(Washington, DC) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced today that among the honorees at the 2019 annual American Latino Influencer Awards (ALIAs) will be Lieutenant Colonel Olga E. Custodio, the first Latina military pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF). She will be recognized with the Valor Award, an award that honors Latino and Latina veterans whose sacrifices for our nation and our freedoms embody the legacy of Latinx military service in America. Lt. Col. Custodio will be honored during the event ceremony on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
“Lt. Col. Custodio is a hero, a trailblazer and a role model for Latinas and all Americans,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “Her career broke racial and gender barriers, rising in the ranks of a male-dominated profession with dedication and a fighting spirit. It is our duty and honor to present her with the Valor Award for her significant contributions to our community and the nation.”
“We are proud to recognize Lt. Col. Custodio for her historic achievements and ongoing commitment to uplifting women in the military,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “She is an example of the countless generations that have fought for our nation dating back before the War of Independence. As she flew over glass ceilings and all manner of obstacles, her story will serve to inspire the next generation and all Americans to do the same.”
Turned away from flight school because she was a woman, Lt. Colonel Custodio went on to break barriers as the first Latina to complete USAF military pilot training, first to become a USAF pilot, and later, as the first Latina commercial pilot for American Airlines. Now retired, she is an active charter member of the Women Military Aviators Association, a member of Women in Aviation International and the Order of Daedalians. In 2017, she became the first Latina inducted into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame.
Presented by Target and AARP, with support from Charter Communications, the ALIAs recognizes Latinos and Latinas who have had a significant impact on our nation’s culture and society and whose stories are representative of the contributions of our community throughout American history. The event will take place on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. To attend, purchase tickets for the event here. For more information on the ALIAs and FRIENDS, please visit https://americanlatinomuseum.org/.
Los Angeles, CA – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced today that among the honorees at the 2019 annual American Latino Influencer Awards (ALIAs) ceremony will be philanthropist and business leader Dorene Dominguez, who will receive the Legacy Award for her commitment to building opportunities to succeed for all. Ms. Dominguez will be honored during the event ceremony on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
“Dorene’s leadership in business, education, and economic development has had a lasting impact on students and communities across California and the country,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “We are honored to present her with the Legacy Award at this year’s ceremony to commemorate her work and vision that every student achieve success, regardless of background.”
“Throughout her career, Dorene Dominguez has been a champion for opening doors for the next generation of leaders in California and beyond,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “Her dedication to community development and serving others exemplifies the kind of leadership that only makes our nation stronger. We celebrate her entrepreneurial spirit and success with this award, and thank her for her unwavering commitment to helping others realize the American Dream.”
Ms. Dominguez is Chairwoman and CEO of Vanir Group of Companies, Inc. and the Founder and Chairwoman of Dominguez Dream, a foundation in memory of her late father working with elementary schools in underserved communities to empower children to achieve their full potential in literacy and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). Over fifteen years of implementing programs across ten partner schools in California, Arizona, and Washington, Dominguez Dream has served nearly 145,000 students.
As a leader in the business community, Ms. Dominguez has been a strong advocate for professional development and creating economic opportunity for all. She is a current member and former Chairwoman of the University of Notre Dame Latino Studies Advisory Board, has worked with Nicholas Academic Centers to provide college counseling to high school students, and serves on the Board of Directors for the California Chamber of Commerce, numerous nonprofits, and organizations committed to economic development. For the past three years, Ms. Dominguez has been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the “50 Most Powerful Latinas” for 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Presented by Target and AARP, the ALIAs recognizes Latinos and Latinas who have had a significant impact on our nation’s culture and society and whose stories are representative of the contributions of our community throughout American history. The event will take place on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. To attend, purchase tickets for the event here. For more information on the ALIAs and FRIENDS, please visit https://americanlatinomuseum.org/.
Washington, DC— Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources hosted the first-ever Congressional hearing for the National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420). The bill has 218 bipartisan cosponsors, a bipartisan Senate counterpart, and would establish the long overdue Smithsonian Museum on the National Mall dedicated to commemorating the 500 plus years of American Latino contributions to our nation’s military, sciences, economic power, civil rights and the arts.
Longtime supporters of the museum campaign from the arts, business, academia, and federal government came together to call for the creation of this museum at a time when discrimination against the Latinx community have reached dangerous levels. This museum is urgently needed to combat ignorance and show understanding and appreciation of American Latinos in our nation’s history and future.
Congressman José Serrano (D-NY), a lead co-sponsor of the bill, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (D-TX) testified as witnesses. They were joined by civil rights activist and Dolores Huerta Foundation President Dolores Huerta, Yale University History Professor Dr. Stephen Pitti, co-author of 1994 Willful Neglect report Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte and Smithsonian Latino Center Director Eduardo Diaz.
