(Washington, D.C.) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) launched its 9th annual design contest this morning to showcase the work of Latino and Latina artists across the country. Presented with the generous support of Target and AARP, the annual digital contest celebrates the Latino community’s rich heritage and talent, inviting artists to share their vision of what American Latino history means to them. Submissions will be accepted until April 24 on the FRIENDS website.
The entire contest will take place online, from submission to voting. Finalists will be chosen by the FRIENDS Board following the submission deadline, and the public will be invited to select from the top five designs throughout the final week of April. Supporters will cast a vote for their favorite design on the FRIENDS website, with the winning design and artist announced during the FRIENDS annual Cinco de Mayo event in Washington, D.C.
“As our nation navigates this unprecedented health crisis and practices social distancing to help keep everyone healthy, this contest provides a safe, positive respite to celebrate the history and culture of Latinos in the United States,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “We have received hundreds of thoughtful, creative, and beautiful designs from artists over the years sharing the stories at the root of the founding of our country. Through this annual contest we want to provide our supporters an opportunity to demonstrate their passion for our shared history and this endeavor.”
“The design contest invites artists from around the country to mark the enduring legacy of the American Latino community,” said Edna Kane Williams, Senior Vice President of Multicultural Leadership at AARP. “By bringing together multicultural, multigenerational supporters, this contest joins our history and our present in living color.”
The winner will receive a $500 Target gift card, and their design will be featured in the 2020 FRIENDS national campaign efforts to create a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, including on campaign posters, promotional materials, and FRIENDS digital platforms reaching nearly 400,000 subscribers. Previous winners have included Latino painters, designers, and illustrators from coast to coast representing the campaign’s broad reach and the diversity of the American Latino community.
(Washington, D.C.) – The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) congratulates the Honorable Jovita Carranza on being sworn in as the 26th Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Carranza was confirmed by the Senate with broad bipartisan support, and has pledged to remain a tireless advocate for underserved communities in her role leading the federal agency dedicated to supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.
“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate my friend, the Hon. Jovita Carranza, on her confirmation as the new Administrator of the Small Business Administration,” said Danny Vargas, chairman of the FRIENDS board. “She has been a role model and mentor to many of us in the Latino community, as well as the business community. Her personal history of perseverance and hard work as she built her career from starting as a part-time box handler at UPS, to becoming the Administrator of a federal agency, serves as an inspiration to all Americans.
Stories like Administrator Carranza’s speak to the valuable contributions Latinos make to our country every day. Her background, integrity and passion make her the ideal choice for this position, and she will undoubtedly make us all proud.”
The National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420) is supported by over 290 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House
Washington, DC — The National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420), a bipartisan, bicameral bill to establish a museum on the National Mall dedicated to honoring the contributions of Latinos throughout American history, has reached over 290 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. With over two-thirds of House now supporting the legislation, the Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) calls on House leadership to put the legislation to a vote.
“Since long before the British arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, the Latino community has played a pivotal, foundation role in the building of our nation. Despite countless contributions to America’s economy, fighting in every one of our wars, and positively impacting every aspect of society, the story of Latinos in the United States has been largely absent from Smithsonian museums and the time to change that is now,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “The tremendous support for this legislation in Congress demonstrates just how powerful our community’s stories are in filling the gaps in our history.”
“The message from our nation’s policymakers is clear: it is time to bring this legislation forward,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of FRIENDS. “Our initiative has been bipartisan since its origins, and represents the urgent need to come together to ensure that over 500 years of U.S. Latino history is represented across our Smithsonian Institution dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. We thank our champions and partners in the House, Representatives José Serrano (D-NY), Will Hurd (R-TX),and Tony Cardenas (D-CA) for their leadership in pushing this legislation forward and over the finish line.”
With 27 bipartisan co-sponsors in its Senate counterpart, the bill calls for the same size, location and funding model as other Smithsonian museums: a 50/50 public-private partnership.
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. 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 as was recommended in Willful Neglect. The National Museum of the American Latino Act fulfills the report’s recommendations to move forward with the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, and takes an important step towards righting the ongoing disparities in our nation’s museums that remain today.
The National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420) secured support of a bipartisan majority of the House
Washington, DC— Today, the Committee on House Administration is hosting a hearing on diverse stories in the Smithsonian Institution, Oversight of the Smithsonian Institution: Opportunities for Growth by Honoring Latino Americans and Asian Pacific Americans. Among the legislation in consideration is H.R. 2420, the National Museum of the American Latino Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to establish a museum on the National Mall dedicated to honoring the contributions of Latinos throughout American history.
With 263 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House and 27 in its Senate counterpart, the bill calls for the same size, location and funding model as other Smithsonian museums: a 50/50 public-private partnership.
“We are grateful to the Committee on House Administration for the opportunity to reemphasize the urgent need to establish a National American Latino Museum to ensure we tell the story of the vast and essential Latino contributions to the building of our nation in every aspect of society,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) board. “Today, we continue our exciting momentum towards the passage of the authorization bill in the 116th Congress.”
Henry Muñoz, Chair of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission, which first explored the need for a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, testified as a witness. Lead co-sponsors of the National Museum of the American Latino Act Congressmen José Serrano (D-NY) and Will Hurd (R-TX) also testified, and were joined by Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch, III, Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), Princeton University History Professor Dr. Beth Lew-Williams, Congressional Research Service Specialist Dr. Eric Petersen, and Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Director Lisa Sasaki.
