FRIENDS Statement on Alejandro Fernández’s Donation to Organization

Photo credit: Billboard, Chino Lemus

WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS) released the following statement following the news that Mexican music icon Alejandro Fernández will donate a portion of his upcoming AMOR y PATRIA 2023 US tour sales to FRIENDS: 

“Our organization is incredibly grateful to Alejandro Fernández for pledging to donate a portion of his tour ticket proceeds to our cause,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, FRIENDS President & CEO. “Alejandro Fernández is a giant in our American Latino community, and he has an established history of standing up for our community through his music. We are thrilled he supports our overall mission to establish a National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall.”

“After Congress failed to pass the necessary legislation to create a pathway for the Smithsonian Institution to build the future Latino museum on the National Mall, our organization reaffirmed our commitment to do everything possible to educate our community on the progress and get Congressional leaders to act,” said Lili Gil Valletta, FRIENDS Board Chair. “Donations like these are critical to our organization so we can continue working with our bipartisan coalition of national and community leaders who share our dreams of finally seeing our over 500 years of history, achievements, and contributions displayed on the National Mall.”

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About Friends of the American Latino Museum

The Friends of the American Latino Museum strives to create a museum in our nation’s capital to educate, inspire and encourage respect and understanding of the richness and diversity of the American Latino experience within the U.S. and its territories by highlighting the contributions made by Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American way of life. FRIENDS is not affiliated in any way with the Smithsonian Institution. https://americanlatinomuseum.org/

WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS) released the following statement marking the two year anniversary of the insurrection on January 6th: 

“The violent events on January 6th, 2021 were a direct attack on our democracy. Today, on the 2nd anniversary, we take a moment to stand with the White House and those in Congress who honored those men and women who defended the Capitol and those who lost their lives in that service,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, FRIENDS President & CEO. 

“Among those officially honored by President Biden during the January 6th ceremony at the White House was Dominican American Aquilino Gonell, a U.S. Capitol police officer and veteran  who was badly beaten and injured on the day of the attack. Sergeant Gonell’s commemoration today is an example of the immense contributions that Latinos make to our country every day, and his bravery will forever be honored. Regardless of partisan disagreements, we must continue working together to protect our democracy and those that serve it–this is what makes our nation truly great. Thank you to Sergeant Gonell and each of the heroes and public citizens that received the Presidential Citizenship Medal for their sacrifice and dedication to serving our country.”

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About Friends of the American Latino Museum

The Friends of the American Latino Museum strives to create a museum in our nation’s capital to educate, inspire and encourage respect and understanding of the richness and diversity of the American Latino experience within the U.S. and its territories by highlighting the contributions made by Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American way of life. FRIENDS is not affiliated in any way with the Smithsonian Institution. https://americanlatinomuseum.org/

FRIENDS Statement on Site Authorization Legislation Not Being Included in the 2023 Funding Package

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS) released the following statement reacting to the Site Authorization Legislation not being included in the 2023 federal government funding bill announced on December 20, 2022: 

“We are disappointed by Congress’ decision not to include the language authorizing the Smithsonian Institution to take action on its preferred locations for the future National Museum of the American Latino and the National Women’s History Museum in the year-end omnibus,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, FRIENDS President & CEO. “After almost 30 years of bipartisan advocacy in support of the creation of the National Museum of the American Latino, to have secured the location on the National Mall, it would have been a wonderful gift for the countless Latino leaders, advocates, and partners across the nation. While we are disappointed by the opposition by some members of the House and Senate to making the location for two national museums a priority, we are incredibly grateful to the Senate Rules Committee, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the bipartisan support across both chambers for their tireless work and collaboration in our efforts to ensure the Smithsonian can move forward with its vision of a more complete telling of our American history across the National Mall.”

“Without the proper legislation to remove the restriction preventing the Smithsonian Institution from designating the locations on the National Mall, the Latino community faces the risk of  not having over 500 years of our history, achievements, and contributions displayed where they belong—on the National Mall. Although this news is disappointing, our organization remains committed to working with our federal partners and bipartisan advocates and leaders to ensure the Smithsonian has a clear pathway to build our future museum in its rightful location,” said Lili Gil Valletta, FRIENDS Board Chair. “As we close out 2022, our organization is proud of the work we have accomplished and grateful to our partners throughout the country who share our dreams of finally walking through the doors of the National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall.”

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WASHINGTON—Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS) applauds the Smithsonian Board of Regents for narrowing its focus to two locations on the National Mall for the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum: the South Monument site and the Tidal Basin site. 

“This announcement is great news—the focus on the South Monument site and the Tidal Basin site for the future American Latino Museum and the Women’s History Museum underscores the importance of these museums for the Smithsonian, as well as for the telling of our American history across our National Mall,” said FRIENDS President and CEO Estuardo Rodriguez. “Our future National Museum of the American Latino deserves to be built on a blank canvas that allows the full expression of our community through architectural design celebrating the diversity of our experiences and culture. Both the South Monument site and the Tidal Basin site will allow this.”