“Latinos have been a part of the United States for generations, and that history can be demonstrated for people to learn about and celebrate in our institutions. We need this desperately today,” said Dolores Huerta. “The only way we can erase racism is through understanding and through knowledge. That is what Latino Museum would create.”
“It is essential that Latinos and Latinas across the country see the role models and icons from their community reflected in our nation’s museums,” said Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte. “How many today don’t see themselves as part of the American story, when Latinos have served in every war since the Revolution and helped settle more than half of this land 500 years ago? This erasure of our history must end.”
The bill sets into motion the process of establishing a future museum, an important step forward in a campaign that has had bipartisan and national public support for more than a decade. A Smithsonian National American Latino Museum would finally give credence to the history and legacy of a community which represents one-sixth of the American population and is an integral part of both our nation’s heritage and future. Latinos and Latinas have made countless contributions to American innovation and served proudly in every American war, yet their stories are largely absent from Smithsonian museums on the National Mall.
“From our beginnings, we have been a nation of innovators, creators, dreamers, and doers,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “The American Latino community has been a part of that story for over 500 years – yet those stories are still not fully represented among our iconic federal monuments and national museums. American history is incomplete without the stories of Latino and Latina leaders, artists, scientists, and trailblazers, which is why we need a National American Latino Museum to educate, inspire, and honor our shared history.”
Latino stories are the most underrepresented in the Smithsonian’s collections—as acknowledged by the institution itself in its 1994 Willful Neglect report, and reconfirmed in UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute’s 2018 report, demonstrating a lack of Latino voices and history so severe, it seemed intentional. In 2011, a presidentially-appointed commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino submitted its report to explore the feasibility of a museum. Today’s legislation acts on the report’s recommendations to move forward with the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum and take an important step towards righting the disparities outlined in the 1994 report that remain.
Washington, DC— On Thursday, October 17, the Friends of the American Latino Museum will host a press conference at the House Triangle following a historic House Committee on Natural Resources hearing for the National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420).
The press conference will be livestreamed.
Who:
Notable Attendees:
When: Thursday, October 17 at 12:30 pm
Where: House Triangle, outside the United States Capitol
Livestream: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLatinoMuseum/
Hearing Witnesses:
Hearing Date: Thursday, October 17 at 10:00 am
Hearing Location: Room 1334 Longworth House Office Building
Livestream: https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings
Background: H.R. 2420 has more than 210 bipartisan cosponsors, a bipartisan Senate counterpart, and would establish the long overdue Smithsonian Museum on the National Mall dedicated to commemorating the 500 plus years of American Latino contributions to our nation’s military, sciences, economic power, civil rights and the arts. Longtime supporters of the museum campaign from the arts, business, academia, and federal government will come together to call for the creation of this museum at a time when misunderstandings of and discrimination against the Latinx community has reached dangerous levels. This museum is needed now to combat ignorance, increase awareness and to show understanding and appreciation of American Latinos in this nation.
Join us on this momentous day 25 years in the making as we unite to ensure that American Latino history and culture finally receives its rightful place in a more complete and accurate telling of American history.
Friends of the National American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced the launch of its inaugural Florida Regional Leadership Network, featuring leaders in politics, civil rights, and business statewide including original bill sponsor and long-standing champion, fmr. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. The network is a part of the FRIENDS national Regional Leadership Network program to galvanize support from high-profile leaders across the country. Members will serve as the champions and ambassadors for the campaign to create a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum on our National Mall, representing the incredible support for the campaign in Florida and the legacy of Latino history in the state.
“The Florida Regional Leadership Network represents the commitment to heritage, identity, and legacy that drives our campaign,” said Francela Chi de Chinchilla, Vice President of Advocacy and Partnerships. “The story of the Latino community in Florida is an integral part of the state’s history, and a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum would elevate the chapters in Floridian history including the founding of St. Augustine, the oldest European settlement in the United States, the election of former Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Latina elected to Congress in US history, and more. Our campaign already enjoys bipartisan congressional support from twelve members of the Florida congressional delegation; and these members of the Florida Leadership Network will help our campaign underscore how important this museum is to honoring the legacies and contributions of American Latinos in the state.”
The current list of members in the Florida network is as follows, with more to be added:
*titles provided for identification purposes only
Members will join networks that launched this year in New York and Arizona to spread awareness and support for the long-overdue museum through the media, in-person advocacy, and digital engagement—creating momentum for the campaign in their communities. A quarter-century after the nation was first made aware of the severe underrepresentation of Latinos throughout the Smithsonian Institution, the Regional Leadership Networks are a symbol of the growing momentum calling for a National American Latino Museum.
