VANESSA M. CHAVIANO: 2022 Top Lideres Awards; SWFL

​What is your Hispanic Heritage: Cuban American

What area of Florida do you live in:

Vanessa: Cape Coral, FL

What is your profession:

Vanessa: Marketing & Business Operations, Nonprofit Business Leader

Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it

Latin Times Magazine: What is your profession? David Acevedo: Visual Artist, Art Gallery owner, Entrepreneur and Office Manager (Government)

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it

David Acevedo: Before anything else, I am a visual artist first. I have been an artist all my life, but professionally since 1993. It is who I am, as a creative soul and, although it is not my main source of income, I give this career the priority and passion it deserves. Now, for a living, I work at a government office and currently hold an Assistant District Manager position. I also own and manage three businesses. The first is DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts, located in the Butterfly Estates in Fort Myers; secondly, The Union Artist Studios and more recently, Arts & Eats Café. These last two are located in the Alliance for the Arts campus in Fort Myers.

The government job sort of fell on my lap, as I was fresh out of college and found out that the government was looking for bilinguals for certain offices. I was one of the lucky few who got hired and since then, I have worked my way up to a management position in the district.

Regarding my art and businesses, which are all art related, I got into them in a natural and organic way. First, finding my bearings as an artist in SWFL through meeting other artists and associating myself with various art organizations like the Alliance for the Arts, Arts for ACT, Sydney and Berne Davis Art Center, and others. The gallery, studios and the café were chances I took when the opportunity showed itself and I could not resist. I am very fortunate because I have been successful and able to maintain all these things running for so long. It takes an immense amount of work, but the rewards are even greater for me.

Latin Times Magazine: In your industry, what would you say separates you from your

Competition

David Acevedo: I have only done what my heart tells me and what I feel is needed to first, bring more awareness to the local arts community and to bring a little more beauty and vibrancy to the world. I do not see other artists or galleries as competition, as we all work together towards a common goal. I do pride in presenting my product professionally and obsess in the details, but that comes from my own desire to offer the best I can to any art enthusiast or collector. As a visual artist, I focus on presenting an idea in a pictorial way, using the techniques I have performed and perfected through the years all while enjoying the process of executing the piece. I may stand out because I am one of the few Hispanic artists in the are who touches in somewhat sensible subjects such as my heritage, social injustice and LGBTQ+ themes – all tangled in an abstract, somewhat pop art, expressionistic way.

Latin Times Magazine: Why do you feel you were nominated

David Acevedo: I guess I am nominated because of my relentlessness as it relates to promoting not only my art, but that of many local artists who have not been given the chance otherwise. I am also a daring individual, taking risks in an economy that does not see art as a necessary item. Through the businesses I created, manage and operate, the people involved have benefited in many ways. The artists sell their work and produce in a consistent manner, while the customers learn about their craft and processes. Likewise, at the Union Artist Studios and Arts & Eats Café, customers experience direct contact with the career artists that live and thrive in our city. I feel blessed to have this constant desire to help the local arts and have the ability to do so successfully. As a Hispanic individual, it prides me beyond words to achieve something that makes a difference in this area, always highlighting my heritage. I am very thankful for this nomination.

Latin Times Magazine: During Covid-19, tell us about your Biggest Challenge/obstacle and how

you overcame it/or are overcoming it

David Acevedo:  As a business owner, I had the same challenges as many other businesses in the area. We had to close the art gallery for months and were lucky to count on a great landlord that understood and subsidized our rent for a month. We stayed active in a virtual setting, promoting the business in social media and selling artwork online. The café was established in 2021 and, taking all the necessary precautions, we have managed to find a steady stream of activity since then. Regarding the “day job” all I can say is, strict protocols and many sacrifices, all geared towards the safety of the employees and the return to normalcy. Every day was and is still a challenge. All I have always done is get up and be there, with a smile on my face and ready to take on the day.

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about your biggest achievement, and how you achieved it

David Acevedo: I’ve had the pleasure of being nominated and awarded citations in my careers, including a 2017 Commissioner’s Citation for my government work and various grants from the City of Fort Myers for my work in the art field. Also, I was awarded the Lee County Angel of the Arts award in 2009 and a FACE Award in 2016 for my work with Diversity and Inclusion in our area. All these have brought me immense pride and joy, but my biggest achievement will always be my independence in all senses of the word. I am a proud Hispanic LGBTQ+ entrepreneur with an inventive mind and hard-earned resources that allow me to move forward with projects that better my community. Every end of a day is another battle won and I go to bed eager to start another successful day in the morning.

Latin Times Magazine: What is next for you? What can people expect to see from you?

David Acevedo: The closes project is my solo exhibition in the Great Atrium Gallery of the Sydney Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers, opening in May 2023. This collection, which I have been producing for the last year, consists of all new artworks emphasizing aspects of my childhood, recent losses and other experiences in my life, stories, social injustice awareness and other topics, all wrapped up in vibrant colors and textures in a variety of mediums and sizes.

Also, through Arts & Eats Café and the Union Artist Studios, I will start hosting a series of events for the community, including markets, live music and more. As always, DAAS CO-OP will continue strong bringing new exhibitions every month and lots of new local arts for all.

Latin Times Magazine: What does being a U.S. Citizen mean to you?

David Acevedo: I was born a US Citizen, therefore it means my complete identity as a habitant of this earth. It means pride in my Puerto Rico and the rest of the United States. It also means strength and perseverance, especially when I feel like I am representing my origin here or outside of the country.

Latin Times Magazine: What is your opinion of the state of affairs in our nation? And what role

do you see Hispanics/Latinos playing in the future of our nation.

David Acevedo: Since 2016, radicals decided to rebel against the very principals of morality and humanism, all to promote hostility toward Hispanics and other races in the this country. For a while, it felt scary and somewhat paranoiac, just to be recognized as Hispanic. The thought of being a target for speaking your native language in a public setting or just by the color of my skin was ever-present, especially during those first year of the past administration. I am happy to say that today, I feel empowered and hopeful for a future free from racism and bigotry, where everyone is seen as humans and not this race or the other. It is incredibly important for me to act, react and promote a behavior that represents my heritage well. As a Hispanic man, I want to project myself as someone who is professional, educated, aware, courteous and real. In my opinion, everyone grows a little every day. Growth comes from choosing the right decision every single time, regardless of how much harder it may be. My Puerto Rican self is naturally ready with eyes wide open, and a “¡vamos!”attitude, which sometimes annoy those around me who do not quite understand the drive that the people from my island have. As a Hispanic man, I want to lead by example and be respected for the hard work I put in. Hispanic/Latinos play an incredibly important role in the future of our nation, and we need to recognize the needs of our community and fix the deficiencies. We must continue being prosperous and support causes that fight for equality and justice.   

Latin Times Magazine: What words of encouragement can you offer?

David Acevedo: Daily, challenges arise. There are many struggles for the Hispanic community, such as language barriers, mistreatment of the classes, fear of the unknown and many more. All I can say is that things get easier, the more you allow yourself to learn and be open to change. Daily, we can celebrate our heritage and coexist in this beautiful country, in peace and harmony.

Latin Times Magazine: Is there anything I didn’t ask that you would like to share?

David Acevedo: I am thankful for this opportunity and even if I am not a winner, I feel like I won. I am proud to be considered a Lider Latino in this community and I will continue doing my part for a better and more inclusive SWFL.

Latin Times Magazine: What is YOUR comida Latina favorita?

David Acevedo: con Mariscos, Pastelón, Arroz con Gandules, Tostones y Flan de Queso! (Plus many more).