“Today’s announcement also makes it abundantly clear that our work here is not done. Our national partners and community leaders remain committed to advocating in support of our U.S. Latino experience to be rightfully displayed on the National Mall until we reach the finish line,” said FRIENDS Board Chair Lili Gil Valletta. “We will continue our support of the Smithsonian Institution, Secretary Lonnie Bunch, and the Board of Regents, and the work to ensure the appropriate legislation is passed, with full bipartisan support, to create a clear pathway for both museums.”

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FRIENDS APPLAUDS THE SMITHSONIAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO PRIORITIZE FOUR LOCATIONS FOR FUTURE LATINO MUSEUM

Washington, D.C. – Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS) celebrates the Smithsonian Institution’s statement this morning announcing that it will prioritize four locations for the future National Museum of the American Latino and the National Women’s History Museum. Those locations include the Arts and Industries Building, the Northwest Capitol site, the South Monument site, and the Tidal Basin site. This announcement is a clear statement on the significance of these museums to our American history, and highlights the importance of placing them front and center, shoulder-to-shoulder with all of the other significant museums on the National Mall. 

“FRIENDS applauds and is grateful to the Smithsonian Institution, Secretary Lonnie Bunch, Director Jorge Zamanillo, the Board of Trustees, and the entire leadership team for prioritizing the recommendations of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission 2011 report,” said FRIENDS President & CEO Estuardo Rodriguez. “Choosing a location for this spectacular museum is a momentous decision, which is why we remain committed to working in a unified and collaborative manner in support of the Smithsonian to ensure that a pathway is clear for each of these identified locations.” 

The locations announced include three of the priority locations recommended by the National Museum of the American Latino Commission in their 2011 report. Each one of these locations, apart from the Arts and Industries Building, will require action by Congress and/or federal agencies with jurisdiction. 

“The work for the community, public officials, and corporate leaders is clear. Now, more than ever, is the time to form a collective effort to elevate the importance of the four sites, offer support to the Smithsonian in its work to secure the best locations, and ensure the sites are available to the Smithsonian for both museums,” said Lili Gil Valletta, FRIENDS Board Chair. “FRIENDS remains committed to ensuring the White House, Congress, and related federal agencies, do everything in their power to build the National Museum of the American Latino, along with the National Women’s History Museum, on the National Mall.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) today announced its 11th Annual Design Contest with a call for artists to submit their best work that depicts and celebrates Latino history and culture in the United States. This year’s design contest theme is “Build it on the National Mall.” The top 10 designs will advance to a national round where the public can vote on their favorite design. As in previous years, the submission with the most votes will be deemed the winner and receive a $500 gift card. In addition, their artwork will appear across the many digital and in-person platforms of the FRIENDS campaign, including posters and promotional materials throughout the remainder of the year.

“It is a great honor to have provided artists over the past decade an opportunity to share their vision of the future National Museum of the American Latino through art,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “Artistic expression is something that leaves a lasting impression in our country’s collective hearts, minds and history. Our nation’s Latino and Latina artists have been telling the authentic story of our community for hundreds of years. We must honor them and lift up the next generation. It is my hope that our Design Contest will help spotlight the next great Latino artist and one day their work will be displayed in our future museum on the National Mall for the world to see.”

“There are so many undiscovered talents that we hope to bring forth into the spotlight through this competition. Latino artists and their artwork have been, historically, left out of Smithsonian museums, according to a 1994 report called ‘Willful Neglect,’ which is what spurred the movement to create a National Latino Museum. Until we build a National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall, it is our duty to continue to highlight those who are bringing together their talent, creativity and culture to elevate our voices and impact to this great nation,” said Lili Gil Valletta, Board Chair of FRIENDS and President & CEO of Cien+.

Presented with the generous support of Target and AARP, the 11th Annual Design Contest celebrates the Latino community’s rich heritage and talent, inviting artists to share their vision of what American Latino history means to them.

“As Chief Diversity Officer, I am immensely proud to sponsor the American Latino Design Contest this year. AARP’s commitment to inclusion started with our founding in 1958 and we continuously work to become a model DEI organization. The level of passion the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino brings to their work on the National Mall is admirable and something AARP strives to emulate,” stated Edna Kane Williams, Executive Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer at AARP.

Previous winners have included Latino painters, designers, and illustrators from coast to coast and everywhere in between who represent the full diversity of American Latinos in the US.

The deadline for artists to submit their designs is April 28, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Public voting begins on our Facebook page from May 2, 2022, through May 4, 2022. The winning artist and design will be announced on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 2022.