Today Friends of the National American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced the launch of One Nation: ¡Presente!, a campaign during Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the collective 500-year history, vision, and contributions of American Latinos to our nation. The campaign will showcase the political and public support for the National Museum of the American Latino Act (HR 2420/S1267), a bipartisan, bicameral bill to establish a museum on the National Mall dedicated to honoring the contributions of Latinos throughout American history.
“From entrepreneurs and inventors who changed history, to military veterans who fought for our country’s freedom, Latinos have contributed widely to the fabric of America from its earliest days,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “America’s history as presented in our nation’s capital is incomplete without the countless stories of heroes who strengthened George Washington’s hand during the War of Independence or leaders who took American brands like Coca-Cola and made them international icons. Recognition of their stories is important to the future of who we are as a nation. For more than two decades there has been a call to fill the void, and it is time Congress passes the bill authorizing a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum.”
With over 160 bipartisan Members of Congress in support to-date, bill sponsors include Senators Bob Mendendez (D-NJ) and John Cornyn (R-TX), Representatives Will Hurd (R-TX), José Serrano (D-NY) and Tony Cardenas (D-CA), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month FRIENDS will be mobilizing supporters across the nation at regional events to call on their elected officials to publicly support the legislation. Among the many events, FRIENDS is partnering with the storied Lincoln Center in NYC for a special concert event and attending the 17th Annual La Familia Latino Heritage Festival in Minneapolis. Leaders from FRIENDS will also address the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Conference in New Mexico, the 32nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in San Antonio, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Latino Coalition, and several more.
“Latinos are intertwined in every aspect of our nation since before its inception,” said President and CEO Estuardo Rodriguez. “It is important that we expand on our American history by focusing on its diverse and collaborative origins. Less than two percent of all national monuments and historic sites are dedicated to women or communities of color. We can’t allow our stories to be omitted or erased. Our Latinx youth deserve a place that gives our culture a voice and spotlights our vital role in the development of our great nation.”
From September 15 through October 15, the campaign will highlight little known American Latino figures throughout history and present day through four theme weeks: week 1 is focused on the performing arts, week 2 is military history, week 3 is civil rights, and week 4 will be sports and food. Supporters of the campaign, including musical icon Rubén Blades and Latin Grammy winner Gaby Moreno, have already begun sharing their performing arts inspirations as part of this campaign. We encourage everyone to not only share these stories but their own, of grandparents, parents, siblings and loved ones who have contributed to our nation, through the Latinx inspiration social media challenge using the hashtag #OneNationPresente. Ultimately, the campaign urges supporters to contact their legislative leaders and ask them to support the National American Latino Museum Act. See details at americanlatinomuseum.org/presente.
Latino stories are the most underrepresented in the Smithsonian’s collections—as acknowledged by the institution itself in its 1994 Willful Neglect report, and reconfirmed in UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute’s 2018 report, demonstrating a lack of Latino voices and history so severe, it seemed intentional. In 2011, a presidentially-appointed commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino submitted its report to explore the feasibility of a museum. Today’s legislation acts on the report’s recommendations to move forward with the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum and take an important step towards righting the disparities outlined in the 1994 report that remain.
(Washington, D.C.) – Friends of the National American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced the launch of its inaugural Arizona Regional Leadership Network, featuring leaders in politics, media, and business statewide. The network is a part of the FRIENDS national Regional Leadership Network program to galvanize support from high-profile leaders across the country. Members will serve as the champions and ambassadors for the campaign to create a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum on our National Mall, representing the incredible support for the campaign in Arizona and the legacy of Latino history in the state.
Members will spread awareness and support for the long-overdue museum through the media, in-person advocacy, and digital engagement to create momentum for the campaign in their communities. They will continue the drumbeat that began over 25 years ago when Congress and the nation were made aware of the severe underrepresentation of American Latino history throughout the Smithsonian Institution.
“The Arizona Regional Leadership Network embodies the pride in our heritage that is at the core of our campaign,” said Francela Chi de Chinchilla, Vice President of Advocacy and Partnerships. “Latino history in Arizona is inseparably intertwined with the history of the state, and a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum would elevate the stories of important Arizonans like those of civil rights leader Cesar Chavez or Anita Lewis Chávez, the first Latina judge in the state’s history. We already enjoy bipartisan congressional support from Senator Martha McSally, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Raul Grijalva, Representatives Ruben Gallego, Ann Kirkpatrick, and Greg Stanton; and these members of the Arizona Leadership Network will help our campaign underscore how important this museum is to honoring the legacies and contributions of Latino Americans in Arizona.”
