This weekend brings the largest event for the Latino Community in Northeast Ohio: the 26th annual Convención Hispana. On Saturday, October 16, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, thousands of people will gather at St.Ignatius High School in Cleveland to highlight and discuss what is being done to enrich the Latino community.

Convención Hispana is hosted by the Hispanic Roundtable Community Programs and will focus on the organization's "E³" initiative, which stands for "Economic Development, Education and Empowerment".

Convención has always served as an opportunity to address the needs of the Latino community. The event will offer health screenings for those who don't have insurance, a job fair with resumé assistance and public issue awareness education, in addition to complimentary breakfast and lunch, daycare, raffles and prizes, music and much more. Convención also provides a forum to tackle larger issues, such as encouraging local Latinos to run for – and be elected to – government office. There are teams to address various aspects of community development, including Business and Economic Development, Civic Involvement, Community Development, Education, Hispanic Health and Social Services.

More than 2,000 people are anticipated to be in attendance at Convención Hispana, including Mayor Frank Jackson and the event's keynote speaker, the honorable Judge Keila D. Cosme, who is Cleveland's answer to Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Sonia Sotomayor. Cosme was the very first Latino ever appointed to the court of appeals in the state of Ohio. It is a very important time in the Latino Community, as census numbers will attest, recording a growing population. 

Convención Hispana, which began in 1984, offers an opportunity for Latinos and non-Latinos to see that they are on the same page. At the end of the day, Latinos want the same things as other Northeast Ohio residents: access to good jobs, health care, elected officials who serve our best interest, and the ability to keep their families here.

WATCH: Preview of Convención Hispana with José Feliciano Sr.

In the pantheon of iconic males,  one thing seems constant: a motorcycle. From Brando's wild ride to McQueen's high-flying escape to Fonda's easy riding, there are certain movie moments of machismo that every boy and man lives vicariously though, hoping to one day emulate. Sometimes, these captains of cool ride closer to home. 

My father's first two-wheeled motoring experiences were not born to be wild, but born of necessity, as he bought for a pittance and repaired a lengthy list of Vespa and Lambretta scooters as a young man in Dublin. He later graduated to motorcycles, which became a vehicle for marriage. He and my mother honeymooned throughout Europe on a fresh out-of-the-box 1977 Suzuki GS400. 

Years later, my brother, who has long channeled a Knievel-esque kindred spirit, got his first yearning for two-wheeled automation. It started innocently enough with a moped, and now, more than a decade later, has grown to a Honda CBR600, which has been modified so that each ride closely approximates the act of willingly mounting oneself on an ICBM. 

Perhaps it was pictures of my father atop his 1970 Lambretta GP150 near the Arc De Triomphe, too many viewings of Quadrophenia or a fear of launching myself into a tree, but vintage scooters, not motorcycles, have literally been more my speed for years. More important, riding and restoring scooters (read: tinkering and asking for lots of help from people more mechanically inclined) has brought me many new friends, and given my father, brother and I even more to talk about. It was my younger brother who taught me how to first ride, and he's helped me with more than a few scooter building projects. 

However, always lingering in the back of my head was the call to step up to motorcycles. Nearly all the riders I know and respect, including my brother, insisted that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course was a necessity. I tend to default to experts. 

After years of riding with a temporary permit, this past weekend, I took the three-day MSF course offered by Liberty Harley-Davidson in Boston Heights. The first day consisted of four hours of classroom instruction, while the second and third days, Saturday and Sunday, from 8 am to 4 pm, put the class on bikes – really fun Buell Blasts, to be more precise. 

Proving that cool is not discriminatory, the class brought together a diverse group of men and women, young and old, novices and experienced riders looking for a refresher course. I took the course with three friends. On the morning of the first day, in a hilarious combination of first day jitters and unfamiliarity, I stalled my bike roughly half a dozen times.  

By the end of the second day, I was comfortable with controlled emergency braking, tight cornering, the dreaded double U-turn in a box, swerve avoidance techniques and more skills I'd never have developed on my own. In short, I became more confident as a rider. More over, I was more in touch with my abilities, aware of my threshold, and more prepared for the open road than I'd ever been. The instructors, Joe Pletikapich and Kevin Shorie, were fantastic, not only in their patience throughout the exercises, but also in their ability to explain and demonstrate the skills required. They were encouraging and any nugget – of which there were many – of rider wisdom that they shared was much appreciated. I passed the riding exam with flying colors, and I had a great time with friends. My clutch hand is a bit sore, but my only regret is not having taken the course sooner. 

