Luigi Bravo | A Gateway for Inclusion
Article Written by: Tiffany Anderson
Since our early beginnings, the Hispanic Alliance’s focus has been reaching and connecting cultures and communities across South Carolina. And through the successful partnerships of volunteers, donors, and community members, we’ve done just that. Much of what people see from the outside is our work in the Upstate, but Charleston is also vastly important to our mission and the programs we organize. This has created a real gap in how the state understands our mission and our commitment to the Latino community.
To bridge some of that disconnect, we partner with people like Luigi Bravo whose community work speaks for itself. His event production and marketing organization, Latin Groove, does the work that policy cannot — building a cultural movement where the community shows up on their own terms, celebrating Latin culture through music, food, and entertainment.
When Luigi started Salsa Nights twenty years ago, Charleston looked a bit different. “For years, we’ve hosted events and live music without any problems. People would come out, bring their families. I love how everybody joins in; everybody is welcome. But right now, there’s a lot of concerns. Some of the people in our community are scared to go out in public to enjoy entertainment due to the current political climate.”
But for Luigi, that’s where the real work starts. “Right now, we’re working on education within the community, focusing on giving people resources to connect and hopefully bring them a little peace of mind.” Luigi believes that, even if the approach to community work changes, we all want the same thing: to enjoy life as much as possible.
Latin Groove, as Luigi describes it, is a gateway for inclusion. “I want more people to come in, to share our culture and resources with us. Depending on what people are asking for, I want to be the one to equip them.”
At the heart of his mission, Luigi wants to teach others the importance of compassion, love, and involvement in our society. “A lot of people who come in don’t have knowledge of how to be the change. Some don’t have any experience of interacting with new places or in a new country. I want to be the first person to give them helpful information from the start; I want to invite them into the conversation and put their fears behind them.”
Beyond his work with Latin Groove, Luigi started mentoring with the Hispanic Alliance two years ago because, as he puts it, “I love getting these kids excited about serving their local community. I really enjoy the conversations I have with these kids, and all of them are different. I feel like beyond sharing my life with them, I want to encourage my mentees to be proud of their culture.”
To facilitate some of this societal involvement, Luigi organizes events through Latin Groove. Recently, one of these events involved Harley Davidson and the Charleston Police Department.
“It was awesome to see how the kids engaged in conversations with each other that day. They asked questions about the bikes, about the police department, and I know we touched the lives of two or three kids that day. You never know what that sparks in them later on.”
Luigi mentions how events like that stay with kids for years to come. It may even encourage them to pursue a specific path in the future because someone took the time to talk with them. “The gateway is starting the conversation and opening the doors. It’s all about being part of something bigger than yourself. Not all kids have the same opportunities, but we can help if they’re willing to listen and spend time with someone who does.”
Gabby Capone, the Director of Leadership Programs for the Hispanic Alliance, mentioned that what Luigi does for the students is servant leadership in action. “He introduces them to unique opportunities, and he wants those students to have intentional conversations with adults in influential community positions.”
The mentorship opportunity wasn't something that anyone asked of Luigi.
To him, mentorship was the logical next step of his journey. “In my mind, if I learn something, I need to share it with someone else. If I had someone like that when I was young, I would’ve been in a better position earlier in life. So, instead, I want to help people not make the same mistakes as me.” Luigi believes that having the chance to figure out things earlier makes a huge difference for the future. “When these kids get older, they’ll appreciate the opportunity to learn early.”
This community work is deeply personal to Luigi, who considers helping people his chief goal in life. “My heart is so full when I’m helping others. People know I’m here to help, so they’ll reach out asking for a lawyer or a contractor. For me, that’s extra time to find the right people to connect them with. But it’s important work for me to do.” He continues, “It makes me happy, doing this work, solving problems and sharing the right information when someone needs it.”
By spreading joy with entertainment, events, and culture, Luigi is actively unifying his community for the better. “I know that the situation in the political climate is hard, but these events help a lot of people. We’re here and helping to solve problems in our community.”
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