“Our mission is simple: to tell the stories of the American Latino community, and ensure that those stories have a permanent home for every American to better understand the diversity that exists at the root of our founding,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of FRIENDS. “This year, we are closer than ever to our goal of creating a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum to preserve and celebrate our heritage for future generations.”
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, the 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. The National Museum of the American Latino Act 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) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), announced today that Rosario Marin, the 41st United States Treasurer, will receive the Public Service Award at the 2019 annual American Latino Influencer Awards (ALIAs) on Friday, December 6, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The award celebrates Latino and Latina leadership and vision in tackling challenges in communities throughout the country.
Marin was appointed treasurer by President George W. Bush in 2001 and served until May 2003. Born in Mexico City, she became the first foreign-born U.S. Treasurer to hold this office and was the highest ranking Latina to serve in the Bush Administration. In 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Marin as State and Consumer Services Agency Secretary. She has held numerous leadership positions, including mayor and councilwoman of Huntington Park, CA, a city of 85,000 residents and a population of over 95 percent Hispanic.
“We are proud to recognize Rosario Marin for her exceptional dedication to public service and the community,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “A Mexican immigrant, she is a living example of the American Dream. She exemplifies the significant contributions of Latinos to the United States. She overcame cultural and economic obstacles after migrating to the U.S. at age 14 and has established an incredible career centered around helping others. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”
“Marin’s significant contributions expand far beyond the political and business world,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “A mother to a son with Down’s syndrome, she has dedicated her life to advocating for Latino families with children with disabilities. She is a voice for the voiceless and we are honored to recognize her positive impacts on communities across the country.”
Marin is an entrepreneur, an international public speaker, and author.
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. To attend, purchase tickets for the event here. For more information on the ALIAs and FRIENDS, please visit https://americanlatinomuseum.org/.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced today that Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the First District of Los Angeles County, will receive the Leadership Award at the 2019 annual American Latino Influencer Awards (ALIAs) on Friday, December 6, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The award recognizes an individual whose exemplary leadership has contributed to significant and positive impacts on communities throughout the country.
The third of seven children, Solis was born in Los Angeles, California to immigrant parents from Mexico and Nicaragua, respectively. She was the first in her family to graduate college and began her career in public office in 1985. Solis served in the California State Assembly from 1992 to 1994, and in 1994 she made history by becoming the first Latina elected to the California State Senate. Prior to becoming Supervisor, she served as the 25th Secretary of Labor under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, becoming the first Latina to serve in the United States Cabinet. Before that, Supervisor Solis represented the 32nd Congressional District in California, a position she held from 2001 to 2009.
“Supervisor Solis’s extraordinary success is a testament to her passion, vision and dedication to public service,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “She is a leader who has devoted her life to advocating for women’s rights, labor rights, and the advancement of environmental protections. We are honored to recognize her significant contributions to our community and the nation.”
“It is important to highlight the historic achievements of Supervisor Solis and the transformative impact she has had on society,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “A first generation American, her story exemplifies the will of immigrant families and the many ways they enrich our country. We honor her service, perseverance, and selflessness.”
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. To attend, purchase tickets for the event here. For more information on the ALIAs and FRIENDS, please visit https://americanlatinomuseum.org/.
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only organization dedicated to the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, today announced it will host a forum on the state of the Latino narrative in the U.S. on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Raben Group Los Angeles (601 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015). Titled “Shaping the Narrative: Media, Representation, and the American Latino Experience”, the forum will reflect on the opportunities and challenges found in media, entertainment, and politics to drive a more accurate depiction of Latinos in America.
Comedian Jesus Trejo and RightThisMinute host Christian Vera will start the morning with a fireside chat about Latinos in media and entertainment today. It will be followed by a panel featuring Justice for Migrant Women founder Monica Ramírez, National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) Executive Director Ben Lopez, and Latino Decisions co-founder Dr. Matt Barretto on how politics, activism, and the arts can intersect for a path forward.
“Latinos have contributed to the fabric of America for centuries, yet we remain grossly underrepresented and misrepresented in the media, film and television, and in the nation’s capital,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “The lack of Latino voices contributes to false narratives about our community and increases negative stigmas against us. At a time when hateful rhetoric is fueling racial attacks across the country, it is more important than ever that our stories be told, our voices be heard, and our contributions be recognized.”
“As we look to advance inclusion and the accurate portrayal of Latinos, it is important to acknowledge that we are not idly waiting for others to solve the issue and are making strides to take back control of the narrative ourselves,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “We are creating our own platforms that allow us to be the news editor, the film director, and the face on the screen. We are telling our own stories in our own voices. The forum will explore the ways we can close the representation gap in America and accurately highlight the contributions of the largest minority in the country.”
FRIENDS will host the annual American Latino Influencer Awards (ALIAs) on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. The event highlights the contributions made by Latinos to the U.S. and sheds light on the important need to establish a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum in Washington, DC. To attend, purchase tickets for the event here. For more information on the ALIAs and FRIENDS, please visit https://americanlatinomuseum.org/.
(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.