Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino

After all these years, where’s our National Museum of the American Latino? Even after years and years of advocates, leaders, and community members who have fought to get a national Smithsonian museum dedicated to our Latino contributions, culture, and history, we still don’t have a National Museum of the American Latino. Although Congress finally passed legislation in 2020 to establish the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution identified two optimal locations for the museums ON THE NATIONAL MALL in 2022, the Smithsonian doesn’t have the full authority to designate locations on the National Mall. So what’s the hold up? Well, for the Smithsonian to fully designate locations for the Latino Museum and the Women’s History Museum on the National Mall, Congress needs to pass legislation granting the Smithsonian the permission it needs. That’s why we’re working together to ensure our message to Congress is loud and clear: We belong on the National Mall. It’s time to #BuildItOnTheNationalMall!

🚨CALLING ALL ARTISTS🎨 The #LatinoMuseumDesign Contest is back! This marks the 13th year for our design contest showcasing the creativity and artistic talent within our community. This year, we’re looking for artwork that celebrates our legacy, family history and Latino contributions to American culture. Submit your artwork before August 23 at 9 pm ET for a chance to win a $500 Target gift card! Learn more about artwork guidelines and the submission process👇 https://lnkd.in/gCgquW_G

Excited about this! Kudos!! Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino

Thank you to all of our allies and partners who came out to sip and celebrate at the MGM Grand Casino during the #UnidosUS2024 annual conference. We had an incredible turnout and the energy was high. We’re so close to getting Congress to take final action that will allow the building of the future National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall and we could not do it without everyone’s support. Thank you also to Toyota Motor Corporation for sponsoring our reception. ¡Salud!

Next week, UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) is hosting its annual conference in Las Vegas. It’s hot out in the desert and to help you cool off, FRIENDS is hosting a reception at CRUSH at MGM Grand on July 16th at 5:30 PT. If you're in town, join us to beat the heat and learn about the progress of the National Museum of the American Latino finding its way home on the National Mall. Cheers! 🥂 #UnidosUS24 #BuildItOnTheMall

Happy Fourth of July!🎆 During the Revolutionary War, thousands of Latinos in the Caribbean and Central America helped the colonists win several victories. Latinos aided George Washington's troops by sea and land and it is estimated more than three thousand died in battle. Today, we honor all the Latinos who fought for this country from its very beginning!

Thank you to all who participated in our advocacy week! We are so grateful to the countless individuals including our FRIENDS board chair Lili Gil Valletta who helped make the National Museum of the American Latino a reality. During the past 20 years, our coalition has worked tirelessly to get legislation over the finish line. We want to give a special thanks to Rep. Pete Aguilar, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Tony Cardenas for meeting with our advocates! It's time the National Museum of the American Latino and the National Women’s History Museum are home on the National Mall. #FRIENDSAdvocacyWeek2024

We call on Congressional leaders to push legislation through that would finally put the National Museum of the American Latino and the National Women’s History Museum on the National Mall. In 2022, the Smithsonian identified the South Monument and Tidal Basin sites as ideal for the National Museum of the American Latino and the National Women’s History Museum. However, in December 2022, Senate leadership blocked legislative language from being included in the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill that would have authorized the Smithsonian to establish the museums on the National Mall. As a result, the Smithsonian missed its 2-year stipulated deadline to formally designate sites for the two new museums. #BuildItOnTheNationalMall

For almost 30 years, the campaign to create a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum has been driven by countless leaders with a vision to one day open the doors to 500 years of U.S. Latino history on our National Mall. In 2003, Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Xavier Becerra introduced legislation to establish a commission to study the viability of such a museum. In 2005, FRIENDS of the National Museum of the American Latino was formed. By 2020, legislation was signed into law that authorized the creation of the museum, however language was added that prohibited the National Museum of the American Latino and the National Women’s History Museum to be built on the National Mall. #BuildItOnTheNationalMall #FRIENDSAdvocacyWeek2024

John Leguizamo, our friend, artist, director and long-time advocate for the National Museum of the American Latino, published an open letter this weekend in the The New York Times imploring the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to consider artists of color leading up to this week's Emmy Voting. John continues to bring much needed attention to the underrepresentation of Latinos and other communities of color in TV and film. We thank John for his leadership and his efforts to drive more diverse and inclusive storytelling!