Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Senate Rules Committee held a hearing on the National Museum of the American Latino Act (S. 1267), which would establish a museum in the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of over 500 years of American Latino history. The bill has bi-partisan support from 45 cosponsors, and companion legislation passed the House of Representatives in July by unanimous consent. The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, urges the Senate to now take up and pass this legislation. The full hearing can be viewed here.
“As a patriot, I want our country to reach its fullest potential. But to get there, we need to know where we came from,” said Danny Vargas, chairman of the FRIENDS board and a witness during the hearing. “Our mission is to create a museum that illuminates the American story for the benefit of everyone, for a more complete telling of our nation’s history. After passing the House by unanimous consent in July, it is clear that this is far from a partisan issue, and speaks to the heart of what it means to be an American. We urge the Senate to similarly take up and pass the National Museum of the American Latino Act, so that we can begin to fill in the missing pieces of our country’s story.”
“We find it vital that we proudly share our community’s incredible stories, and celebrate a more complete telling of American history,” said Cici Rojas, a member of the FRIENDS board and a witness during the hearing. “The most important message is that the Latino story is the American story. As a nation, we must honor the promise of what our country was built on and what it stands for, and that includes the American Latino community’s contributions.”
“It has been 15 years since a coalition of Latino and Latina advocates gathered to champion the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum and 26 years since the Smithsonian’s Willful Neglect recommendation that the museum be built,” stated FRIENDS President and CEO Estuardo Rodriguez. “As the nation comes out of one of the most divisive political elections in our history, the creation of this museum becomes even more important as it can serve to educate, inform and bring our nation together centered on our shared experiences, sacrifices and commitment to this great nation. We ask that the Senate not miss this opportunity and act to pass the National American Latino Museum Act before the end of this year.”
Latino stories are drastically underrepresented in the Smithsonian’s collections—as acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution itself in its 1994 Willful Neglect report. This legislation, led in the Senate by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), acts on the report’s recommendations to move forward in the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum.
Washington, D.C. – Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced this week that on November 17, the Senate Rules Committee will hold a hearing on the National Museum of the American Latino Act (S. 1267), which would establish a museum in the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of over 500 years of American Latino history. The bill has bi-partisan support from 45 cosponsors, and companion legislation passed the House of Representatives in July by unanimous consent. The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, urges the Senate to take up and pass this legislation.
“In an unprecedented year of challenges and crisis, we have been moved by the bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for a full accounting of our American history that would include over 500 years of patriotic service, business leadership, and scientific and artistic contributions of the Latino community,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, FRIENDS President and CEO. “We are grateful to Senator Cornyn and Chairman Blunt for prioritizing this bill before the Rules Committee, and we look forward to having the full Senate similarly move the National American Latino Museum Act across the finish line by unanimous consent. Embracing and sharing our nation’s history only serves to inspire and bring us closer together.”
“Latinos have been contributing to the fabric of America from its earliest days; helping to build, shape and defend this great nation from the very beginning—and yet we still don’t see those indispensable stories celebrated and on full display on the National Mall,” said Danny Vargas, chairman of the FRIENDS board. “The broad bi-partisan support for this bill demonstrates just how important this museum is to filling the gaps in our history. This is a red, white and blue, patriotic initiative that will enable every American to benefit from a more complete, accurate and enlightening understanding of the foundational and fundamental role Latinos have played in making the USA what it is today. After passing the House by unanimous consent in July, we urge the Senate to similarly take up and pass the National Museum of the American Latino Act so it can be signed into law and so we can begin to fill in the missing pages in our history books.”
Latino stories are drastically underrepresented in the Smithsonian’s collections—acknowledged by the institution itself in its 1994 Willful Neglect report demonstrating a lack of Latino voices and history so severe, it seemed intentional. This legislation, led in the Senate by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), acts on the report’s recommendations to move forward in the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, a process that follows closely in the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s footsteps. The bill takes an important step towards righting the ongoing disparities in our nation’s museums that remain today.
(Washington, D.C.) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), a national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum proudly announced today that it is entering into a partnership agreement with GoLike, a production and storytelling company co-led by award-winningjournalist and author, Mariana Atencio. With partner, and longtime producer, Mirna Couto, GoLike is dedicated to using multimedia platforms to bring audiences together through positivity. The partnership was announced at a critical time for the American Latino Museum initiative, as it is currently experiencing the largest number of bipartisan and bicameral supporters for the authorization legislation, the National Museum of the American Latino Act.
