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's 2006 Transportation Summit, the 2007 Miami-Dade
Expressway Authority Market Analysis, and the 2008 Education Compact for the City of Miami Gardens and the Miami-Dade County
School Board.
Vanessa is responsible for designing methodology and managing public opinion surveys and all market research projects undertaken by
MYami Maketing Inc. She also takes the lead on all strategic planning and marketing development for all clients.
Vanessa currently serves as a Board Member on the Miami-Dade County Climate Change Task Force and the Miami-Dade County Equal Opportunity Board.
In addition, she is a contributing writer to Miami.com and Miami.com en Español, committee member to SAVE Dade Foundation's Communications and
Marketing Committee, a Federal Club member of the Human Rights Campaign, a host committee member of the "Black Crossroads" at the Historical
Museum of South Florida, and a Advisory Board member to the Latin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
Vanessa Brito is Director of MYami Marketing and a contributing writer for Ambiente.
She has her B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Florida International University. During her five year tenure with the FIU Metropolitan
Center, she served as the FIU Project Manager for the Miami-Dade County Metropolitan Planning Organization quarterly and annual
newsletters as well their Citizen's Guide to Transportation. Ms. Brito has also served as the Project Manager for the 2006, 2007, and
2008 City of Miami EITC Outreach Campaigns, the 2006 Broward County Exit Poll on Hispanic Voter Accessibility, the 2006
Transportation Survey for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's 2006 Transportation Summit, the 2007 Miami-Dade
Expressway Authority Market Analysis, and the 2008 Education Compact for the City of Miami Gardens and the Miami-Dade County
School Board.
Vanessa is responsible for designing methodology and managing public opinion surveys and all market research projects undertaken by
MYami Maketing Inc. She also takes the lead on all strategic planning and marketing development for all clients.
Vanessa currently serves as a Board Member on the Miami-Dade County Climate Change Task Force and the Miami-Dade County Equal Opportunity Board.
In addition, she is a contributing writer to Miami.com and Miami.com en Español, committee member to SAVE Dade Foundation's Communications and
Marketing Committee, a Federal Club member of the Human Rights Campaign, a host committee member of the "Black Crossroads" at the Historical
Museum of South Florida, and a Advisory Board member to the Latin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
Vanessa Brito is Director of MYami Marketing and a contributing writer for Ambiente.
| LUIS E. GONZALEZ lgonzalez@unitycoalition.org Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in the small New England town of Guilford, Connecticut, Luis has a theatre, Retail & Visual Merchandising background. He worked for Macy's, J.Peters, and Wheel of Fashion before settling down in South Florida as the House Manager at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Gonzalez has also been involved in Historic Preservation and non-profit work for many years, including volunteering for Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida and working as Office manager of Dade Heritage Trust. |
EQUALITY
Est. 2002
MILAN RODRIGUEZ mrodriguez@unitycoalition.org
Milan Rodriguez is one of Miami’s leading graphic designers, owner of the popular website “Milancita.com” and a successful nightclub
promoter. As a graphic designer she has designed for top 10 companies such as the Carlisle Development Group among others.
Her website, Milancita.com, has had over 120,000 hits since its launch three years ago. Milancita.com was recently named “Website of the
Year” at the Latino Press Awards. With the creation of this website, a dream was born that someday Milan would be recognized as having
contributed something positive to the gay community through a work that she has done, and loved, all of her life. The long hours, the
sleepless nights and the thousands of pictures have all contributed to this accomplishment.
Milancita.com is no longer just a website to see photos from the neighborhood club; it has grown into a seal of excellence in our
community. Weekly events hosted by Milan have broken every standard, expectation and stereotype by pushing the envelope on the
Miami nightlife week after week. She has truly developed an upscale promoting agency that pays attention to detail, those small things
that really make a night special. Whenever attending a party hosted by Milancita, one can be sure to have a good time. It's always
upbeat, fun, sexy and exciting. www.milancita.com
Milán Rodríguez, creativamente reconocida como Milancita.com
Cubana-Brasilera
Estudio Comunicaciones, Diseño Grafico y Luego estudio Diseño de Website en el Miami Dade Community Collage, especializándose en
Flash, una técnica novedosa para crear impresionantes sitios de Internet.
Esta certificada por Microsoft como Especialista de Software que produce esta gran Empresa, también Milancita es certificada por Adobe,
la Poderosa compañía de Software como, Photoshop, Illustrator, GoLive, Premiere, In Design, After Effects, Encore, Audition y muchos mas,
Milancita tiene una tercera certificación por la Mundialmente conocida empresa de Software Macromedia, como especialista en Flash.
Como cualquier persona que llega a esta ciudad sus comienzos fueron difíciles, pero con paciencia, tenacidad y mucho esfuerzo a logrado
llegar hasta donde a llegado, pero sus sueños no terminan ahí, pues piensa seguir subiendo la cima de la vida para encontrar nuevos
valores por los cuales luchar y desarrollarse. Sus Metas son fijas SUPERACION profesional y lograr la UNIDAD de nuestra comunidad que cada
día esta mas dividida.