I fear maturity is rearing its sensible head. I think looking cool while riding starts with knowing how to ride safely. Anybody can hop on a bike, shift into gear and roll the throttle, but proper technique begins with expert instruction and supervised, dedicated skill development. The fun part is putting those skills to practice. The best part is having an avenue of enjoyment that requires all your thought and attention. I think the honeymoon just started.

Collaboration requires baked-in leadership, and we’re not just talking about pie. Progress is made when leaders lead where there’s a need, galvanizing others in the process. The folks in the Lake Erie Building at Templar Industrial Park are leaders. They decided collaborating on an open house was the perfect way to usher in spring and showcase the West Side’s inner ring artistry. A local professor continues to lead beyond instruction: his weekend-long poetry exposition offers a soapbox for amazing writing and perspectives, bringing in poets from far and wide. A local dance company’s cutting-edge performances continue to lead in the Midwest – and have drawn in a couple of organizational fans for a new breed of benefit concert. That’s three Fresh Starts just for you. None of them happens in a vacuum.

Jawing In Kent

It’s been a long time since the Classic Cleveland Poetry Slam at the Beachland Ballroom came to an end. Thankfully, there are many events across Northeast Ohio that have filled the gap. Kent State University poetry professor Maj Ragain helms one of the best: the annual Jawbone Poetry Reading and Pie Festival, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this Friday, April 30 and runs through the weekend. The affecting catalyst, as revered as the late Daniel Thompson by some, provides an open poetry forum with featured guests from across the region and the country. The whole weekend ends up being a venerable who’s who for regional poets. Of course, there’s pie, too. Lots of pie. This is a must for anyone with a poetry jones. Learn more at Standing Rock’s website.

Screw You

Take in the Screw Factory Artists Spring Open Studio this coming Saturday, May 1 from 1 to 8 pm, at the edge of Birdtown in Lakewood. Artists Arabella Proffer, Gina DeSantis, Shannon Okey and more than two dozen other local artists open their Lake Erie Building studio doors for a no-cost, open to the public open house. The mediums on display for this auction-exhibit include fiber, photography, painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass and mosaics. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Friends of Madison Park. Organized in 2007, FOMP is a community group committed to enhancing Lakewood’s Madison Park as a “backyard park” for children and families.

Watching the ‘Wheels

Here’s one that’s sure to end up on many “Best Of” lists at the end of the year: Dancing Wheels Dance Company and School joins forces with two marquee arts organizations for a benefit gala/concert at the State Theatre at Playhouse Square Saturday, May 1 at 7:30 pm. Titled And All That’s Jazz!, it features special musical guests the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, along with the heavenly Singing Angels and students from the physically-integrated dance company and school. The program features two world premiere dances, including one by Broadway legend Donald McKayle, who will give a pre-performance talk prior to the performance. The gala, featuring hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a silent auction, immediately follows in the theatre’s swanky lobby.

There's nothing quite like a liberal dose of spirited competition to bring out the best in people. In Cleveland, fans – fair-weather to fervent – stand behind the Cavs as they march to a championship. The city celebrates each win, each dunk, each bucket, with shared enthusiasm. Strangers are suddenly high-fiving friends, and there's a tangible energy pulsing through the region, from West Side to East. We're a proud city. We like winning.

Over the years, the North Coast has had many epithets ("the mistake on the lake") hurled our way, and we've survived more than a few notorious incidents (our burning river). I'm sorry, Joakim Noah, you're neither original, nor clever.

Noah has certainly grown bitter, though. In a league where points and triple-doubles are the stuff that feed fans' fervor, Noah's stats mostly reflect his skill at being a lout. He has been ejected once, received eight technicals and 198 personal fouls this season, 3.1 personal fouls per game. Well done, Noah: Those represent your highest numbers since being drafted in 2007. If you were Michael Jordan circa 1989, we'd be more worried.

Chicago is a wonderful city. It's a bustling Midwest metropolis with loads of curb appeal. It's a lakefront town with a rich history. It's renowned for award-winning restaurants and shopping opportunities. It has a strong cultural presence, with numerous parks and museums. It's pro football, baseball and basketball teams are big draws. Sounds awfully familiar.