The partnership will tap into and continue the FRIENDS Latinos Making a Difference (LMD) campaign, a digital initiative to highlight everyday people and leaders in the Latino community who are taking action to help their communities and the nation in the face of the global pandemic.
“We are honored to partner with these incredible Latina journalists and storytellers to expand our narrative and honor the crucial impact of American Latinos today and throughout our nation’s history,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “Latinos are among the hardest hit by COVID-19, experiencing higher health and economic disparities than the overall U.S. population. Yet, despite these challenges, members of our community continue to show up and do their part to keep the nation moving forward. We owe it to them and future generations to honor their resilience by recording and sharing the stories that will one day live in a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum.”
“From day one, GoLike has been committed to bringing people together through stories,” said Mariana Atencio, co-founder of GoLike. “We aim to show the vibrancy, strength, and diversity of the Latino community in the United States, and look forward to this partnership to shine a light on the stories too often overlooked. In these challenging times, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things, and we are excited to tell their stories.”
“The power of positive storytelling crosses cultures, geographies, and backgrounds to unite us all, despite our differences,” said Mirna Couto, co-founder of GoLike. “GoLike and the Friends of the American Latino Museum understand just how important telling our community’s stories can be, and we are looking forward to what we create together.”
On July 27, 2020, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the National Museum of the American Latino Act with over 290 bipartisan cosponsors. With 43 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, the push for a museum to recognize over 500 years of American Latino history that has been left out of the Smithsonian Institution is closer to becoming a reality than ever before.
Today, Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced a victory in its quarter century-long campaign to establish a museum of American Latino history. The House of Representatives approved the National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420), legislation to establish the long-overdue museum on the National Mall dedicated to commemorating the 500 plus years of American Latino contributions to the nation’s military, sciences, economic power, civil rights and the arts.
The bill passed with 295 bipartisan co-sponsors, championed by Representatives José Serrano (D-NY), Will Hurd (R-TX), and Tony Cardenas (D-CA). The bicameral legislation has 29 bipartisan co-sponsors in the Senate, and FRIENDS calls on the Senate to support the passage of S.1267, the accompanying Senate bill for a National Museum of the American Latino.
The concept of a National American Latino Museum was originally proposed in a 1994 Smithsonian report entitled “Willful Neglect”. Since that time only one bill has passed in 2008 that established the creation of a commission to study the viability of such a museum. The latest legislation, the National American Latino Museum Act, now takes the next step to authorize the creation of the museum.
“Latinos have been contributing to the building, shaping and defending of our nation since before its founding, but these indispensable stories of American history have largely been absent from our magnificent museums on the national mall,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “More than ever, every American would benefit from a more complete picture of the history of our great country and all the communities who sacrificed to build her. Now we stand at the precipice of enshrining an enduring institution that will fill the missing pages from our history books and inspire countless future generations to come.”
“With support from Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), we call on senators from both sides of the aisle to join us in making history,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of FRIENDS. “Today, we have the highest number of bipartisan co-sponsors since our efforts began in 1994, with 295 in the House and 29 in the Senate. We are grateful to all the partners and allies who helped bring us a step closer to making the American Latino museum a reality, and now seek the leadership of the Senate to get us over the finish line. With growing support from Members of Congress and the American public, the time to act is now.”
“Today’s vote is a monumental step forward for our campaign and community,” said former congresswoman and FRIENDS board member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “I was proud to introduce the original legislation for a museum as a member of Congress, and I am thrilled today to see my friends and colleagues in the House of Representatives bring that vision even closer to reality.”
“Today’s vote marks an important moment of progress in recognition of Latino contributions to the history, heritage, and culture of the United States,” said Henry R. Munoz III, Chairman of the bipartisan congressional commission to establish a National Museum of the American Latino. “As we wrote in our report to congress nearly 10 years ago, the Mall, more than any other public space in our country does indeed tell the story of America, and yet that story is not complete. Today we take a step forward as we send this bill to the United States Senate to illuminate the American story for all at a moment when cultural understanding is more important than ever to our country. We look forward to working with the Senate and the administration to add to the Smithsonian’s mission for the increase and diffusion of knowledge for everyone.”
As acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution in a 1994 report, Willful Neglect, Latinos are the most underrepresented ethnic group across all of its museums. The National Museum of the American Latino Act will take an important step towards righting the disparities outlined in the report and establish a museum dedicated to representing the history of American Latinos.