Hace dos años fundo junto a su Amigo Anthony Cotarelo la conocida firma "Milancita.com" hoy un reconocido website por toda la
comunidad del sur de la florida, con visitantes a través del mundo que, con un average de 2000 visitas por semanas hoy por hoy Milancita.
com es el website mas visitado de nuestra comunidad, no solo por las imágenes que semanalmente aparecen si no también por la vasta
información acerca de eventos y de famosos artistas que se involucran en nuestra comunidad.
Milancita ha hecho Entrevistas a artistas famosos de la talla de Paulina Rubio, Thalia, Gloria Trevi, La India, Ivy Queen, Lucia Méndez,
Alejandra Guzmán, Fey y muchas más. Numerosos premios obtenidos por su labor desinteresada y de información hacia nuestra
comunidad, pero el premio que más agradece es el amor y cariño que le demuestran todos ustedes cada vez que llega a un lugar.
Diseñadora por excelencia, su pasión es el diseño pues desde muy temprana edad le encantaron las mezclas de colores para crear
imágenes visuales, es webmaster de muchos sitios de Internet, contando entre sus clientes a Cirujanos Plásticos, Cirujanos Vasculares,
Empresarios, Abogados, Restaurantes, Clubes y de muchas Divas de nuestra Comunidad.
Hoy por hoy podemos decir que Milancita y su reconocido website Milancita.com son un Orgullo de nuestra comunidad Latina.
Milan Rodriguez is one of Miami’s leading graphic designers, owner of the popular website “Milancita.com” and a successful nightclub
promoter. As a graphic designer she has designed for top 10 companies such as the Carlisle Development Group among others.
Her website, Milancita.com, has had over 120,000 hits since its launch three years ago. Milancita.com was recently named “Website of the
Year” at the Latino Press Awards. With the creation of this website, a dream was born that someday Milan would be recognized as having
contributed something positive to the gay community through a work that she has done, and loved, all of her life. The long hours, the
sleepless nights and the thousands of pictures have all contributed to this accomplishment.
Milancita.com is no longer just a website to see photos from the neighborhood club; it has grown into a seal of excellence in our
community. Weekly events hosted by Milan have broken every standard, expectation and stereotype by pushing the envelope on the
Miami nightlife week after week. She has truly developed an upscale promoting agency that pays attention to detail, those small things
that really make a night special. Whenever attending a party hosted by Milancita, one can be sure to have a good time. It's always
upbeat, fun, sexy and exciting. www.milancita.com
Milán Rodríguez, creativamente reconocida como Milancita.com
Cubana-Brasilera
Estudio Comunicaciones, Diseño Grafico y Luego estudio Diseño de Website en el Miami Dade Community Collage, especializándose en
Flash, una técnica novedosa para crear impresionantes sitios de Internet.
Esta certificada por Microsoft como Especialista de Software que produce esta gran Empresa, también Milancita es certificada por Adobe,
la Poderosa compañía de Software como, Photoshop, Illustrator, GoLive, Premiere, In Design, After Effects, Encore, Audition y muchos mas,
Milancita tiene una tercera certificación por la Mundialmente conocida empresa de Software Macromedia, como especialista en Flash.
Como cualquier persona que llega a esta ciudad sus comienzos fueron difíciles, pero con paciencia, tenacidad y mucho esfuerzo a logrado
llegar hasta donde a llegado, pero sus sueños no terminan ahí, pues piensa seguir subiendo la cima de la vida para encontrar nuevos
valores por los cuales luchar y desarrollarse. Sus Metas son fijas SUPERACION profesional y lograr la UNIDAD de nuestra comunidad que cada
día esta mas dividida.
Hace dos años fundo junto a su Amigo Anthony Cotarelo la conocida firma "Milancita.com" hoy un reconocido website por toda la
comunidad del sur de la florida, con visitantes a través del mundo que, con un average de 2000 visitas por semanas hoy por hoy Milancita.
com es el website mas visitado de nuestra comunidad, no solo por las imágenes que semanalmente aparecen si no también por la vasta
información acerca de eventos y de famosos artistas que se involucran en nuestra comunidad.
Milancita ha hecho Entrevistas a artistas famosos de la talla de Paulina Rubio, Thalia, Gloria Trevi, La India, Ivy Queen, Lucia Méndez,
Alejandra Guzmán, Fey y muchas más. Numerosos premios obtenidos por su labor desinteresada y de información hacia nuestra
comunidad, pero el premio que más agradece es el amor y cariño que le demuestran todos ustedes cada vez que llega a un lugar.
Diseñadora por excelencia, su pasión es el diseño pues desde muy temprana edad le encantaron las mezclas de colores para crear
imágenes visuales, es webmaster de muchos sitios de Internet, contando entre sus clientes a Cirujanos Plásticos, Cirujanos Vasculares,
Empresarios, Abogados, Restaurantes, Clubes y de muchas Divas de nuestra Comunidad.
Hoy por hoy podemos decir que Milancita y su reconocido website Milancita.com son un Orgullo de nuestra comunidad Latina.
LEADERSHIP
ADVOCACY
