The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Windham (LCOCW) is a brand new division of the Windham Chamber of Commerce.
The LCOCW is a 501c3 nonprofit created by local Latinos with the mission to support Latino entrepreneurs, and to uplift and promote the Latino culture, arts, and traditions through events in the area of Greater Windham, according to LCOCW President Dianisi Torres.
The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Windham is a division of the Windham Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy of Latino Chamber of Commerce of Windham)”We are providing opportunities of business education, networking events, financial resources, arts, and traditional cultural celebrations,” said Torres.
In addition to Torres, the Board is comprised of Vice President Luis Morales Torres and Secretary Ronsy Perez, Jr.
“We are all instrumental in the development of the LCOCW,” said Torres.
As volunteers, the group started to create events organizing the community in order to showcase Latino-owned businesses, helping individuals with professional development, and promoting the Latino culture through events.
“Last November, we organized the first Latino Business Expo 2023, where we promoted and gave opportunities for many businesses to set up shop to sell their products and services and network,” said Torres.
The event included professional educational speakers, as well as raffles with gifts.
“There was an amazing turnout for this event, and it really opened our eyes to the amount of Latino entrepreneurs in the area that needed a safe space for education/trainings and the lack of celebration of our culture in the area,” said Torres.
The LCOCW is working on creating opportunities for professional development, art programs, fundraising and collaboration with community agencies to offer programs for youth and adults about business education and arts.
“We are growing slowly but surely in our membership,” said Torres, noting that the LCOCW counts on the support of the Latino community and the business community as it has been creating events through Crown Events before forming the LCOCW.
“We are always looking for small businesses, organizations, agencies, institutions to join us as sponsors and/or partners,” said Torres.
The LCOCW can use the support of the surrounding community to continue to grow.
“The community can best support the LCOCW by supporting Latino businesses, and promoting cultural events by attending our business fairs and other events to get to know and patronize the many Latino business and cultural celebrations, as well as to continue to promote your fellow businesses on your social media accounts,” said Torres. “Getting the word out on an amazing product or experience from a small business with a review can impact in a way you can’t imagine.”
Torres also encourages sharing the LCOCW page, to allow the organization to be visible to a larger audience.
“Also a very important support is participation in our Latino cultural events and programs (soon to be announced),” said Torres.
The LCOCW is located at 47 Crescent St., in Willimantic, and the contact person is Torres at 860-617-9162, dianisi.latinochamberofwindham@gmail.com.
“We LCOCW are very excited to have the opportunity to work for our community creating new programs and spaces for growth for our entrepreneurial and artistic community,” said Torres.