(Washington, D.C.) – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced this week that on Monday, July 27, the House of Representatives will advance the National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420), which would establish a museum in the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of over 500 years of American Latino history. With 295 bipartisan Members of Congress already in support, the Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, urges the full House to support the passage of this legislation.
“For over 500 years, the Latino community has been instrumental in the building, shaping and defending of our great nation,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “The time has come to commemorate those contributions in a national museum that will illuminate the American story for the benefit of everyone and serve to inspire future generations.”
“This legislation takes an important step towards righting the ongoing disparities in our nation’s museums that remain today,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of FRIENDS. “The widespread support demonstrates just how important this museum is in filling the gaps in our history. We thank our allies and partners in the House, Representatives José Serrano (D-NY), Will Hurd (R-TX),and Tony Cardenas (D-CA) for their leadership in championing this legislation, and bringing us to historic milestones in our mission to see the contributions from generations of American Latinos recognized in the Smithsonian Institution.”
As acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution in a 1994 report, Willful Neglect, exhibits and collections of U.S. Latino history are the most underrepresented across all of its museums. The National Museum of the American Latino Act would establish a museum dedicated to representing those stories and figures from American Latino history currently absent from the institution.
(Washington, D.C.) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), a national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, announced three new members of the organization’s board of directors. Former Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, entrepreneur and community leader Jorge A. Plasencia, and global advocate Claudia Romo Edelman have joined the board to advise on development and public affairs during a pivotal year for the campaign.
“We are honored to have these three amazing leaders and advocates join us in our mission to honor the impact and influence of American Latinos throughout our nation’s history,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “We look forward to tapping into their combined talent and leadership to get us over the finish line this year with approval of the National American Latino Museum Act.”
Representative Ros-Lehtinen is living proof of the impact of Latinos on American history as the first Latina elected to Congress. She served for almost three decades as a member of Congress representing diverse areas in South Florida, and during her tenure championed the push for a Latino Museum as the original Republican sponsor of the legislation to create a museum dating back to 2004.
“I am thrilled to continue to support this important initiative as a member of the FRIENDS board,” said Rep. Ros-Lehtinen. “From our work in Congress to move this legislation forward in 2004, to reaching milestones today, we are closer than ever to our goal of creating a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum to preserve and celebrate countless contributions of American Latinos for future generations.”
Jorge A. Plasencia has been named one of the world’s top marketing and communications leaders by PRWeek and one of the most influential U.S. Hispanics by Poder. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Republica Havas, one of America’s leading creative, media, and communications agencies, and formerly served as the corporate vice president and operating manager of Univision Radio and as board chair of Unidos US, the nation’s largest Hispanic advocacy organization.
“The time has come to bring the American Latino Museum in Washington, DC to fruition,” said Jorge A. Plasencia. “The historical, current, and future contributions of Hispanic Americans to the fabric of our nation will continue to run deep, and I am proud to join the board of the Friends of the American Latino Museum in its noble and important mission of making this longtime dream a reality,” he added.
Claudia Romo Edelman is the founder of the We Are All Human Foundation, a New York-based non-profit foundation dedicated to advancing an agenda of equity, inclusion and representation. A Mexican-Swiss diplomat, she has worked on humanitarian causes for 25 years with organizations such as UNICEF, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“Stories from our community have been excluded for too long from our nation’s museums and history books,” said Claudia Romo-Edelman. “Every American, and future generations, deserves to see the contributions from centuries of Latino and Latina leaders to our great nation; these are Hispanic Stars. Most importantly, these stories and exhibits must receive the same level of exposure and visibility on our National Mall as part of the Smithsonian Institution of museums in Washington, D.C.”
“For more than a decade our campaign has advanced steadily through the tireless work and volunteer hours of leaders from the civil rights, business, arts and political sectors. We could not have gotten this far without their heart and commitment to this historic initiative,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “Our newest board members have demonstrated throughout their careers a passion for lifting up the American Latino experience and we are honored to have their time and commitment. I look forward to working with each of them.”
With over 295 bipartisan cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 27 in the Senate on bicameral legislation, the push for a museum to recognize over 500 years of American Latino history that has been left out of the Smithsonian Institution is closer to reality than ever before.
(Washington, D.C.) – In line with its mission of lifting up the untold and often overlooked stories of the American Latino community, Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) has launched Latinos Making a Difference (LMD), a national digital campaign to highlight everyday people and prominent leaders in the Latino community who are taking action to help their communities and the nation in the face of the global pandemic.