Cleveland was already a year old, incorporated in 1836, an industrious city on Lake Erie, by the time Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837. While Chicago has Grant Achatz, Rick Bayless, Paul Kahan and Charlie Trotter, Cleveland is no slouch in the chef department. Cleveland is home to a nationally lauded restaurant scene, led by the likes of Lolita/Lola/B Spot/Bar Symon chef/owner Michael Symon, L'Albatros/Chinato/Parallax/Table 45 chef/owner Zack Bruell, Melt Bar & Grilled's Matt Fish, The Greenhouse Tavern's Jonathon Sawyer and Momocho/Happy Dog's Eric Williams. The Magnificent Mile is impressive, yet those famed labels and retailers that figure prominently on the strip are hardly unique to Chicago. In Cleveland, you'll find an eclectic collection of locally owned boutiques that sell locally made goods. From Room Service and Salty Not Sweet, to Banyan Tree and Revive, you'll find amazing wares not easily found elsewhere. There's also Brigade, which sells clothes from Cleveland-based, LeBron-approved Wrath Arcane, NEXT and Style Lounge.

Northeast Ohio is blessed with numerous beaches, Lake Erie, and one of the country's finest natural resources, the Emerald Necklace. The Cleveland Orchestra is consistently ranked among the finest ensembles in the world, while the Cleveland Museum of Art is home to a a world-class collection of art. From MOCA to the Sculpture Center, and too many galleries to list, Cleveland is awash in culture. We also have the Browns, the Indians and, of course, the Cavs.

So, what's the lesson here, Noah? It's easy to be defensive without being foul.

If there’s one thing binding this week’s Fresh Starts together, it is imagination and exceptional creativity. Maybe you’re the kind of “end user” who wants an insider’s understanding of the technology and innovations that alternately abet and upset. Or perhaps you’re wondering how to combat the human toll from a devastating virus. Want to lessen your own toll on the planet, but have no idea where to start? We’ve got that, too. Even if all you want to do is “blow the winter stink off” with some hot jazz stylings, Cleveland’s got your dance card covered.

Hack the Planet!
“Hacking the subconscious mind,” is a social engineering catchphrase describing peoples’ vulnerability to subliminal, external influence. We don’t pretend to know all of the ins and outs of Dale Carnegie-esque Jedi mind tricks, but we all know something about computers and the similarly-attuned missions of their hackers. The weekend-long Notacon Computer Hacker Convention delves into that shadowy world, pairing creativity and community with technology and counterculture starts Friday, April 16 at the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square. The largest of its kind in the Midwest, Notacon spends equal time covering tech innovations, nerdcore hacker culture and “black hat” system cracking. It’s a spellbinding, Trojan horse of a learning experience, aimed at all levels of interest and experience. Not sure it’s for you? Check out their Freeview on Thursday, April 15 at 7 pm and score a handful of rapid fire presentations previewing Notacon’s topics and talkers.

Beyond Haring and Mapplethorpe
Launched by the Cleveland Institute of Art seven years ago, the ArtCares partnership between the CIA, the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, and MOCA Cleveland has been simply outstanding. Back in 2003, CIA student Tony Bowden wondered aloud what he could do to help conquer HIV/AIDS and bring about awareness through art. Today, ArtCares trains focus on the toll that the human immunodeficiency virus has taken on the art world. Their stylish, annual reception and auction ArtCares 2010 hits Saigon Plaza in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood this Saturday, April 17. The event features original, contemporary art works created and donated by local and regional artists – not to mention resplendent vino and nosh –with all proceeds benefiting the Taskforce and their fight against HIV/AIDS. Call 216-621-0766 ext. 270 for tix/info.

It’s Not That Easy Being Green…?
Apologies to Kermit the Frog for the pun, but as EarthFest celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day this week, being green has never been easier. The Earth Day Coalition proves it every year with their fest; the 2010 edition runs this Sunday, April 18 from 10 am to 5pm at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. More than 160 different environmental exhibits offer “climate change solutions” ranging from green home improvement and local/organic food, to clean transportation and more. Live music and plenty of family fun rounds out the day; regular zoo admission scores access to everything that Ohio’s largest environmental education event offers. You’ll have fun and come away with a ton of ideas on lessening your carbon footprint. And that spring in your step? Better than ol’ Kermit’s. Just sayin’.

And All That Jazz… Literally
You’re enlightened, we know. Telling you the Tri-C JazzFest that starts Friday is worth experiencing is like preaching to the choir, right? This year’s lineup is particularly intriguing, with luminaries like Ramsey Lewis, Patty Austin, Charlie Haden, Brenda Russell, Cleveland’s own Joe Lovano, the Shaw High Marching Band and an Allen Theatre concert presentation by The Roots making this year’s A-list. Now really, who couldn’t use a little bit o’ ?uestlove’s drumming? It’s like butter. It makes everything bettah.