When I said I would be part of an epic road trip this summer, some of you couldn’t believe it. After all, my wife was pregnant and due to give birth to our baby girl Naomi right smack in the middle of the summer. Well, it’s true. I am part of a very unique summer road trip only it’s not what you may have gotten used to the past two years when my wife and then three kids docked more than 22,000 miles over 90 combined days on the open roads of the U.S.A.
Today it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to seven road trippers that are part of a very special project I am putting together with Chevrolet (my road trip sponsor for three consecutive years) and Verizon, my newest national partner and our telecommunications and technology partner. Even though I am not physically going on this special road trip, I will be posting select stories from the bloggers that I’m supporting for this program. Below are all the latest and greatest details on the American Latino Heritage Road Trip. Be sure to follow along on Twitter at #LatinoHeritage.
The AMERICAN LATINO HERITAGE Fund PARTNERS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS ON ITS INAUGURAL NATIONAL BLOGGER ROADTRIP
Influential Latino Bloggers to Explore, Visit and Write About Historic Sites
Honoring the Contributions of American Latinos to the U.S.
WASHINGTON, DC (July 10, 2012) – The American Latino Heritage Fund of the National Park Foundation announced today that beginning July 15, five of the nation’s top Latino social media influencers are setting off on a road trip of lifetime with the shared mission of visiting historic sites protected by the National Park Service that honor the contributions of Latinos throughout American history.
In partnership with Hispanicize 2013 and PapiBlogger.com founder Manny Ruiz, and with the support by automotive sponsor Chevrolet and telecommunications partner Verizon, this unique social media project will raise awareness of, and support for, the American Latino Heritage Fund. The Fund strives to tell of a more inclusive story of American History by preserving, celebrating and promoting the cultural, economic and civic contributions of Latinos to the American story.
The “American Latino Heritage Road Trip” will document the history of the nation through four regional road trips spanning thousands of miles in the northeast, southeast, southwest and midwest. Audiences can follow the road trip on Twitter, using the hashtag #LatinoHeritage, or by visiting any number of partnering sites, including:
“We’re thrilled to be working with Hispanicize and Being Latino on the American Latino Heritage Road Trip,” says Midy Aponte, Executive Director of the Fund. “Latinos’ contributions are deeply embedded in the fabric of American History. We hope the stories these bloggers will uncover will help generate a renewed interest in how the American story is told throughout the national park system – and also inspire Latinos to visit national parks.”
“This social media project aims to show all Americans – regardless of race, language, political affiliation or skin color – that Hispanics have played many varied and vital roles throughout U.S. history from Key West to Seattle,” said Ruiz, who in the past two summers has documented 22,000 miles of family road trips on his PapiBlogger blog.
The five social media influencers are no stranger to online media. They include:
- Lance Rios of Being Latino: Rios (@BeingLatino) and his team from Being Latino will canvas the Northeast from New York City to Washington, D.C. His adventures will be posted on www.BeingLatino.us.
- Alex de Carvalho of Social Media Club South Florida: de Carvalho (@AlexDC) will tour Texas, New Mexico and parts of Arizona.
- Eva Smith of Latina Mom Bloggers/Tech.Food.Life Blog: Smith (@Eva_Smith) and her family will document the Southwest starting in San Diego, California and through Arizona and New Mexico. Her travels will be documented on www.techfoodlife.com.
- Cristy Clavijo-Kish of Hispanicize/Los Tweens: Clavijo-Kish (@LatinoMarketing) and her family will explore the Mid-Atlantic Region. Her road trip will be posted on www.LosTweens.com.
- Maria de los Angeles of Sex and the Beach: de los Angeles (@ViceQueenMaria) will be joined by north Florida Latina lifestyle blogger Babushka (@bbabushka) who will drive the entire state of Florida from Key West to Tallahassee. De los Angeles will blog her adventures at http://sexandthebeach.blogspot.com/ while Babushka will document at her website http://bohemianbabushka.blogspot.com/.
“The American Latino Heritage Road Trip is an amazing opportunity to showcase the Latino community and its contributions to our country,” said Jocelyn K. Allen, GM Director of Regional, Grassroots, and Diversity Communications. “We are proud to support this program to celebrate the rich Latino heritage and culture.”
Noticias Newswire 