The current list of members in the Arizona network is as follows, with more to be added:
*titles provided for identification purposes only
(Washington, D.C.) – The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) extends its congratulations and gratitude to the Town of Bernalillo, New Mexico on the town’s recent resolution in support of legislation to establish a Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. Adopted on July 8, 2019, the resolution underscores Bernalillo’s commitment to honoring the vital role of Latinos in American history, and voices support for H.R. 2420 and S. 1267 to authorize the creation of a museum through the Smithsonian Institution. New Mexico plays a strong part in American Latino history, with numerous key figures originating in the state, including suffragist and civil rights leader Adelina Ortero-Warren and the first Latino elected to the US Senate, Dennis Chavez.
“The Town of Bernalillo is excited to participate in this conversation institutionalizing the rich and deep Latino heritage of our country,” said Jack Torres, Mayor of Bernalillo. “The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino will reinforce for our families the importance of their ancestors and how generations of Bernalillo residents contributed to the formation and ongoing successes of our nation.”
“We know there is local support all over the nation for the creation of this museum,” said Francela Chi de Chinchilla, Vice President of Advocacy and Partnerships of FRIENDS. “We thank the residents, Town Council, and Mayor of Bernalillo for their dedication to ensuring that the stories of American Latinos throughout history are included in our national institutions. It is critical that Congress pay attention to what is happening in their hometowns and heed the call for the passage of the National Museum of the American Latino Act.”
The Town of Bernalillo’s resolution joins localities from Miami to New York to Tolleson, Arizona across the United States that have passed resolutions in support of a Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino.
Bipartisan, bicameral group of bill sponsors and supporters reintroduce legislation for a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum(Washington, D.C.) – On May 1, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY), Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and a group of bipartisan colleagues from the House and Senate reintroduced the National Museum of the American Latino Act. The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) is proud to work with our partners on both sides of the aisle in Congress to advance this important mission of elevating the stories of the Latino community in the United States. The legislation would establish a Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall, dedicated to honoring the contributions of Latinos throughout our nation’s history.
The bill sets into motion the process of establishing a future museum, an important step forward in a campaign that has had bipartisan and national public support for more than a decade. A Smithsonian National American Latino Museum would finally give credence to the history and legacy of a community which represents one-sixth of the American population and is an integral part of both our nation’s heritage and future. Latinos and Latinas have made countless contributions to American innovation and served proudly in every American war, yet their stories are largely absent from Smithsonian museums on the National Mall.
“It’s unbelievable that we are now in our 25th year of advocating in support of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino,” said musician and campaign supporter Emilio Estefan. “There is no doubt that Latinos have made critical contributions to the foundation and development of this country in the arts and in every possible sphere. All we ask is that the contributions of Hispanics receive the same level of exposure and respect like those seen when you visit the Smithsonian museums in DC. We respectfully request that this bill be passed in this congressional session.”
“Latinos have been contributing to the fabric of America from its earliest days, and yet we still don’t have a place on the National Mall to celebrate these contributions,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “It is now necessary and urgent that we establish a national museum to recognize the full picture of American history. Congress has every reason it needs to pass the bill authorizing the Smithsonian National American Latino Museum in this session.”
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. In 2008, a presidentially-appointed Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino was established to explore the feasibility of a museum, culminating in a 2011 report. This legislation 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 will take an important step towards righting the disparities outlined in the 1994 report, which a 2018 study by the University of California Los Angeles’ Latino Policy and Politics Initiative concluded still has much to be done.
(Washington, D.C.) – In partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico, the March on Washington Film Festival, and The Raben Group, the Friends of the American Latino Museum will host a series of panels and film screenings during this year’s Casa México at SXSW 2019, highlighting stories from the American Latino community.
The creative and entertainment industry, broadly, continues to face pressure to focus on increasing diversity with more inclusive storytelling and diversity in front of and behind the camera. We are proud to renew our collaboration this year with Casa México to place a spotlight on Latino storytellers, changemakers, voters, and innovators, to bring their stories and work into focus.
Panels include Post Midterms: Is Texas Turning Purple?, a conversation between DNC Chair Tom Perez, LIBRE Initiative President Daniel Garza, and the Director of Latino Decisions, Dr. Matt Barreto on the shifting political climate in Texas, and The U.S. Latino Narrative – Who is in the Driver’s Seat?, a two-part discussion on reframing the narrative around Latinos in the United States, featuring Latino journalists, politicians, and cultural changemakers.
Screenings of two short films, La Oposicion, which explores immigration policy under the Trump Administration, and The Other Side, the story of deported musician Jose Marquez and his daughter Susanna, who have been separated for almost 15 years but meet every month on either side of the US-Mexico border wall, and a special preview screening of the upcoming film “The All-Americans”, a story of the greatest high school football rivalry you may have never heard of, will be accompanied by panel discussions with the filmmakers and policymakers on the films’ impact and relevance in today’s political climate.
The events will be hosted in the iconic Mexic-Arte Museum, located on 419 Congress Ave, and will be held from March 8th to 10th. Read more about the panels and RSVP here.