Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino call on congress to join bipartisan effort to pass Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act

FRIENDS update community and national leaders during 35th Annual CHCI Policy Conference

Last Wednesday, the Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), a 501(c)(3) created to push forward the American Latino Museum initiative, hosted its annual reception in conjunction with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) 2012 Public Policy Conference. With sponsorship from CHCI, FRIENDS gathered Board members, Congressional leaders, administration officials, policy makers, and museum supporters to discuss the museum’s legislative progress and FRIENDS community engagement efforts.

Legislation to designate a location for the museum on the National Mall, the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act, is still pending in Congress, yet grassroots support has remained strong and continues to build steadily. Through a combined effort of social media and direct community engagement, FRIENDS have amassed a base of over 300,000 fans, followers, and supporters of the cause. In addition, the FRIENDS have amassed a bipartisan list of over 50 members of the House and Senate who support the museum initiative. That list will continue to be a focus for the remainder of the year with the goal of hitting 100 members of Congress.

FRIENDS used the event to call Washington’s political leaders to action. Passing the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act would designate space along the National Mall to the project and create a landmark to the culture and contributions of the Latino community to the founding and strengthening of our nation.

“This event is another exciting milestone in the journey toward an American Latino Museum,” said Jonathan Yorba, chair of FRIENDS. “We call on members of the House and Senate to support the museum legislation, and we call on all Americans who support this project to join our effort on our website or social networks. An historic achievement like this one does not come quickly or easily, but through the hard work of our supporters, this museum is closer than ever to becoming a reality.”

Eduardo Diaz the Director of the Smithsonian Latino Center stands next to photographer Jesus Manuel Mena Garza.

The reception featured the historic photographs of Jesus Manuel Mena Garza, The Chicano Photographer is known for documenting movements and leaders like Cesar Chavez and Corky Gonzales that empowered the Latino community over the last few decades. Garza made remarks during the reception noting that despite being approached by other cultural institutions, he is “holding out for a National American Latino Museum to show case my work.” Attendees of the reception also received the 2012 American Latino Museum Campaign Poster, the contest-winning poster created by the Latino-owned firm, UNO Branding found here.

Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (www.americanlatinomuseum.org)
Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, Inc., a 501(c)(3) incorporated in Washington, D.C., 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.

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