“For over 500 years, Latinos have played an instrumental role in shaping and strengthening the United States; from serving in every war in our nation’s history to having a positive impact in every crisis we’ve ever faced. The same is true with the current global pandemic,” Danny Vargas, Chairman of Friends of the FRIENDS board. “Part of our mission has always been to tell the stories of Latino contributions throughout our history and today. We want to spotlight ordinary people doing extraordinary things, important leaders in key roles and uplift our nation in these challenging times.”
The Latinos Making a Difference campaign aims to shed light on the many Latinos in America taking action to help those impacted, from making masks and providing meals to essential workers to fundraising for a family in need and serving on the frontlines. Nominate yourself or someone you know to be featured by visiting https://americanlatinomuseum.org/LMD/.
“Latinos are among the hardest hit by COVID-19, experiencing higher health and economic disparities than the overall U.S. population. Yet, despite these challenges, our community continues to work across essential industries, they show up and do their part to keep the nation moving forward,” stated Estuardo Rodriguez, president and CEO of FRIENDS. “We hope this campaign provides the well deserved recognition that many of these innovative and committed individuals deserve.”
(Washington, D.C.) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced today that Indianapolis, Indiana-based artist Cristiano Mattos is the winner of the FRIENDS’ 9th annual design contest. Presented with the generous support of Target and AARP, the annual contest invites artists from around the country to share their vision of what American Latino history means to them. Mattos’ winning design was chosen among six finalists after a weeklong public vote open to the hundreds of thousands of FRIENDS supporters across the nation. This is the third year that Mattos’ submission has been selected by voters as the winning design.
“As an immigrant and American citizen, I have experienced the great opportunities that this country of ours has to offer. One of them is seeing my artwork recognized nationwide through important organizations such as the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, which fights to create a space where the American Latino culture can be represented and appreciated,” said artist Cristiano Mattos. “It’s an honor to have my artwork featured in the campaign for a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum on our National Mall — it gives me the sense that I’m part of the fabric that makes this country a place where dreams come true, no matter who you are or where you are from.”
Growing up in the vibrant city of São Paulo, Brazil, Mattos developed his appreciation for art and design at an early age. He studied media arts and animation at the Arts Institute of Indianapolis, and has traveled globally throughout Europe and the United States to develop and hone traditional and new media techniques. His experiences around the world have heavily influenced his art, citing diversity in the communities he has lived in as a key inspiration for his work.
“Cristiano’s beautiful piece highlights the power of bringing together our multicultural, multigenerational community to better remember and be inspired by our history,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “We are grateful to our partners and friends at Target and AARP for making this contest possible, and bringing our supporters together to celebrate our community’s resilience during a dark time for the world.”
This year’s contest received over 50 pieces from artists around the country who submitted their vision for what an American Latino Museum would mean to them. The winning design will be featured nationally in the 2020 FRIENDS campaign efforts to create a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, including on campaign posters, promotional materials, and FRIENDS digital platforms reaching over 400,000 subscribers. In addition, Mattos will receive a $500 Target gift card courtesy of our presenting sponsors, whose continued support provides an opportunity for FRIENDS supporters to contribute their talents to this historic campaign.
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Iveth Jalinsky, the owner of Green Resources Consulting, LLC in Missouri, began using her company’s facilities to manufacture FFP3 (Face Filtering Protection) masks (equivalent to N-99, a 99% protection rate against the coronavirus) made of bamboo and carbon. They are now producing over 30,000 masks per day, and donating many of them for free to area healthcare providers. Their masks are now on the CDC and NIOSH websites. Testing has indicated 99.17 and 98.17 protection, which is the second-highest in the world. To view a local news report on Iveth’s efforts, click HERE. Click HERE to read an article about Iveth in HerLife Magazine. |
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Award-winning chef & Nobel Prize nominee José Andrés, along with the incredible team at World Central Kitchen, have worked tirelessly to distribute meals to those in need, activate chefs to help meet the need for meal service, and keep local restaurants working. Thank you for all that you do!
According to the World Central Kitchen website, “after six weeks of WCK’s Relief Team working around the clock, our #ChefsForAmerica response to COVID-19 has served more than 3 million meals to vulnerable communities and frontline healthcare workers in over 155 cities in more than 25 states and territories. We are now serving nearly 200,000 meals each day across the country.” The Time magazine article can be found HERE. |