Campaign for Smithsonian National American Latino Museum marks a new milestone

POSTED ON Feb 16, 2018

Friends of the American Latino Museum, the organization dedicated to the creation of a National American Latino Museum have announced a new Chairman’s Advisory Council.

The Chairman’s Advisory Council will help key individuals involved with Friends of the American Latino Museum remain informed as they assist the organization in raising public support for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino museum.

“The wonderful people that make up our Chairman’s Advisory Council will help us achieve our goals of getting Congressional authorization, securing financial donations and pledges, as well as build upon the already massive public demand for this museum,” said Danny Vargas, Board Chairman for Friends of the American Latino Museum.

“The Chairman’s Advisory Council will help ensure we have a complete account of American history, honor the contributions of Latinos throughout the last 500 years, celebrate the vitality and complexity of today’s American Latino communities, and inspire future generations,” Vargas added. ” Working together, we will soon witness the opening of the National American Latino Museum within the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall.”

Estuardo Rodriguez, executive director at Friends said: “The CAC members combined influence will help amplify the critical void this museum will fill within the Smithsonian Institution for the benefit of the more than 30 million visitors to our National Mall every year.”

While additions will be made to the Chairman’s Advisory Council in the future, initial members beginning in 2018 include:

Nelson Albareda – CEO, Loud and Live and former National American Latino Museum Commissioner
Thaddeus Arroyo – CEO, AT&T Business
Hector Barreto – Chairman of The Latino Coalition and former Small Business Administration administrator
Juan Carlos Benitez – President, Washington Pacific Economic Development Group and former special counsel, US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division under President Bush
Rudy Beserra – Former SVP Coca-Cola and former special assistant to President Reagan
Alejandra Castillo – CEO, Young Women’s Christian Association USA and former national director, Minority Business Development Agency
Luis Fortuno – former governor of Puerto Rico
Lorraine Garcia-Nakata – Museum & Arts Cultural Specialist, Former NMAL Commissioner
Daniel Garza – President, The Libre Initiative
Lili Gil-Valletta – CEO and co-founder of CIEN+
Carlos Gutierrez – Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, former CEO of Kellogg Company
Sean Reyes – Utah Attorney General and former National American Latino Museum Commissioner
Manny Rosales – Board Secretary, The Latino Coalition
Camille Solberg – former Federal Drug-Free Communities Commissioner
Al Zapanta – President/CEO of US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, former chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board, retired Army major general