Miami, FL, Friday 25 September 2026. As the autumn of 2026 begins, the hubbub of back-to-school and activity-filled calendars take hold. SAMA held the year’s ninth SAMA Board Meeting. It took place on the fourth Thursday of September at the usual World Trade Center in Miami venue. The officer present in September was Joaquín Ruhi (vice president). Also present were past president emeritus Paul Borden and SAMA board directors Maria Ravani and Eduardo Hapke. Tony Serrato represented his brother Marcello (SAMA treasurer). Special guest was Albert Collazo, Hispanic Communications Director for Ford.
Carmakers respond to the 2026 Hot Wheels Fun Day
Between July and August, SAMA reached out to various car manufacturers that could be willing to support our 2026 Hot Wheels Fun Day at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital‘s main Miami Hospital Campus. At the September Board Meeting, we were pleased to report that four carmakers agreed to showcase their vehicles at the event: Mazda, McLaren, Ford and Stellantis.
Ford’s La Caravana finally departs
As far back as SAMA’s April 2026 board meeting, Ford has been talking about La Caravana. This cross-country, Miami-to-Los Angeles road trip in a Ford F-150 Lobo envisioned a celebration of Latino culture and heritage. La Caravana finally departed in September. The day of our September board meeting marked the public premiere of the first of 3 Instagram videos covering the antics of Dominican-born and Miami-raised-and-educated Brayan and Brando Ventura, the Ventura Twins.
Albert Collazo played that initial episode at our September 24 board meeting. A love letter to Miami’s Little Havana, it features stops at Azúcar Ice Cream Company, Ball & Chain live music and dining, cigar manufacturer El Titán de Bronce and a cameo appearance by Versailles restaurant.
Subsequent to said board meeting, Ford’s La Caravana completed Episode 2 (Miami-New Orleans-Dallas) and Episode 3 (Dallas-El Paso-Los Angeles).
For more on La Caravana and the Ventura Twins, check out our previous SAMA article, the Ford From the Road page, Instagram and TikTok.
